Tony
05-05-2009, 08:49
http://cdn.cagepotato.com/www/sites/default/files/blagoi%20ivanov.jpg
(And to think this all started with a colorful gi, some little shorts, and a dream.)
It looks like Combat Sambo tournaments might actually lead to career advancement opportunities, after all. Blagoi Ivanov has signed a three-fight deal with Sengoku (http://www.cagepotato.com/2008/11/18/videos-brock-lesnar-in-undisputed-ufc-93-promo-fedors-sambo-loss) and will reportedly face former Pride fighter Kazuyuki Fujita in his first fight at Sengoku 9 in August. Ivanov is the guy who made minor waves (more like ripples by the time they reached the U.S.) when he beat Fedor Emelianenko (http://wiki.cagepotato.com/index.php/Fedor_Emelianenko) on points in the World Combat Sambo Championships (http://www.cagepotato.com/2008/11/17/fedor-loses-at-sambo-does-it-matter) last November. Fujita’s claim to fame is that he once hit Fedor so hard it briefly stunned him. Neither of these accomplishments is enough to make this a truly interesting fight, although Sengoku has got to take what they can get when it comes to heavyweights.
The question is, has Japanese MMA really reached the point where all a heavyweight fight needs is some tenuous link to Fedor? Maybe. I mean, the guy can make us all pay attention to a sparring match with a lightweight (http://www.cagepotato.com/videos-fedor-vs-aoki-genghis-cons-coming-attractions-more) that's only slightly more real than pro wrestling (with worse outfits), but if Sengoku keeps at it this matching up of former Fedor opponents is a game that is going to get old quicker than “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Degrees_of_Kevin_Bacon).”
Below, relive Ivanov's moment in the sun and Fujita's one good punch. Then decide for yourself which would be more satisfying.
YouTube - Fedor Emelianenko- Combat Sambo LOSS Version 2 11.17.08 Blagoi Ivanov (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqke_ETJ3fk&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cagepotato.com%2Fdude-who-beat-fedor-sambo-face-dude-who-punched-fedor-really-hard-mma&feature=player_embedded)
YouTube - FEDOR VS FUJITA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McbsedIhZ2s&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cagepotato.com%2Fdude-who-beat-fedor-sambo-face-dude-who-punched-fedor-really-hard-mma&feature=player_embedded)
(And to think this all started with a colorful gi, some little shorts, and a dream.)
It looks like Combat Sambo tournaments might actually lead to career advancement opportunities, after all. Blagoi Ivanov has signed a three-fight deal with Sengoku (http://www.cagepotato.com/2008/11/18/videos-brock-lesnar-in-undisputed-ufc-93-promo-fedors-sambo-loss) and will reportedly face former Pride fighter Kazuyuki Fujita in his first fight at Sengoku 9 in August. Ivanov is the guy who made minor waves (more like ripples by the time they reached the U.S.) when he beat Fedor Emelianenko (http://wiki.cagepotato.com/index.php/Fedor_Emelianenko) on points in the World Combat Sambo Championships (http://www.cagepotato.com/2008/11/17/fedor-loses-at-sambo-does-it-matter) last November. Fujita’s claim to fame is that he once hit Fedor so hard it briefly stunned him. Neither of these accomplishments is enough to make this a truly interesting fight, although Sengoku has got to take what they can get when it comes to heavyweights.
The question is, has Japanese MMA really reached the point where all a heavyweight fight needs is some tenuous link to Fedor? Maybe. I mean, the guy can make us all pay attention to a sparring match with a lightweight (http://www.cagepotato.com/videos-fedor-vs-aoki-genghis-cons-coming-attractions-more) that's only slightly more real than pro wrestling (with worse outfits), but if Sengoku keeps at it this matching up of former Fedor opponents is a game that is going to get old quicker than “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Degrees_of_Kevin_Bacon).”
Below, relive Ivanov's moment in the sun and Fujita's one good punch. Then decide for yourself which would be more satisfying.
YouTube - Fedor Emelianenko- Combat Sambo LOSS Version 2 11.17.08 Blagoi Ivanov (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqke_ETJ3fk&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cagepotato.com%2Fdude-who-beat-fedor-sambo-face-dude-who-punched-fedor-really-hard-mma&feature=player_embedded)
YouTube - FEDOR VS FUJITA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McbsedIhZ2s&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cagepotato.com%2Fdude-who-beat-fedor-sambo-face-dude-who-punched-fedor-really-hard-mma&feature=player_embedded)