Tag: Morning Feature

The 2022 Knockdown News Fighter of the Year Nominees

2022 was a chaotic year for MMA. Upsets occurred. Eras came to an end. People lost their belts outside of the cage. And many, many others lost them inside the cage as well. To be a "Fighter of the Year" candidate in 2022 is to obtain excellence amid this turbulence. The nominees this year obtained … Continue reading The 2022 Knockdown News Fighter of the Year Nominees →

JMMA Monday: Reflecting on RIZIN 33 With Fight Pizza

Welcome to the very first "JMMA Monday" episode on the website. This will be a weekly corner on the site to talk about any relevant topics around MMA in Japan. Sometimes it will be a conversation with someone else, other times it will just be a short little opinion column. We're coming off the biggest … Continue reading JMMA Monday: Reflecting on RIZIN 33 With Fight Pizza →

Daisuke Sato: The Storyteller of JMMA

Matthew Lassiter wouldn’t usually find himself being a fan of a fighter that is wrestling-heavy in their approach. Like many MMA fans, he prefers a more well-rounded fighter or someone who can be more flashy with their striking. However, there’s one wrestling-based athlete that puts him on the edge of his seat whenever they fight: … Continue reading Daisuke Sato: The Storyteller of JMMA →

Knockdown News 2021 Fighter of the Year: Charles Oliveira

The year 2021 presented unique challenges to fighters who wanted to make a name for themselves. In 2020, the struggle was getting fights. As the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically lowered the number of events in 2020 and the virus placed an added risk to fighters, the amount of people who competed was less than ever. But … Continue reading Knockdown News 2021 Fighter of the Year: Charles Oliveira →

RENA’s Growth As An MMA Fighter Receives A Familiar Test

What RENA has meant to the combat sports world has changed as years have gone by. When the Osaka-born athlete made her Shoot Boxing debut in 2007, she wasn't associated with MMA at all. Not only that, but her ties to the sport wouldn't come along until nearly a decade later when promotion RIZIN came … Continue reading RENA’s Growth As An MMA Fighter Receives A Familiar Test →

Julius Anglickas: Grand Prix Alternate, But Ready For Any Challenge In Bellator

Julius Anglickas might have been his biggest critic after defeating Gregory Milliard in April. The win, his third since joining Bellator in 2019, saw him use wrestling to dominate all rounds and earn a scorecard victory. Disappointed in his post-fight interview, Anglickas mentioned he couldn't get his striking going and that he needs to "step … Continue reading Julius Anglickas: Grand Prix Alternate, But Ready For Any Challenge In Bellator →

Naoki Inoue Is Being Given The Hard Fights – But He Keeps Winning

It is certainly a compliment to make the claim that Naoki Inoue's resume in MMA does not match up with his age. At 23-years-old, Inoue has 15 pro wins and experience in major promotions like RIZIN and the UFC. What's more, a three-fight series of wins against notable names in Japan last year has proven … Continue reading Naoki Inoue Is Being Given The Hard Fights – But He Keeps Winning →

Yoshinori Horie’s Reintroduction To The Big Stage

It's hard to remember every name that comes and goes in a major MMA promotion. With dozens of fighters entering and exiting a promotion every year, it's simply not fair to expect people to remember every name they see. Some people may have forgotten that Yoshinori Horie was at one point a UFC fighter. That … Continue reading Yoshinori Horie’s Reintroduction To The Big Stage →

Kanna Asakura: Then Hesitant, Now Ready

Kanna Asakura had some hesitancy about competing in a title fight. Taking a rematch against current champ Ayaka Hamasaki would pose one of the biggest challenges of her career thus far. And sure, while this would be coming after her fourth consecutive victory, a win back in December against AI, the close and challenging battle … Continue reading Kanna Asakura: Then Hesitant, Now Ready →