Misaki vs Akiyama Leaves FEG Furious

It’s been only approximately a little over two months since FEG president Sadaharu Tanikawa came up with the idea of a "grand coalition." The master plan was, joining with the old DSE staff to revive the Japanese MMA industry. But just like the Japanese political parties, it seems like this group is far from a monolithic organization.

On January 23rd, just a day after Yarennoka! Ohmisoka! 2007 referees overturned the original decision and called the Kazuo Misaki - Yoshihiro Akiyama fight that took place on New Year's Eve a “no contest,” Tanikawa and Akiyama held a press conference in Tokyo. Instead of talking about this no contest issue, Tanikawa explicitly indicated regret in regards to Misaki signing with Sengoku, a new MMA promotion beginning on March 5th.

"Both fighters had so much on the line, so through the Yarennoka! Executive Committee we had an agreement with the Misaki side that the Misaki vs. (Yoshihiro) Akiyama fight would take place twice. Even people from the Yarennoka! show that were doing the booking of Misaki didn't know about him signing with Sengoku till it was publicly announced so they are also furious."

Obviously this press conference was not about how Tanikawa is feeling about the winner of the 2006 Pride Welterweight GP Misaki, signing with the show promoted by World Victory Road. However the majority of the press conference was occupied by Tanikawa talking about the issue of Misaki signing with Sengoku, and he was opened about his true intention, "Today more than this no contest issue, I wanted to express my regret in regards to this (Misaki) issue." Basically Tanikawa is quite bitter about this, "We build fighters, working hard trying to create a drama. A fighter should behave with principle otherwise MMA once again would become a lawless area." Tanikawa went as far as saying, "As a fighter, this is against the morale. Sengoku, really, is not a problem here its the fighter and his team, they are the problem. There is nothing bad about Misaki fighting in Sengoku but I wanted him to consult with us about the offer. I think Misaki is a very good fighter but regardless of how excellent he is, if he continues this way, I won't be able to book him anymore."

So Tanikawa is basically saying that everyone involved in this "grand coalition" is mad at Misaki and his team GRABAKA. Both FEG and Yarennoka! executive committee didn't know about Misaki signing with Sengoku. But just a day after this press conference, on January 24th, via his blog, GRABAKA founder Sanae Kikuta released the following statement. "Misaki is still preserving the silence, but that is pitiful so for team GRABAKA, I would like to write about this." Then Kikuta basically admitted that FEG did propose the idea of a two- fight deal but "Misaki wasn't thinking about the rematch and at that point, there was no schedule or talk about the next show therefore we did notify the Yarennoka! Executive Committee that this fight had to be a one-fight deal. We agreed and that is why Misaki fought in that show." And in regards to not telling the Yarennoka! Executive Committee about Sengoku, Kikuta fully countercharged, "Before signing with Sengoku, we did notify the Yarennoka! Executive Committee about it." Kikuta also touched on the issue of how the Misaki-Akiyama decision is now a no contest, "I am not interested in (Akiyama) losing or no contest. They can freely decide whatever they want. At this point I am not thinking about saying much about this" but at the end Kikuta expressed his feelings, "But I would like to ask, is this a decision based on sportsmanship?"

The news of Misaki signing with Sengoku came on January 11th, and on the 17th, Akiyama officially brought the case, then Yarennoka! referees officially overturned the decision of the Misaki - Akiyama fight on the 23rd, and Kikuta denied all of the allegations by Tanikawa on the 24th. Its now more than clear that the "grand coalition" is not even close to being stable, in fact, not only are they now in a feud with team GRABAKA but also, there is something wrong in terms of communications between FEG and the Yarennoka! Executive Committee, at least in regards to the Misaki issue.

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