Hidehiko Yoshida Announces Retirement Show

by Chris Nelson on Feb 8, 2010 11:08 AM EST in MMA News

Astra participants Michihiro Omigawa, Hidehiko Yoshida, Kazuhiro Nakamura and Tatsunao Nagakura. Photo via Kamipro.

Just one month after derailing the Satoshi Ishii hype train, Hidehiko Yoshida (9-7-1) today announced his impending retirement from MMA, citing multiple nagging injuries (particularly, left shoulder) and the desire to focus on his gym, Yoshida Dojo.

However, it appears the 40-year-old judoka still has one fight left in him:

The newly-formed promotion, ASTRA, will promote Hidehiko Yoshida's retirement fight on April 25th at the Nippon Budokan, an arena that has been known to hold up to 15,000 fans.

The man behind "Astra?" None other than Takahiro Kokuho, head of fighter management company J-Rock -- which numbers most of Yoshida Dojo's fighters among its clients -- and former World Victory Road/Sengoku PR director. Kokuho's acrimonious split from Sengoku at the end of last year threatened to undo the Yoshida/Ishii bout at the last minute, and even now prevents J-Rock fighters from dealings with (the organization I've affectionately termed) "Zombie Sengoku."

It comes as no surprise, then, that the "Astra" card will also feature several Yoshida Dojo-trained ex-Sengokuites, such as Michihiro Omigawa (9-8-1), Kazuhiro Nakamura (13-10) and Makoto Takimoto (6-5). Also penciled in for participation is rising DEEP star Tatsunao Nagakura (5-0).

"Astra" is currently planned as a one-off event, but Kokuho said future shows are possible should this one go smoothly.

As for Yoshida, no opponent has been secured at this point. When asked which fights he considers his "top bouts" at today's press conference, Yoshida referred to his pair of PRIDE battles against Wanderlei Silva. Here's hoping "Astra" can send him off with a bout that meaningful.

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Now I know this is retarded to even say but the UFC wants to break into Japan. They don’t have a marketshare there. Why not do it as UFC Presents: Astra and send over Wand (post Bisping fight)?

FUCK I sound like a co-promotion person on sherdog.

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by Matthew Roth on Feb 8, 2010 11:24 AM EST reply actions

that wouldn’t work (imo), I can’t see UFC ever co-promoting… but how about if UFC resurrects the PRIDE banner and has J-ROCK be their main sponsor with Wand and Yoshida as the main event?

"It’s going to be like sex with a grizzly bear, you know, a lot of scratching and growling on both sides." - Don Frye

by Excelsior! on Feb 8, 2010 11:35 AM EST up reply actions

I’m really just saying hypothetically speaking that’d be the best way to get the UFC brand out there in Japan. You aren’t co-promoting and Yoshida is a national hero. So you know that people will tune in.

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by Matthew Roth on Feb 8, 2010 11:45 AM EST up reply actions

Oh I agree, I’m just saying Zuffa would see it as co-promotion even if the fans don’t necessarily… I would prefer it being a PRIDE event but that’s just nastalgia talking. They could Have Yoshida, Akiyama, Uno, Gomi… it’d be just like old times

"It’s going to be like sex with a grizzly bear, you know, a lot of scratching and growling on both sides." - Don Frye

by Excelsior! on Feb 8, 2010 3:10 PM EST up reply actions