Kazuo Misaki Leaves Grabaka Gym
by Chris Nelson on Nov 10, 2009 11:19 PM EST
in MMA News
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Kazuo Misaki is the "Grabaka Hitman" no more.
In a brief letter faxed to multiple media outlets on Sunday, the Japanese middleweight announced his departure from the Tokyo-based gym where he's spent the duration of nine-year MMA career. Misaki added that he intends to "start from scratch," though he didn't elaborate on future plans for training, nor a timeframe for his return to the ring.
Grabaka founder Sanae Kikuta wrote on his personal blog that while he was disappointed to learn of Misaki's decision, Grabaka does not hold its fighters under contract and he wishes Misaki nothing but luck.
A former star of Pancrase and Pride FC, Misaki has spent the past two years competing under World Victory Road's Sengoku banner. In July, the WVR executive committee opted to suspend Misaki from competition indefinitely following a June run-in with Tokyo police. According to reports, Misaki sped away from an officer who was attempting to cite him for talking on his cell phone while driving, striking the officer in the arm. Misaki entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to three years probation, plus unspecified public service.
Misaki was allowed to compete in his previously scheduled "Sengoku IX" bout with Kazuhiro Nakamura - where he choked out the judoka in the opening frame - but his suspension voided the middleweight title rematch with Jorge Santiago which the win would have earned him.
While it's hard to know just what to read into Misaki's "start from scratch" statement, Grabaka is one of several unofficial World Victory Road-affiliated gyms, and WVR has yet to lift (or address lifting) Misaki's suspension. It's no great stretch to say that Misaki could be seeking employment elsewhere in the near future.
One obvious option would be Strikeforce - Misaki controversially TKO'd Joe Riggs at their second Playboy Mansion event last September. Another internet rumor has the "Hitman" facing Kazushi Sakuraba on FEG's New Year's Eve "Dynamite!!" card.
[UPDATE] Sounds like the Misaki-Sakuraba rumor's got legs. Stay tuned...
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I'd love to see Misaki
end Jake Shields’ reign of terror with a KTFO.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Kid Nate on Nov 10, 2009 11:32 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Yeah, me too but I don’t see it happening if they fought.
Not that I condone facism or any ism for that matter. Isms are in my opinion, not good. A person shouldn't believe in an ism, he should believe in himself.
I quote John Lennon, "I don't believe in Beatles, I just believe in me". Good point there, after all he was the walrus. I could be the walrus. Wouldn't change the fact I have to bum rides off of people.
Damn...
Chris how do you make sense of the crap the online translators spit out? Or do you understand Japanese?
He’s fluent in engrish.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
by Blackout612 on Nov 10, 2009 11:52 PM EST up reply actions
haha, yeah, pretty much this. I don’t speak any Japanese, but “reading” these articles, you see a lot of the same phrases and words enough that you get to understand them a bit. (I’ve got a copy of Rosetta Stone that I’ve been slacking on installing, but that’s the next move.) Thankfully, since I’ve been writing here, I’ve gotten to know a couple who folks hook me up with scoops and translations.
Speaking of which, there may be something to the Misaki-Saku rumor…
by Chris Nelson on Nov 11, 2009 12:04 AM EST up reply actions
Dude
Rosetta Stone = Amazing. I wish I had more time for lessons, but even in the little time I’ve had (did a half hour session a day for about a month) I learned a surprising amount of French. I’ve been really impressed.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
by Blackout612 on Nov 11, 2009 12:15 AM EST up reply actions
I got the demo CD
I want to learn Spanish and Portuguese. It teaches you the language from the scratch as if you’re a kid learning a language for the first time.
You have to beat the legend, in order to become the LEGEND
-Melvin Manhoef (after his destruction of Sakuraba)
by chopstickthugz on Nov 11, 2009 1:42 AM EST up reply actions
Nooooooo
“Grabaka Hitman” was one of the best nicknames in MMA.
In any case, a Misaki fight is always something to look forward to.
The Japanese never let an oppurtunity to slap on an awesome nickname slide. So I expect something awesome to be installed before his next fight.
Not that I condone facism or any ism for that matter. Isms are in my opinion, not good. A person shouldn't believe in an ism, he should believe in himself.
I quote John Lennon, "I don't believe in Beatles, I just believe in me". Good point there, after all he was the walrus. I could be the walrus. Wouldn't change the fact I have to bum rides off of people.
I came across rumors of both Saku-Misaki and Tamura-Misaki…
by WanderleiNoooooo! on Nov 11, 2009 9:49 AM EST reply actions
god I hope Sakuraba retires. seeing him bandaged together with duct tape, bailing wire, and some forearm pads was hard to watch. if i spoke japanese i have to assume i would note some slurred words.
Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei. Basillio. Harry Greb.
by theworldsoldestsport on Nov 11, 2009 11:20 AM EST reply actions
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