Jose Canseco Has Arrived in Japan

by Chris Nelson on May 23, 2009 9:10 AM EDT in MMA News

Arguably the most talked-about and easily the most maligned of the participants on this Tuesday's DREAM.9 card, 40/40 clubber turned steroid snitch Jose Canseco touched down at Narita Airport outside of Tokyo earlier today. There had been speculation as to whether Canseco would back out of his fight with 7'2" Hong Man Choi.

Canseco was all smiles as he greeted a throng of press, exclaiming how happy he was to be in Japan. He also briefly discussed his training and gameplan for his Super Hulk Tournament opponent:

“I don’t even know whether my punches can reach Choi’s head or not. While having a tight defense and using my footwork well to move around, I will take him down and end it on the ground with a submission.”

He also said that he has trained his punches, kicks, etc. at 3, 4 gyms near his house and has focused especially on stamina because of the 10 minute first round.

Photos via Kamipro

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Can’t wait.

by Nick Thomas on May 23, 2009 9:31 AM EDT reply actions

this is going to be hilarious. Im going to be watching for all the wrong reasons

by Discman2 on May 23, 2009 9:34 AM EDT reply actions

A guy with no grappling experience or training is hoping to take Choi down and submit him? Did he not see the Fedor fight. The only way Fedor managed to get choi down was by letting him fall on top. Somehow i don’t see Canseco pulling a sub off his back.

The only way Canseco will ever win is if he lands a hail mary punch right on the chin, and he would have to jump about a foot in the air to do it. This fight won’t get out the first thirty seconds.

by nickbackstreet on May 23, 2009 9:37 AM EDT reply actions

I’m a bad MMA fan. I’m so excited for the Super Hulk tournament, though I’d be up in arms it were happening in the US.

Thank you god for making Japan!

by cmsove on May 23, 2009 10:08 AM EDT reply actions

This fight has all sorts of trouble written all over it. But I’ll still watch it. I can still appreciate a freak show now and then. :)

I love me some Sexyama!

by pud333 on May 23, 2009 10:48 AM EDT reply actions

He couldn’t knock out Danny Bonaduce, but he’s going to submit Choi?

This is going to be a serious gong show.

Visit Keyboard Kimura!

by E. Spencer Kyte on May 23, 2009 10:59 AM EDT reply actions

by Nick Thomas on May 23, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

The tattoo was fake?

Creator of the FightMatrix rating system.

by JCS_FM on May 23, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Its a shirt

Keep firing Assholes!

This is a dream competition for me. I drink as much coffee as I want, and eventually I hallucinate.

by Ubernoober on May 23, 2009 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I was gonna say.. that’s a lot of effort for a fake tattoo.

Creator of the FightMatrix rating system.

by JCS_FM on May 23, 2009 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions

t shirt

by who me on May 23, 2009 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Canseco's ride from the airport:

by Chris Nelson on May 23, 2009 11:11 AM EDT reply actions

This might be more appropriate:

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

by Scott C. Broussard on May 23, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

Rec'd

That is funny as hell!

by Erich Vowell on May 24, 2009 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions

I know that when I’m low on money, I travel around in limos.

by Ahhhoki on May 23, 2009 11:47 AM EDT reply actions

I'd be willing to bet...

he didn’t pay for that limo…at all…

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

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on May 23, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions

How much do you want to bet that he will get a mysterious “injury” about 10 minutes before the show starts, that prevents him from fighting?

www.mma-elite.com

by Brad Ackerson on May 23, 2009 12:19 PM EDT reply actions

I heard he has consulted Ken Shamrock for fight prep advice.

by Dropkick434 on May 23, 2009 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions

All we need now is to have Barry Bonds to fight Giant Silva, Mark McGuire to fight Dan Severn and A Rod to fight Yoshihiro Takayama.

Keep firing Assholes!

This is a dream competition for me. I drink as much coffee as I want, and eventually I hallucinate.

by Ubernoober on May 23, 2009 12:27 PM EDT reply actions

Manny Ramirez vs. Sokoudjou

hair vs. hair match

by Chris Nelson on May 23, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Canseco is a Can?

Funney how not much long ago Choi was considered a can for Fedor.

by Bandaka on May 23, 2009 1:09 PM EDT reply actions

The law of Can relativity

A 15 oz can of tomatoes is bigger than a 4 oz can of mushrooms….yet it is still a can.

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

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on May 23, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

good point

by Bandaka on May 23, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Hahaha

I love when something can be appropriately Choi’d.

I poop rainbows.

by Blackout612 on May 23, 2009 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I just hope Canseco doesn’t get killed.

by who me on May 23, 2009 1:54 PM EDT reply actions

Do you?

Or are you secretly hoping he has an eye popped out from a head kick?

I poop rainbows.

by Blackout612 on May 23, 2009 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

For Canseco’s part whatever happens to him is his own damn fault but I just don’t want to see ESPN sportscenter running “Baseball star killed in MMA fight” as it’s top story. Even as plodding as Choi is this fight will basically be him teeing off on Canseco until he starts crying or loses consciousness. I expect numerous animated gifs of fun I just hope one of them doesn’t capture the moment Canseco becomes an invalid.

by who me on May 23, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope he has the basic survival instinct to fake an injury before the fight or at least take the quickest dive in history the moment Choi touches him.

by Monday Morning Martial Artist on May 23, 2009 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

It wouldn’t surprise me if he goes down to the first punch that comes within a foot of him and is on a plane out of Japan before the event is over.

by who me on May 23, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Suuuuuuuupra Hurrrrrrka!

I am sofa king excited for this card.

by a tommy point on May 23, 2009 2:46 PM EDT reply actions

lol at sofa king

by Nick Thomas on May 23, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions

by Chris Nelson on May 23, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

Win

I poop rainbows.

by Blackout612 on May 23, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions

This fight will look like the scene in Transformers, where Jazz tries to fight Megatron and gets snapped in half. I’ll love every ~~minute~~ second of this match.

by Damon O. on May 23, 2009 6:33 PM EDT reply actions