Strikeforce Seeking Mitsuhiro Ishida to Face Gilbert Melendez

by Kid Nate on Apr 3, 2009 2:07 AM EDT in News Comment 25 comments

Fightticker radio has an interview with Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker:

Strikeforce has indeed contacted Mitsuhiro Ishida as a potential replacement for injured lightweight champ Josh Thomson. If Strikeforce is successful in procuring his services, Ishida would face former champ Gilber Melendez in a rematch of their 2007 bout which Ishida won by decision.

This is exciting news and could be a great matchup. Ishida beat Melendez on NYE 2007, handing the then-undefeated Melendez his first loss. Since that time Gilbert has gone 1-1. A loss to Ishida in a rematch would put him at 1-3 in the last two years and put the one time top ten lightweight in a career tailspin.

I'm presuming that Coker is desperate enough for an opponent for Melendez that he won't be trying to force exclusivity on Ishida. That's a good sign for the promotion as their ability to import top Japanese fighters like Ishida and Kazuo Misaki significantly deepens their talent pool.

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Oh yay. Ishida is awful to watch. He the Japanese Guida. Just hugs you for 15 minutes.

by RollinOnShabbos on Apr 2, 2009 11:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

you missed his last fight

I did one of my first judo chops on it.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on Apr 2, 2009 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

weoweoweo .deviantart .com

by Anton Tabuena on Apr 2, 2009 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that wasn't his last fight...

sweet armbar against that Wilcox guy but he did the Ishida thing and decisioned Nakamura last month.

That’s why it’s doubtful he will be fighting at Strikeforce coming up. Add to it that he’s likely to be on the May DREAM card due to the GP win.

I’d like see El Nino get some revenge…just don’t see it happening now.

by The Real T-Bone on Apr 3, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

good info

I forgot all that in my excitement about hyping the old judo chop.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on Apr 3, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

correction...

Ishida’s win against Nakamura wasn’t part of the GP – it was a LW fight on the DREAM card with the FW…so he could be available for Melendez (but I still don’t see it happening). I was getting all tournament confused there.

To be fair to you, that was a solid Judo Chop :) Keep it up, Kid.

by The Real T-Bone on Apr 4, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You are brutal. Ishida is not only a much better wrestler than Guida, he constantly goes for the finish. He didn’t hug Melendez in their first fight, he mauled him with punches and submission attempts the entire time and put on a dominant grappling performance.

by smoogy on Apr 2, 2009 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

The first fight with Melendez was not fun to watch at all. I have no problem with the ground game, but that fight was awful. Everytime Melendez did anything, he got taken right back down. I’m not questioning the guys skill, but I am questioning his desire to do mix in a punch or two from the feet. Then the next four minutes was GM trying to get to his feet. I didn’t see a whole mess of damage down to GM at the end of that fight. Sorry I don’t find it exciting to watch a guy get taken down 15 times during a fight.

And I was not trying to compare Guida and this guy so much as point out that to me, they get on you and don’t do much. Submission attempts fine, but with strikes, none.

by RollinOnShabbos on Apr 3, 2009 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dunno man...

difference of opinion I suppose but while not a fight of the year…I really enjoyed the first fight.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

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by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 3, 2009 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed. I really enjoyed the first fight, specially how competitive it was.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Apr 3, 2009 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah i enjoyed that one too

Ishida showed so much technique and quickness that it was interesting to me. It wasn’t like it was lay and pray or some kind of a tie.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on Apr 3, 2009 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed...

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by Leland Roling on Apr 3, 2009 7:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sweet Rematch!

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by themachiavellian on Apr 2, 2009 11:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ooooh

Yes please.

"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry

by Blackout612 on Apr 2, 2009 11:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

good deal. fingers crossed.

by bdw on Apr 2, 2009 11:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ishida would win a rematch, without a doubt. It would be cool if this happened…

by AnonymousA on Apr 2, 2009 11:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Uh, yeah, it would be hard to force exclusivity on a fighter who is under contract to another promotion, and is only available for loan.

by smoogy on Apr 2, 2009 11:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

thanks smoogy

can always count on you for a kind remark.
Why don’t you post things I can bitch about?

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on Apr 2, 2009 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just disagree with the notion that Coker suddenly needs to be all elbows-out when it comes to negotiating with fighters, especially ones coming from FEG. He and Mr. I are homeboys, they will continue to work together. The only problem right now is that Strikeforce and DREAM are both putting on enough events that a guy like Ishida might be too valuable to loan out.

by smoogy on Apr 2, 2009 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not encouraging him to go for exclusivity

My understanding was that was something Showtime is pushing. sorry if I got pissy with the last remark, it was a long day on BE yesterday.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on Apr 3, 2009 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not really.

Mahmed Khalidov only signed with EliteXC because his contract was not exclusive and he could continue to fight for KSW (else he would have signed with the UFC) while also fighting on Showtime for EliteXC.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Apr 3, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed, where did this notion come from that Coker only offers exclusive contracts?
Exclusive in the USA maybe, but not exclusive to one org. He is even willing to work with Bellator and Affliction and loan fighters.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Apr 3, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs