When PRIDE is no longer around, and Wow Wow TV no longer airs the UFC, it will be a golden opportunity for anyone to step in and take over the entire market. Japan, the country that used to be known as the "major league" of MMA until the UFC exploded in North America, is now feeling the dire need for top MMA competition.

Obviously, HERO'S, K-1’s MMA series, is the only one in a position to take over simply because HERO'S is the only MMA show currently on the prime time of Japan's national television, and HERO'S is the only show that has famous fighters, Japanese household names, such as Kazushi Sakuraba and Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto. Their middleweight tournament (155 lbs) has got a fair number of world-class fighters such as Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro and Caol Uno. However, the rating is mediocre and most importantly, the fans' fire and passion isn't quite there.

FEG however knows that now is the golden opportunity and it would be a fool to not make the move. That is why FEG has been quite aggressive. First, they got Kiyoshi Tamura then Ikuhisa Minowa (Icehouse Minowa) who is set to make a HERO'S debut in the upcoming September 17th show. The strategy apparently is to secure top Japanese names that are presently in "exile" status because of the "disappearance" of PRIDE.

At the press conference held on August 14th, after announcing the acquisition of showman Minowa, FEG President Sadaharu Tanikawa talked about "PRIDE fighters" currently out of work, "About ten fighters, both Japanese and non-Japanese, already expressed their wish to fight in HERO'S" and he even went as far as saying, "I am going to do 'PRIDE like' cards in this show." Tanikawa then explained his management philosophy, "In the States, because of the legacy of boxing, there is a big difference in a compensation package between a winner and loser but in Japan more than winning and losing, we value the content. Even outside Japan, there are many fighters who prefer this Japanese style and many of them are expressing their interest."

Then he publicly invited fighters to contact FEG if they are want to fight for HERO'S. "Of course its a fighters' freedom to chose the UFC but if anyone out there prefers this Japanese style, then do not hesitate to raise your hands." One can assume that the strategy here is to push more "PRIDE" color into the HERO'S show and at the same time being distinct while differentiating HERO'S from the UFC with its management philosophy and hoping to attract top fighters from around the globe.

The other move FEG made is on their current stars, Kazushi Sakuraba and Norifumi Yamamoto. Back in August 24th, FEG announced that KID Yamamoto is making a comeback to HERO'S and would take on Bibiano Fernandez in a 63 kg (138 lbs) & under bout. Since he dislocated his right elbow in the freestyle-wrestling match at The Emperor's Cup back in January of this year, KID Yamamoto finally made the decision to come back to HERO'S this time in a much lighter weight class than he is used to fight in. KID Yamamoto usually walks around at 136 or 137 and after training his weight is down to around 135 lbs so this 63 kg & under is a perfect weight class for KID Yamamoto. "I just wanted to fight in MMA again. I cannot go to the Peking (Olympics) now but I would like to continue competing in the wrestling matches also. In January, I got injured but it was really fun."

At the press conference, KID Yamamoto talked about his reason for coming back to MMA and also talked about this new weight class, "For about three years, I fought at 70 kg (155 lbs) and I guess I put a new light to the middleweights. But in the lightweight category, there are also many good fighters. It’s not because of them but now I want to put a light into the lightweights also." Tanikawa then told the reporters, "If KID Yamamoto is going to be around, then we can certainly create a new weight class." FEG is basically creating a new weight class for KID Yamamoto so they can utilize his popularity to promote lighter weight classes, and at the same, protect KID Yamamoto from leaving HERO'S to go somewhere else.

Then there is Kazushi Sakuraba. On August 28th, FEG announced that he is going to be fighting Katsuyori Shibata in the September 17th show. Shibata is a pro-wrestler also doing MMA and now currently training under the guidance of Masakatsu Funaki, who is making a comeback to MMA on the Dynamite!! show on December 31st. The only thing awkward about this entire situation is that Funaki is already expressing his desire to fight Sakuraba on New Year's Eve. At the press conference Funaki stated, "After the fight against Shibata, I would like Sakuraba to come up with a decision. He is the only fighter that can do the style of fight that I want to fight."

Sakuraba is fighting his disciple but Funaki is already talking about fighting Sakuraba. Does this mean Shibata is supposed to lose to set up the showdown between Sakuraba and Funaki? Or if Shibata wins, then he gets to fight his master on New Year's Eve? Regardless of the outcome of this fight, for the TV rating purposes, everyone knows that Sakuraba vs. Funaki is a much bigger draw then Shibata fighting anyone. So what is the meaning of the Sakuraba - Shibata fight, just a warm-up fight for the showdown on New Year's Eve? Well, at least that sounds like a perfect scenario.

Source: onthemat.com