Norifumi “KID” Yamamoto and Daisuke Naito
In a effort by FEG to finally get some decent ratings for their struggling “DREAM” promotion, they have teamed up with local boxing superstar, WBC Flyweight Champ Daisuke Naito. Naito’s upcoming title defence, will be aired together with DREAM so ratings should flow over from one into the other, giving the struggling promotion some huge numbers. To promote the coalition, DREAM poster boy KID Yamamoto and Naito held an open training session together. This was easily one of the toughest shoots I’ve ever done.
The amount of media here was ridiculous and it was the tiny Miyata Gym - where Naito trains. I managed to get a good position next to the ring but I couldn’t move my body at all to work for any better angles and I had a video camera resting on my head for a great deal of the time. The gym was really poorly lit so flash was a must to have any hope at stopping the action. Unfortunately, this was the same for every other photographer there so for every punch or kick thrown, about 30 other flashes went off - totally blowing everyone’s exposure and limiting my shot selection greatly. As if all of this wasn’t difficult enough it was 45 degrees in there as Naito had the heater on so he could cut weight! It’s no surprise that I was bedridden for 3 days after this.
Yamamoto barely sweating after going full pace for two 10 minute rounds.
Although this image is slightly backfocused, it serves as a perfect illustration for the flash problem. This was a tame example - others are just completely white.
Pad work
Although he hasn't been in the public spotlight for a while because of his "knee injury", he clearly hasn't changed.
After one ten minute round. Barely has a sheen.
Looking for somewhere to buy some melon but still remaining badass.
Melon get! This was a weird moment. The rest of the photographers found him eating and thought it was interesting too so there was around 30 photogs all shooting him eating a melon.
The media circus around Naito. Hey, I guess I'm one of them though...
Shadow boxing in 45 degree heat to warm up.
Working some pads, this was just as hard as the KID set to shoot. Lucky to get a clean shot like this.
Photo opportunities were more like this. Trying to catch a punch was largely futile with all the flashes going off at once.
Answering questions from the press.
KID wanted to have a spar with Naito but he wasn't having any of it. Naito wasn't really training that hard at all, just providing photo ops. Kid really worked it though and was very impressive. His kicks especially were great. Naito's left uppercut is what impressed Kid the most.
Lots more of this kind of thing at Sherdog.
Shooto Tradition Final
Shooto is definitely one of my favorite promotions, perhaps second only to the now defunct PRIDE FC. Great matchmaking, well thought out structure, transparent rankings and die hard fighters and fans make for one brilliant promotion. To mark their 20th anniversary, Shooto put together one of it’s best cards of all time.
Jordan Breen along with Tony Loiseleur put together a really excellent series on Shooto to commemorate the occasion which can be found here and here.
The main event was the Shooto Charisma, Rumina Sato against promotional favorite and 143lb World Champ “Lion” Takeshi Inoue. I’ve lost count at the number of unsuccessful attempts at the title Sato has made and I really hoped he would get one so he could die a happy man I fear it will always haunt him though. Still, Lion is a solid champ (although he did beat my coach Hiroyuki Abe in an absolutely cracking match) and completely dedicated to Shooto. He gave up a shot for big money and bigger fame in the Sengoku Featherweight Tournament. Says a lot about Shooto to me.
Was trying to get Lions logo on his spats in the pic. Shirt was in the way though.
Sato lands a left to score a knockdown and looks (as usual) on route to an upset.
Lion quickly recovers (as usual).
Lion scores his own knockdown with a left hook.
Finishes in the corner with GNP for a ref stoppage. Was hard to get an angle on it.
While Lion vs. Sato may have been the official main event of the night, the fight that really brought the fans out was fallen 154lb king Takanori Gomi vs Shooto World 154lb Champ, Takashi Nakakura. Nakakura has been one of my favorite fighters for a long time now and I actually picked him to win this. He took a while off a couple years back to rededicate himself to MMA and totally transformed himself. Still, although he put in a valiant effort against Gomi - after a slow start, Gomi came back and scored the KO.
Nakakura gets off to a good start with a solid left.
Gomi gets his range and landed a great body-head combination for the KO.
It was just as the ref was walking in front of me. Made it hard to time the finish but I do like this shot. After the belt Nakakura tried to hand back his belt. I got a nice photo of it but Sherdog didn't run it. Strange.
Usually, in these big Shooto cards, they pad out the undercard with bouts that are good and usually important, but feature unknown fighters. They really went all out with this card though, the card was stacked from top to bottom with champs, former champs and the best pound for pound female in the world.
The undefeated Megumi Fujii works a toe hold. I happen to train with Fujii but even with bias aside, it is hard to argue against her being the best female in the world. Look for an up coming bout with Deep Queen Miku Matsumoto at a catchweight assuming Miku gets over Lisa Ward in their upcoming bout.
Shooto South America 154-pound champion Willamy Chiquerim submitted Pacific Rim 154-pound titleholder Yusuke Endo at 5:00 of the first round. Endo must be kicking himself about tapping.
Mizuho Hirota "knocks out" Mitsuhiro Ishida according to Wakabayashi. Now really, does that look like he isn't intelligently defending himself?
Kenichiro Togashi with a great jab against Tetsuji Kato
Another jab landing. It's not often that a fighter really establishes with their punches in MMA. Usually it would lead to the bout heading to the mat or a finish but when it doesn't we get that rare chance to get a whole lot of pictures of punches landing.
Kotetsu Boku lands some great punches for the finish. He has really been down on his luck for the past couple years. Hopefully things pick up for him - he is supremely talented.
I say this a lot but Wicky Akiyo is absolutely one of my favorite fights. Huge power with a very exciting game and a big art nut. He is pretty much unsubmittable but he just cannot get off his back and it costs him too many big fights.
Check out some art that I shot by Wicky. You'll be glad you did.
A ring full of champions. This is a stitched panorama of three photos actually, hence what happened to right hand side. If I get a bit more time I will try to correct it but I was working to a tight deadline and wanted to include the image. Looks great full size. I got caught without my ultrawide as an assistant had it and he was not to be found. I'll make sure that doesn't happen again.
It was probably my favourite event of all time. Great fights featuring some of my favorite fighters with an amazing atmosphere. Add that to the prestige of the event and you have a winning combination.
Check out Jordan Breen’s follow up article and of course the full gallery at Sherdog.
Sexyama!
The “Yoshihiro Sexyama Battlestation SEXWAGON!!!” has become a phenomenon on the Sherdog.net forums.Over 10,000 posts on 1000 pages and quickly approaching 500,000 views. Tony Loiseleur and myself decided that it was our responsibility to inform Akiyama that he has a tangerine scarf wearing, banana milk drinking legion of followers ahead of his debut at UFC 100. Akiyama was a very nice guy in person. Loves to laugh and very talkative. He is universally hated here after the Sakuraba greasing incident but I personally love to watch him fight.
For these photos I used a two light set up. I had very little room to move or place lights as it was a small room but I’m pretty happy with the photos.
I am still hoping to get access to his training camp before his fight. He is proving very hard to nail down though and travels a lot between Korea and Japan.
Lots of photos at Sherdog. Also, check out the interview that Tony did and at your own risk, have a look at the Sexwagon. Apparently he is thinking of adopting the nickname Sexyama now. If he does, I think about 5,000 keyboard warriors are going to have heart attacks. I heard that at Buffer 720 would be in order for that one and I can’t disagree.
Aoki vs. Fedor exhibition
I some how managed to mumble out, “Hello, I’m Daniel”. He shook my hand and looked me in the eye and said “I’m Fedor”. At this moment, a few responses ran through my mind.
“I know! Everyone knows you!”
“I’m really happy to meet you! I’ve dedicated the last few years of my life to worshipping you!”
“Wow, you are smaller than I thought.”
In the end I am glad that no sound came out. If you haven’t seen it yet, I insist that you spend the next six minutes of your life the best way possible. Watching two of the best pound for pound fighters in the sport throwing each other around.
I don’t thing I’ve ever had so much fun during a match. Even though it was only a five minute exhibition, the atmosphere was just amazing. I think everyone in attendance knew that they were witnessing something very special. Here are my photos from their match. My cameras need to be iced now. Pushed them pretty hard during these few minutes!
The most emotion Fedor has ever shown. Ever.
Fedor has no need for security. The hands part like Moses parted the sea.
Aoki immediately regrets this.
The Tobikan Judan attempted to live up to his name.
... with varied success.
After being thrown full power until now, I think I know what was going throw Aoki's mind here.
Fedor at least took mercy with his strikes. This was pretty much the only punch he threw.
Fedor's best throw. The whole of Japan cringed after this.
Strategy change. Works better in an exhibition than vs Wanderlei Silva.
Aoki repays the favor but...
... it is reversed into a straight ankle lock for the tap. I had a bad angle :-(
Lots more of these at Sherdog. Leave comment and let me know what you think.
Sengoku Eighth Battle
Sengoku’s excellent featherweight tournament continued on the second of May. Looking back at this card, it is really clear the contrast between the two major Japanese promotions - Dream and Sengoku. Dream is gearing up for it’s “Super Hulk Tournament” and betting everything on their superstar Kid Yamamoto where as Sengoku make everyone one of their fighters work to get to the top and focus on prospects rather than “freaks” or already established stars. Although the ratings of Sengoku are much lower, I really love their events. The finals of this tournament are going to be amazing. I really have no idea who is going to take it.
I highly recommend you check out Tony Loiseleur’s interview with the man behind Sengoku, Takahiro Kokuho. Rarely do people speak to the press as bluntly as this in Japan.
Here are a few of my favourite images I shot at this event.
Sengoku gloves signed by tournament favourite Hatsu Hioki.
Fighters prepare in the ring at Yoyogi Gym before the crowd arrives.
Hatsu Hioki
Ronnie Mann prepares himself for Hioki.
Hioki again dominates another opponent with his triangle. Looking unstoppable... but so are Omigawa and Sandro.
The completely uncontrollable Maximo Blanco landing an fight ending illegal soccer kick.
The result. The victor by DQ - Akihiko Mori leaving on a stretcher.
Stanislav Nedkov knocking down Travis Wiuff in their foul fest.
Pancrase Champ Marlon Sandro saying a prayer before destroying Nick Dennis in a matter of seconds.
One of the best BJJ'ers in the world, Xande Riberio getting his second KO from two outings.
Fan Serivce.
Sengoku LW champ Satoru Kitaoka eyeing off possible challenger Kazunori Yokoto.
Michihiro Omigawa has been totally reborn as a fighter. For the second time in a row he destroys a highly touted fighter. This time - Nam Phan
Pancrase Neo Blood 2008 Champ Hirotoshi Saito landing a right.
"Sengoku Training Player" Shigeki Osawa pounding on Kota Ishibashi.
Way more photos at Sherdog. If you like what you see or want me have any photo requests, leave a comment!