Japanese MMA falls on hard times
Japan was the business center of mixed martial arts starting around 1997 and stayed that way for nearly a decade…
Japan was the business center of mixed martial arts starting around 1997 and stayed that way for nearly a decade … The big fighting stars were household names in the culture and the biggest events were must-see, network prime-time spectaculars. When the 6-4, 350-pound Sapp fought Akebono, the 6-8, 468-pound sumo grand champion on Dec. 31, 2003, 54 million people in a country of 128 million tuned in.
But it’s a different world today. Fighting, like many things in Japanese pop culture, was a fad. The novelty of Sapp, who was not a top fighter, ran its course. Sakuraba, who is generally considered a legend in the sport, was physically brutalized over the years by constantly fighting against bigger men. Most of the top foreign fighters left for the more lucrative U.S. market.
It’s not a secret that FEG (parent companyt to both K-1 and DREAM) has been battling financial problems stemming from the decline in interest in both kickboxing and MMA. Ratings are down. Attendance is down. Money is beyond tight. Fighters, who often have to wait months before getting paid after a fight, are looking to get out.
The most telling news about the scene was UFC’s signing of Dream’s biggest drawing card and best known current star, Norifumi Kid Yamamoto, earlier this month. It’s hardly a secret in the industry that most of the top MMA names in Japan are making inquiries about coming to the U.S., where things are more financially stable.
For now, the company is attempting to finalize the New Year’s Eve bash at the Saitama Super Arena, just outside of Tokyo.