K-1 and Akebono Fly Special Trainer to Japan

[Skankster]

[Steve Bildermann]

Got to give Akebono points for major balls <courage>.
He hasnt had any wins. And I thought he was doing it just for cash.
But know I am sure he is in it for the glory. He deserves to win.
Now the question is can he earn a win?

Er... I think you'll find he most definitely is in it for the cash (He just very quietly declared bankruptcy) and also unless Royce Gracie reaches an 'understanding' with Akebono's backers our big Sumo friend is in for a right royal shellacking that may put an end to his K! 'career' (if it can be called that)

Sadly the weeklies have taken to calling him 'Akebumo the loser'

[Bongo]

Akebono should have opened his own stable after investing so much of his life in sumo. Now, he is nothing more than a has been at Sumo and K-1.
But, he has lost his elevated status as a former Yokozuna and indeed the pride that went with it for playing the punchbag jellyfish role in K-1.

[Marvin Feltcher]

Akebono is doing very well. He has a very good attitude about getting involved in mixed martial arts, and it is so much closer to what he has done in the past than the stand-up he has been doing in K-1.

Unfortunately, though, Akebono's K-1 stand-up routine is only funny because he never manages to stand up for long and ends up in some terribly embarrassing positions each time he's KO'd.
I would feel sorry for him if he wasn't on such a blatantly obvious cash grab.
Though I'm no great fan of sumo, which is filled with corruption and disregard for fans, I am filled with great sympathy for the sport because of the way Akebono has tarnished it.

[Andocrates]

I can trace my Sumo fanboi status back to a sumo match I saw on ESPN about 4 years ago. What he accomplished then and what he has become now are just sad.

But I still got love for him I hope he can become a great fighter, but he's fat, slow and he has no lower body strength, so I'm not gonna hold my breath.

[Marvin Feltcher]

But I still got love for him I hope he can become a great fighter, but he's fat, slow and he has no lower body strength

Andocrates, I've got to admire your loyalty, but you've hit the nail on the head right here. Add to the fat, slow and lack of lower body strength factors age and a dearth of speed and fitness and there's no way he could ever succeed.

[AssKissinger]

I am filled with great sympathy for the sport because of the way Akebono has tarnished it.

I wish I knew more about it so anyone feel free to link or to offer your opinions but...I sort of have the feeling that Sumo kind of fucked Akebono over not the other way around. But maybe I just want to see it like that through my FG lenses. Anyway, he's still an FG hero in my book. First Yokozuna! No matter what, nobody can ever take that away from him.

[Samurai_Jerk]

One has been fighting another. I love MMA but this fight will suck. I guess now that the competition is too fucking good the Gracies can only beat up on clowns. They should at least have Royce fight Bob Sapp or Mike Tyson. I wonder if that open challenge he had to Tyson back in the day still stands.

[fatslug]

i think if akebono can just sit on gracie he will win.....squash the little man to death !