Akinomaki 39,798 Posted November 4, 2015 (edited) It is maybe not the right place to post this and I am not too sure if it is true, but I think it kinda fits. In a wrestling forum it was mentioned that Akebono dropped the Triple Crown (All Japan Wrestlings World title) so that he can participate in Rizin. These Japanese articles confirm it. http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/466951/ http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/468246/ http://www.daily.co.jp/ring/2015/11/05/0008539410.shtml He will become a free agent, because as a member of All Japan Wrestling he can't appear in other events, same as with the NSK. No details of what he has in mind, he denied in an interview that the wants another try at martial arts fighting (where he has a record of 1-12), saying the blank (9 years) was too long, but the papers speculate of course that he wants to be in the same event Baruto plans to be. That would just be the right pairing for the New Year's Eve TV show. Edited November 5, 2015 by Akinomaki 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 39,798 Posted December 11, 2015 (edited) Baruto will fight K-1 veteran (41) Jerome Le Banner (that wiki article looks like a bad translation), known for both hard punches and a glass jaw - I remember many spectacular K.O.s in both directions.http://www.sponichi.co.jp/battle/news/2015/12/11/kiji/K20151211011667750.html Both his and Akenono's fight are among the special matches on New Years Eve: http://www.rizinff.com/iza/en/ Akebono for the offer from RIZIN had demanded to meet Bob Sapp again after 12 years, ShootBoxing Rulehttp://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/1577030.htmlLooks like that princess treatment custom has spread to all kinds of sports Edited December 11, 2015 by Akinomaki 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Unkonoyama 104 Posted December 11, 2015 A brief article in english with some pictures: http://www.rizinff.com/en/news/20151212_2967.html The fight will be three 3 minute rounds with one extra overtime round if needed. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Katooshu 3,135 Posted December 11, 2015 (edited) I haven't followed kickboxing/MMA in a while, but Le Banner was a world class striker (runner up in the K1 finals) with huge power. Maybe he's badly faded, but I worry for Baruto. Edited December 11, 2015 by Kotooshu's Revenge Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rzombie1988 157 Posted December 11, 2015 (edited) He's going to get smoked. Seriously stands no chance whatsoever. He should have looked into going in to pro wrestling instead. Don't see much interest for the Akebono/Sapp fight. Both are a lot less famous than they used to be and it's already been done. Plus everyone knows neither one is really good at kickboxing. They should have tried to get Asashoryu instead as that would be fresh. Edited December 11, 2015 by rzombie1988 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 18,786 Posted December 11, 2015 (edited) Maybe time to split all this Rizin stuff into a new Off-Topic thread, it's really got nothing to do with Baruto's intai, let alone with Ozumo... Jerome Le Banner (that wiki article looks like a bad translation)Looks no different from any other Wikipedia article on active individual athletes... Edited December 11, 2015 by Asashosakari 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
inhashi 2,363 Posted December 11, 2015 Looks like that princess treatment custom has spread to all kinds of sports Bob! I was wandering around one morning around Minato ward in 2010 and spotted crowd with camera crews. Lo and behold there was Bob lifting princesses on the sidewalks for the cameras. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 39,798 Posted December 12, 2015 Jerome Le Banner (that wiki article looks like a bad translation)Looks no different from any other Wikipedia article on active individual athletes... When you read it, but at my first look I only noticed many odd sounding grammatical constructs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 39,798 Posted December 12, 2015 (edited) More Baruto training pics from the papers.He wants to create a "Baruto train" attack - like the densha-michi sumo: driving the opponent straight out in an instant at the tachi-ai.http://www.sponichi.co.jp/battle/news/2015/12/11/kiji/K20151211011668240.htmlFor that, after overwhelming Le Banner with a shower of tsuppari-like heavy punches immediately at the start of the match, he would need to catch him off guard then and land a well placed and extra hard punch on his glass jaw - impossible for a newbie against such an experienced fighter.In this way a "densha-michi" is even harder to imagine.the "Baruto crane" http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/1578341.html Edited December 12, 2015 by Akinomaki 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Masumasumasu 902 Posted December 15, 2015 Getting strong now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dingo 1,160 Posted December 22, 2015 More Baruto training pics from the papers. He wants to create a "Baruto train" attack - like the densha-michi sumo: driving the opponent straight out in an instant at the tachi-ai. http://www.sponichi.co.jp/battle/news/2015/12/11/kiji/K20151211011668240.html For that, after overwhelming Le Banner with a shower of tsuppari-like heavy punches immediately at the start of the match, he would need to catch him off guard then and land a well placed and extra hard punch on his glass jaw - impossible for a newbie against such an experienced fighter. Rather than trying to beat a known strong puncher at his own game, Baruto should go for his own strenghts, namely grappling and try to lock him down. That's the only chance I can see for him. But yeah, I fear the worst as well... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ScreechingOwl 343 Posted December 22, 2015 I'm not a fan of MMA: it's too violent for my taste and perhaps I'm a bit of a snob as well. (The first reason strikes me as valid, the second not so much.) However, the reasons I'm disheartened about him joining MMA are: 1. It reminds me of how I miss him in sumo, and especially the unfortunate (although predictable) manner in which his career ended; and 2. That I think he's probably doing it only because he needs the money, and I'm sorry if that's true. Still, I suppose it beats being a bouncer at some dicey establishment. I don't really care if he wins, but I'm hoping he doesn't get hurt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
K. Sear 27 Posted December 23, 2015 (edited) Yeah, I echo the sentiments about fearing Baruto getting badly hurt. Le Banner is a legend, even if he isn't the kickboxer he used to be. You shouldn't have your full contact debut (at least I can't find any mention of previous fights for Baruto) against a guy with a quarter century of experience. Also, I don't think it's fair to say Le Banner has a glass jaw: he doesn't have that many KO losses by head strike and a lot of those are to guys like Hoost, Aerts, Sefo, and Hunt. Hoost and Aerts are bigger kickboxing legends than Le Banner himself, Sefo was no chump, and Hunt is known for crazy knock out power. Edited December 23, 2015 by K. Sear Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 39,798 Posted December 26, 2015 Baruto is confident to win, 31 against 42: "Winning in age. I'll be going with 120%".http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20151225/fit15122519300002-n1.htmlAkebono says his power is now 3 times that of 12 years ago, when he lost to Bob Sapp the last time. http://www.sponichi.co.jp/battle/news/2015/12/26/kiji/K20151226011749760.html 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaiomitsuki 408 Posted December 27, 2015 (edited) Le Banner is not on the picture.... ... because he will not fight against ex-Baruto ! This french link from a Fighting news site says that he will not be in Japan at the end of the month for fighting https://lesinfosdufight.wordpress.com/2015/12/26/rizin-jerome-le-banner-ne-combattra-pas/ Le Banner's mentor, Olivier Muller, says "Jerome will not be on the ring in Japan this December 31 . He was OK for an exhibition fight , first against Fedor , then against a former Sumo . He agreed to give the winnings to a local charity. But, this has not been taken into account by the organizers, and it was decided that JLB will not go to Japan for this demonstration fight in MMA. Jerome confirms that he retires from the ring in Saint Tropez, but is always ready to make his farewell to the country of the Rising Sun for a good cause, when the right opportunity will present itself. We are already in dealings with certain groups to organize its Japanese Jubilee in 2016 ..." Edited December 27, 2015 by Kaiomitsuki 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
inhashi 2,363 Posted December 27, 2015 So LeBanner flaked out on his anticipated match? Would he not be liable with the organizers for this? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hamcornheinz 839 Posted December 27, 2015 I'm pretty sure this means that LeBanner thought they were gonna do an exhibition match (read friendly sparring session) but actually they were signed for an actual fight. Also Baruto looks like a teenager. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 18,786 Posted December 27, 2015 I'm pretty sure this means that LeBanner thought they were gonna do an exhibition match (read friendly sparring session)More likely "worked match", as in professional wrestling. I'll be honest, I have no idea why this was intended to be a full MMA rules fight in the first place - Le Banner is hardly known for his grappling prowess, his career was made in kickboxing. Doesn't matter now, I guess. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hamcornheinz 839 Posted December 28, 2015 I'm pretty sure this means that LeBanner thought they were gonna do an exhibition match (read friendly sparring session)More likely "worked match", as in professional wrestling.I'll be honest, I have no idea why this was intended to be a full MMA rules fight in the first place - Le Banner is hardly known for his grappling prowess, his career was made in kickboxing. Doesn't matter now, I guess. Well, its not "worked" in the sense that no one is pretending that it isn't "worked", if you understand what I mean. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
K. Sear 27 Posted December 29, 2015 Rumours are circulating that the replacement for Le Banner could be Kazuyuki Fujita or even Peter Aerts. If the plan is to have work, Fujita makes sense. If it's a real match, Aerts is perhaps even more frightening than Le Banner. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 39,798 Posted December 29, 2015 The Japanese sports papers apparently still haven't got the news, they are talking about Le Banner just maybe absent from the fight and or still having him as Baruto's opponent.Baruto says he has 90% finished his preparations.http://www.daily.co.jp/ring/2015/12/29/0008682833.shtmlhttp://www.sponichi.co.jp/battle/news/2015/12/29/kiji/K20151229011769700.htmlBTW, his fighting name is in katakana, バルト, looks like he can't use his shikona as is. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 39,798 Posted December 29, 2015 Rumours are circulating that the replacement for Le Banner could be Kazuyuki Fujita or even Peter Aerts. If the plan is to have work, Fujita makes sense. If it's a real match, Aerts is perhaps even more frightening than Le Banner. Aerts (45) it is - he can take much more than Le Banner and has of course won much more. But he isn't in that form anymore. http://www.daily.co.jp/newsflash/ring/2015/12/29/0008684467.shtml 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Katooshu 3,135 Posted December 29, 2015 (edited) Aerts is one of my favorites. Years ago I sent him an email expressing my support and instead of just replying with a perfunctory 'thank you' he mailed me an autographed picture. Prime for prime he was better than Le Banner in my opinion, but I think he's regressed to the point where he's now a safer opponent for Baruto. Edited December 30, 2015 by Kotooshu's Revenge Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JariM 29 Posted December 30, 2015 Weigh in video for day 2: In case you don't want to watch the whole video...Bob Sapp vs. Akebono at:49:10AndBaruto at:55:00 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kotoshikona 5 Posted December 31, 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y8AuTLKXcI 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
