Satoshi Ishii (top) earned a technical submission win over Katsuyori Shibata in their MMA contest at the K-1 World MAX 2010 Final in Tokyo on Monday. Ishii scored an early takedown, flattened Shibata out, and wrenched a kimura from knee-on-belly position which forced referee Yuji Shimada to call a halt to the bout at 3:30 of the first round. Ishii improved to 3-1 with three straight wins since dropping his debut to Hidehiko Yoshida last New Year's Eve. Photo by Sportsnavi.
Olympic judo gold medalist Satoshi Ishii (2-1) will take on last-minute replacement Katsuyori Shibata (4-9-1) in an MMA rules bout at Monday's 2010 K-1 World MAX Final in Tokyo. Shibata -- a pro wrestling convert and pupil of Kazushi Sakuraba -- was announced by Fighting and Entertainment Group on Sunday afternoon after Ishii's original opponent, kickboxer Antz Nansen, failed his pre-fight medicals due to a pre-existing injury. Photo by GBRing.
"KID" Yamamoto and teammate Atsushi Yamamoto (no relation) have been added to the July 13th K-1 MAX Final 8 card. 62kg (136 lbs.) - 3 x 3 min. + ext. round Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto (Krazy Bee) vs. Jae Hee Cheon (Busan Taesan) 62kg (136 lbs.) - 3 x 3 min. + ext. round Atsushi Yamamoto (Krazy Bee) vs. Kazuhisa Watanabe (Freelance) via DREAM Official
It's on: Masato vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri at K-1 MAX Final 8 on July 13 photo via Sportsnavi
It's Showtime CEO Simon Rutz with K-1 Event Producer Tanigawa Rutz attended the K-1 World MAX Final 16 show in Fukuoka last night and affirmed that the working relationship between It's Showtime and K-1 will continue throughout the year. Tanigawa jokingly suggested sending Juichiro Nagashima to compete in It's Showtime; Rutz said he didn't think he'd go over well.
Yuichiro Nagashima continues to be an endless source of amusement. He fights the real Albert Kraus in the K-1 MAX Final 16 on April 21st.
K-1 MAX WGP 2009 Final 16 participant Yuichiro Nagashima held an open workout dressed as Yoko from the anime Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.
Face towels featuring both sides of cross-dressing K-1 MAX cosplayer Yuichiro Nagashima are available for sale at Rakuten, Japan's biggest online shopping site. The company is also a major shareholder of Tokyo Broadcasting System, the network which televises K-1 and DREAM.