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http://www.bjpenn.com/profiles/blogs/ishii-calls-it-quits-on-mma
This is really bad news....
he looked pretty crude, but the potential was obviously there...even though he wasnt a really exciting fighter, it was exciting to see a young world class judoka utilising his judo in MMA.
I think with a few more fights and a bit more training he could have been a contender.
The guy is strong like an ox, he manhandled JLB and Minowaman (one being enourmous and one being a veteran grappler).
all the best, in all honesty i expect him to make the USA olympic team if he qualifies as american.
Japanese judo star turned MMA fighter, Satoshi Ishii, has decided to call a halt to his MMA career and return to judo. The Japan Times reported the news of Ishii's exit, as he hopes to obtain a U.S. citizenship and represent the United States at the 2016 Olympic games in Rio. In fact, according to FightOpinion.com, additional Japanese reports claim that on Monday, Ishii decided to enter the upcoming 2011 USA Judo Senior National Championships event in Orlando on the 29th.
After winning a gold medal in judo at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Ishii made the announcement of his plans to test himself in the sport of mixed martial arts. After being courted by promotions such as FEG, and even the UFC, Ishii signed with the Sengoku promotion in 2009. His MMA debut came against fellow Olympic judoka, Hidehiko Yoshida at a co-promoted K-1 Dynamite show on New Years Eve, after Sengoku's year end show was cancelled. Ishii was unsuccessful in his debut as he dropped a three round unanimous decision to Yoshida, but would bounce back with a four fight win streak that included victories over Minowaman, and Jerome Le Banner. Ishii leaves the sport with a professional record of 5-1.
This is really bad news....
he looked pretty crude, but the potential was obviously there...even though he wasnt a really exciting fighter, it was exciting to see a young world class judoka utilising his judo in MMA.
I think with a few more fights and a bit more training he could have been a contender.
The guy is strong like an ox, he manhandled JLB and Minowaman (one being enourmous and one being a veteran grappler).
all the best, in all honesty i expect him to make the USA olympic team if he qualifies as american.
