The latest on Tyson vs. Fujita!

[Hookah Smokin Caterpillar]

This makes me laugh, I still don't see why people believe Tyson will fare better against Fujita in rules that favor Fujita when Ali couldn't do anything to Inoki in rules that favored Ali. Mike Tyson is an unbelievable boxer, but Ali was the all-time best. Come on guys, lets be serious. Tyson using his strength against a huge, strong wrestler? Tyson KOing him from off his back in the mount? Did we all forget why most of us take grappling? Why would Tyson be able to take out Fujita when Yvel [who has PLENTY more MMA skills] couldn't? If Fujita was in Tyson's guard, what would Tyson really be able to do? Thats only the guard, imagine the mount!

[Americana]

I really don't know much about Fujita so maybe those who take Tyson know something (for example, if Fujita's style is to take alot of shots and wade on anyway then, you've got a point).

But as for any notion that Tyson's standup would save him from a take down/G&P fighter, I think its laughable. If Tyson tried his typical tactics against any of Coleman, Couture, Randelman, I guarantee you he's going to be put on his ass. Period. It's lights out from there.

[Bau13]

Damn....even with the 16oz gloves on...
Tysons punches would do more damage than ANY of the guys in NHB could ever do....

Have you guys seen any of Tysons training footage??

Its scary!!

[Robbie]

I understand some of the things people say about Tyson is a street fighter and has a few tricks ,but I doubt he has ever really fought an elite grappler in a street fight.

This fight could go either way IMO.I have never seen Fujita fight so I don't know his full story,Tyson may hit him once and fujita goes down,or fujita takes Tyson down and submits him,either way it could be a good fight if it happens.

[Qkfx]

Tyson's Chances

Tyson now is formidable, but going in with his current skill set chances are he would be taken down quickly. However, as someone else pointed out, he does know fighting and is a fan of NHB, and more importantly a friend of Kerr. If he does nothing else up to the fight except train with Kerr, or another wrestler of equal caliber, on defending the take down, then I'ld say he would be very dangerous. Tyson's heigh, strength, and quick feet could transfer well to wrestling.

[judo guy]

I didn't believe this story until yesterday. I heard from a good friend who has a brother that does legal work for Tyson that negotiations for this fight are real. They are down to just a few minor sticking points and a deal could be signed as soon as next week.

FWIW, Tyson is taking this match very seriously. He has hired a Kosen judo instructor to train him at his residence in Las Vegas. He has converted one of his rooms into a dojo with 20 tatamis. The instructor is the real deal when it comes to groundfighting. He is a legend in Japan. He gets along very well with Tyson because both feel that they were victims of racism during childhood. Cho Kyu is half Korean and Japanese which made it tough growing up in Tokyo in the late 50's.

Tyson loves groundfighting and is a natural at it. In his own words he likes to "do twiangles on my twaining partners". Fujita might be in for a big surprise even if he does take Tyson to the ground.

It is true that the promoters want Tyson to wear 16 gloves for the fight. This is one of the last details to be worked out. Tyson wants to use the NHB gloves. They are thinking of compromising with Tyson using the 16 ounce gloves but amending the rules to allow biting.

[Karlinhos]

Bau - "Have you seen Tyson's training footage..."

Have you seen ANYONE'S training footage? Almost ALL look intimidating and scary. Not a good gauge.

JG - as for tyson training with this judo guy... that's great, but i'd be VERY surprised if he retained and didn't resort to his old "street ways", which will be totally innefective against a good MMA fighter like fujita. just think about how many times you've seen a top, experienced MMA fighter seemingly forget about the basics of ground fighting.

i don't think it'll necessarily be a GOOD fight, but it will undoubtedly be INTERESTING to see tyson in MMA competition.

i say fujita may take a shot or two, but will dominate and beat tyson, either by sub or decision. fujita's experienced at getting hit (maybe not by a tyson-type hit), but i doubt tyson is experienced at get his joints cranked.

[Bau13]

Yes I have seen other guys training footage...lotsa K-1 strikers...

Tyson looks scarier than them...( to me anyways)

his punching speed/power anyways.....

[Maui Jim]

In his own words he likes to "do twiangles on my twaining partners"
Maybe he should fight Elmer Fud first (ha- a- a- a -a )

compleatly luud-a-qwuest

[judo guy]

Karlinhos,

Gotta disagree with you. If Tyson fights Fujita it'll be the worst beating a man got since someone stuck a banana in the zookeepers pants and turned a monkey loose.

Heck, even Tysons glare might make Fujita back down. The Japanese press might call him the Chicken Fujita after this fight.

Why do you doubt the training that master Cho Kyu provides will make the difference in the fight? Do you know anything about Cho Kyu? His dojo is legendary in Japan. He is over 50 years old and when Sakuraba trains with him he taps Sakuraba without breaking a sweat. One of my judo buddies met Sak while he was training at Cho Kyu's dojo and Sak said his game would be nothing without Cho's help. Cho Kyu will have Tyson prepared if this fight ever comes to fruition.

[Newbie]

Goddess

This is Art Jimmerson's proffessional boxing record?


"April 3, 1998: Knocked out in the third round by Dale Brown.
December 6, 1997: Stopped in the second round by Vassiliy Jirov.
April 12, 1997: Stopped in the first round by Terry Dunstan."

So, are you saying that Art Jimmerson has a proffesional boxing record of 0-3? I thought he was ranked #10 in the world by the IBF at the time he competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship I. According to the record you just posted, he didn't even participate in a proffessional boxing match until five years after the Ultimate Fighting Championship I.

It is constantly pointed out that Art Jimmerson and Melton Bowen (#13 WBA 32-5 with 26 KOs at the time he competed in the UFC) are not equal to Mike Tyson in terms of accomplishments in the sport of boxing. In my opinion, Melton Bowen's #13 ranking in the boxing world is probably more than comparable to his opponent's accomplishments in the grappling world. Melton Bowen was a borderline contender at the time he fought Steve Jennum, probably one of the 15 best boxers in the world. There are literally hundreds of Wrestlers, Judoka, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu practioners etc. that would destroy Steve Jennum in a grappling match. In Steve Jennum's brief MMA career, he defeated Harold Howard (who was also outgrappled and pummeled into submission by Mark Hall despite a 70 pound weight advantage) and Melton Bowen. Later, he was completely outgrappled and thoroughly dominated by both Tank Abbot and Marco Ruas in his only other MMA matches. Neither Tank nor Ruas even had to use any stand-up skills in defeating him. Steve Jennum was nowhere near one of the 15 best grapplers in the world when he fought Melton Bowen, probably not in the top 500. So, in my opinion, it is not accurate to imply that boxing was inadequately represented in that matchup.
Also, in the case of Art Jimmerson, he was defeated by Royce Gracie. Art Jimmerson was ranked #10 in the world by the IBF. Royce Gracie has never won a single all-Brazil Jiu-Jitsu championship or even placed highly. He has never defeated any of the elite Gracie Jiu-Jitsu practicioners in the world in his own sport. Look at the top names in the sport: Mario Sperry, Amaury Bitetti, Fabio Gurgel, etc. How many of those guys has he ever beaten? No one considers Royce Gracie to be one of the elite in the world of sport Jiu-Jitsu.

[Karlinhos]

bau - yeah... don't get me wrrong, i agree that his training footage looks awesome and definitely intimidating when going against a bag or some journeyman sparring partner not going all out on him. i've also seen training footage with MMA guys and they look virtually unstoppable, but when they get in the ring against a real oponent, it's a completely different story.

JG - i don't know about the judo guy to which you're referring and i respect your opinions an posts and don't doubt for a second that he's the real deal, but a trainer can only take an individual so far, the rest depends on that individual. heart, learning ability and execution under pressure CAN NOT be taught. i just don't feel confident that tyson will be able to utilize what he's been taught in a real MMA scenario. further more, he'll definitely need to train with big, skilled wrestlers to get a realistic feel as to what it might feel like in there against fujita.

i'm not saying that fujita is some "force"... it's just that he's proven himself in the ring against some pretty formidible opponents.

it should be "fun" nonetheless.

[judo guy]

Newbie,

Jimmerson was a joke. I doubt he was ever a legit boxer. He lost to Don the Dragon Wilson in a PKA match way back in 1987. Got KO'ed in round 6.

http://www.donthedragonwilson.com/dragonrecord.html

Karlinhos,

I'm surprised you never heard of Cho Kyu. His instructor was the best student Maeda ever had. Cho's instructor was a gentleman by the name of Jokon Yu. He created alot of the sweeps you find in BJJ. Later on in life Jokon was hired to teach hand to hand combat to the Israeli armed forces. The famous Israeli general Hyam Kidden was one of his students and many of his teachings were incorporated into Krav Maga.

You gotta read your history books.

[Karlinhos]

jg - well, i don't really follow judo much, or know much of the history... execpt for the basics. i know who jigoro kano is! (lol) i have his book, "kodokan judo". but that's about the extent of my judo knowledge. PLEASE don't make me read or research anymore than that. i'll just relax and utilize YOU on any judo questions that i may have (ha).

take care dude.

karl

[judo guy]

Karlinhos,

Well, if you know who jigoro kano is and own kodokan judo, you know more than alot of blackbelts that I know.

PS, I was making it all up including the first post.