Top 10 Moments From Vale Tudo Japan

by Chris Nelson on Oct 14, 2009 11:26 PM EDT

In anticipation of the return of Sustain's Vale Tudo Japan in just about two weeks, I decided to re-watch all of the past VTJ events and cut out 10 classic moments for your viewing pleasure. Here they are, in chronological order...

Bud Smith vs. Chris Bass
Vale Tudo Japan 1994

American kickboxer Bud Smith and Dutch karateka Chris Bass squared off in the first ever VTJ bout, and the beginning of that night's tournament matches. (Sustain would do away with the tournament format after a few iterations.) Thanks to an injury suffered by one of the evening's other competitors, the winner of this fight received a bye to the finals... where he was subsequently mauled by Rickson Gracie.

Fun fact: the six tournament bouts at VTJ '94 lasted a combined 11 minutes and 30 seconds.

Rickson Gracie vs. Yoshihisa Yamamoto
Round 3
Vale Tudo Japan 1995

After two slow but evenly-matched rounds which saw a frustrated Gracie hurl Yamamoto over the ring ropes and Yamamoto snare the Brazilian in a standing guillotine, this VTJ '95 quarterfinal ends in quiet but vicious fashion.

Enson Inoue vs. Rene Rooze
Vale Tudo Japan 1995

A fresh-faced Enson - in only his second pro bout - found himself at a six-inch height disadvantage against Dutch kickboxer Rene Rooze. Watch as Inoue uses an unusual (and now illegal) method to try and negate the size difference.

Royler Gracie vs. Noboru Asahi
Vale Tudo Japan 1996

A clash of disciplines! Royler represented Brazil and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu against Japanese Shooto stylist "Kijin" Asahi. This was Royler's second MMA fight; at the time, former featherweight ace Asahi was 17-1-3 and had not lost in over four years.

Video from PedroLMariano2.

Carlos Newton vs. Erik Paulson
Vale Tudo Japan 1997

Vintage material. A match between two legends of the game - one on his way out, and one who'd only just begun. Check the creative tapping method the loser of this match uses to try and submit.

Frank Shamrock vs. Enson Inoue
Round 2
Vale Tudo Japan 1997

In the main event of VTJ '97, Inoue and the junior Shamrock fought to decide who would face Kevin Jackson at UFC's Ultimate Japan the following month. This bout yielded one of the more hilarious Fight Finder entries around: "DQ (Egan Inoue Ran Into the Ring)." For a full explanation of how this one ended, check Joe Hall's Sherdog post on the bout.

Andre Pederneiras vs. Rumina Sato
Vale Tudo Japan 1998

The founder of Nova Uniao (in his first MMA appearance) against the Shooto veteran.

Video from alb3rtism.

Randy Couture vs. Enson Inoue
Vale Tudo Japan 1998

1998's main event and perhaps the most memorable match in VTJ history. 'Nuff said.

(P.S. Watch for Enson's dog in the ring at the end.)

Video from newmexicoone.

Rumina Sato vs. Rafael Cordeiro
Vale Tudo Japan 1999

A year after being brutally knocked out by Dede Pederneiras, the "Moon Wolf" returned to the VTJ ring against another Brazilian: long-time Chute Boxe trainer Rafael Cordeiro.

Hayato "Mach" Sakurai vs. Haroldo Bunn
Round 3
Vale Tudo Japan 1999

Then-Shooto middleweight champion "Mach" faced off against Haroldo Bunn in the main event of the "Japan vs. Brazil"-themed VTJ '99. Bunn controlled the first round, with Sakurai turning it on in the second. Then came the decisive third frame...

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Comments

It’s good someone made article about VTJ.Historically wise Karate practitioner Yoshinori Nishi’s loss against Rickson is important.Because that lose make him to built Wajyutsu Keisyukai. If you can capture all old martial arts tested by Gracie family at that era ,it should be more great article.

SKILL MMA : Cult martial arts in MMA (it contains a lot of that days atmosphere)

by shiroobi on Oct 14, 2009 6:31 PM EDT reply actions

Nice Comp , thanks , rec'd

Honorable mention to Yuki Nakai getting stomped and kicked on by Gordeau then pulling out a W.

by meyer1244 on Oct 14, 2009 6:31 PM EDT reply actions

Not just stomped and kicked

but also having his eyes gouged to the point where he suffered permanent damage and vision loss for life.

by Scott Haber on Oct 15, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks, guys!

This post should definitely contain Gordeau-Nakai and more Rickson, but I’m lazy and stopped at 10.
Not a definitive Top 10 by any means, but just some of my favorite moments and HLs.

by Chris Nelson on Oct 14, 2009 6:37 PM EDT reply actions

Awesome post, Chris.

I have a bunch of these stored away on a drive on my server, just never actually watched any of them with the exception of some Rickson and the Inoue vs. Couture armbar.

Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Oct 14, 2009 6:46 PM EDT reply actions

I’m in the same boat, I have every single VTJ and just watched Nakai, Enson and Rickson.

Great post!

by omigawda on Oct 14, 2009 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Love this

For reference, I assume that Yamamoto died from that, right? Jeeeez…..

BOOSH

by Farthammer on Oct 14, 2009 7:00 PM EDT reply actions

From what? An RNC? You see him moving at the end of video. He fought a bunch in PRIDE, might still fight.

by omigawda on Oct 14, 2009 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions

It was slightly sarcastic

BOOSH

by Farthammer on Oct 14, 2009 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Can this be stickied?

Plz.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito Ortiz on Vitor Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Oct 14, 2009 7:01 PM EDT reply actions

Do your part and rec this mother….

by Tonley on Oct 14, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I did.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito Ortiz on Vitor Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Oct 14, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I remember watching the Choke documentary on Rickson Gracie and I came away more impressed with Yuki Nakai than most of what Rickson did.

by Tonley on Oct 14, 2009 7:02 PM EDT reply actions

great stuff Chris!

Follow me on Twitter @KidNate

by Kid Nate on Oct 14, 2009 7:33 PM EDT reply actions

I never get tired of watching that Inoue/Shamrock fight or Enson’s brother get into the ring. lol

By the way what does rec’d mean?

by scrambledeggs on Oct 14, 2009 7:34 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs

Rec'd = recommended.

Underneath every post, you’ll see the options like email, print, flag, rec.
You can “rec” any post you feel is particularly informative, worthwhile, funny, etc.

When a FanPost (on the right sidebar) receives 3 recs, it gets bumped to the “Recommended FanPosts” section.

When a main page post gets 3 recs… well, it doesn’t do anything, but it makes us staffers feel good about ourselves.

If a comment gets 3 recs, it turns green.

(If you want to rec someone’s comment, just hit “actions” underneath it and the “rec” option will appear.)

by Chris Nelson on Oct 14, 2009 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

BE evolution

I remember it used to be five recs when there weren’t that many members, but now that the site has exploded have you cats considered returning to the original count to give the green back its unique value?

by asa on Oct 16, 2009 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions

green!

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Oct 14, 2009 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions

!00% rec, I love re viewing all the older fights. Great work.

by Riney on Oct 14, 2009 7:58 PM EDT reply actions

Bud Smith looks like Miquel Torres’ white uncle.

Epic post!

by casey manrique on Oct 14, 2009 8:11 PM EDT reply actions

Cool videos! I’ve been subscribed to your YouTube account for a while, but only now realized it was yours.

by Ahhhoki on Oct 14, 2009 8:17 PM EDT reply actions

Needs more Abdullah-Kikuta. Future ADCC champs losing by forearm choke is awesome.

by Jordan Breen on Oct 14, 2009 8:22 PM EDT reply actions

Needs more Abdullah-Kikuta.

Right you are.

Bonus lace – Mushtaq Abdullah vs. Sanae Kikuta from VTJ ’96

by Chris Nelson on Oct 14, 2009 8:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh that the soccer-kick kneebar escape were still legal.

by casey manrique on Oct 14, 2009 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions

remember when bjj was still a mystic art? those guys looked awful, but a good fight

by judonerd on Oct 14, 2009 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Hello everyone, i am new to the BE group. Have been lurking around for a long time. Just wanted to say thank you very much to Chris for posting all these great fights. As i am a novice to VTJ and really appreciate it. Cheers

by pRoXiMo on Oct 14, 2009 8:57 PM EDT reply actions

Wow, I really like some of the MMA rules now htat I watched this. Props to Inoue for beating Rooze at his own “use the ropes to win” game.

by judonerd on Oct 14, 2009 10:15 PM EDT reply actions

it’s crazy, the majority of that fight was comprised of moves that are illegal now – elbows coming down on inoue’s back, punches to the back of the head, grabbing the ropes…

by twotone on Oct 15, 2009 2:59 AM EDT up reply actions

at least they had gloves……….

by soadtrails on Oct 15, 2009 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions

thanks chris

amazing stuff… i love 90’s vale tudo

by cagefightonacid on Oct 14, 2009 10:20 PM EDT reply actions

Asahi and Gracie were amazing tacticians in their respective disciplines…a VTJ classic.

by JPA on Oct 14, 2009 10:48 PM EDT reply actions

Awesome Post Chris...

Ah, the good ole days of 90’s MMA. Its like watching an old family video.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 14, 2009 11:36 PM EDT reply actions

this post is excellent

thanks for taking the time to put the links together. it’s great to see why modern fights in japan have the swarm of guys just outside the ring to make sure the ropes aren’t abused.

by twotone on Oct 15, 2009 2:56 AM EDT reply actions

I’m going to watch this post during lunch tomorrow. Haven’t seen some of these fights in a loooong time.

Thanks, Chris!

I specializes in grammar fail.

by a tommy point on Oct 15, 2009 4:53 AM EDT reply actions

man there are some CLASSIC old school matches in this post. thanks!!!!! wow. like watching the choke documentary with Rickson.

Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei.
http://theworldsoldestsport.blogspot.com/

by theworldsoldestsport on Oct 15, 2009 10:30 AM EDT reply actions

oooh yeah, and they made the rules favor the grapplers by initiating restarts/counts after a knockdown…….this was in Choke the documentary. i remember now.

Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei.
http://theworldsoldestsport.blogspot.com/

by theworldsoldestsport on Oct 15, 2009 10:45 AM EDT reply actions

Shooto didn’t get rid of their knockdown count until January of this year. They considered it an element of fighter safety so as to avoid potentially unnecessary strikes.

"Yeah we came up short today but I'm cool with things." -- Juan Pablo Montoya

by capital L on Oct 16, 2009 1:34 AM EDT up reply actions

(Not that I agree with that assessment—I’m glad they finally did away with it.)

"Yeah we came up short today but I'm cool with things." -- Juan Pablo Montoya

by capital L on Oct 16, 2009 1:34 AM EDT up reply actions

shoot

Janurary of last year, rather.

"Yeah we came up short today but I'm cool with things." -- Juan Pablo Montoya

by capital L on Oct 16, 2009 1:36 AM EDT up reply actions

The mullet of Bud Smith is awesome.

for all intents and purposes, just consider all my posts as works of satire.

by Bandaka on Oct 16, 2009 12:12 PM EDT reply actions

I write about what is Vale Tudo differ from todays MMA and how that Vale Tudo Japan 09 make that much interest at current fight scene with 5 old Vale Tudo Japan fight explanation.

If you want know it go SKILL MMA.

SKILL MMA

by shiroobi on Oct 16, 2009 2:00 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs