meh this guy will get slaughtered hes a small heavy and judo isnt that dominating of a martial art

You see a lot of Japanese come over and get the big payday for baseball why not more of this in the fight game. There is a ton of MMA talent over there. I say sign em. Fighting is worldwide bring them on, you have seen some of this in the wec. I all for it.

You sure he didn’t pull a Sam Hoger and jack all that gear?

I think the UFC will do some shows in Japan this year. Japan has a big MMA audience and the UFC has some big names that are known in Japan like Rampage, other Pride alums and some Japanese natives

He probably will be able to handle himself.

I would say he is an average prospect with huge potential.

He may be a small heavyweight but he can lose weight and go -205.

Just cause hes calling out the hw doesnt mean he expects to stay there.

I dont hear him calling out lesnar, hes picking guys his size…

I would think that Vera would be a good test if he went lhw and bonnar would be good for him to have a scrap with and up his $$$.

how big is this guy? does anyone know what his weight is ?

i envision 3 straight losses to start and end his career and a long life of saki binge drinking leading to those awkward mornings waking up next to transexual prostitutes.

mma is alot bigger in japan than in the usa. the ufc should sign this guy.

There’s another judo world champion that fights in the UFC. He’s been training in MMA for many years though, and is basically an above average fighter, that has a serious problem finishing fights, unless he’s getting KO’d. Goes by the name of Karo Parysian. This guy Ishii is a nobody, who’s just trying to get his name out there. Calling out Fedor and Nog? Get real.

The training for Olympic level Judo in Japan is absolutely brutal. Ishi is known to train relentlessly. He credits his success to simply out training everyone. Remember Ishi won a gold medal in the over 100 kilo division. The average weight of these guys is about 280. He was the smallest heavyweight at about 240 lbs. He beat them all, the Russians, the French, the Cubans etc. Also, in Japan they spend about half the time on newaza or ground work. His submission skills are already excellent. Remember, the Japanese invented this stuff not the Brazilians. I have seen many Japanese judoka end matches with submissions in Judo tournaments where they only have a few seconds to apply the techniques.
MMA has not yet seen a heavyweight judoka from this level. Other judo champions such as Hidehiko Yoshida, who won a gold medal in the 78 kilo class in Judo, still have fought as light heavyweights in MMA and have done well. There is a huge difference between fighting at middle weight or super heavyweight. If Ishi can get down to 205 those guys are going to feel like lightweights to him after body slamming 280 Russian champions. If he can apply his work ethic to learning striking, at only 22, I believe he can be a serious competitor in MMA.