Japanese MMA is dying, but is the UFC really set to make the ‘killing blow’ in February with UFC 144?
After all, MMA in Japan is a fad, right?
After enjoying a period of tremendous popularity with organizations like Pancrase and the now defunct-but-legendary Pride Fighting Championships, Japanese MMA has hit a rough patch that keeps getting rougher—in part thanks to the unfortunate circumstances of the terrible natural disaster that struck the island nation.
But, even before that time, Japanese MMA was in decline. The shows held by Dream—the organization that attempted to carry the post-Pride banner of Japanese MMA—were a far cry from when over 90,000 fans were present at the first Pride Shockwave event in 2002.
Thus, as time went on, Japan—a nation that was once light years ahead of the world in terms of martial arts—has simply lost interest in MMA.
Can this be to the UFC’s benefit?
Maybe.
Yes, the UFC has no strong competition in Dream, Shooto, Pancrase or any of the other Japanese MMA promotions since the sport is losing popularity, but the decline of MMA will hurt the UFC’s efforts to establish a foothold on the island as well.
But the UFC is going into Japan with guns blazing.
The UFC is packing the fight card with many Japanese fighters (seven to be precise) as well as fighters who made their name back in Pride such as Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Mark Hunt.
Also, UFC 144 is being held in the Saitama Super Arena, essentially the Japanese Madison Square Garden since it has held legendary MMA and professional wrestling events over the years. It will give the event a sense of historical legitimacy.
So if the UFC does great attendance numbers and puts on a great show, they would have “saved” Japanese MMA and would’ve continued to foster the growth of MMA across the world.
They can slowly begin to erase Pride’s legacy in Japan and force organizations like Dream into becoming local promotions akin to the King of the Cage or Shark Fights in the U.S.
However, if the UFC fails in its efforts and gets lackluster attendance, then no one will benefit.
MMA in Japan will have been proven to be a fad who’s decline is irreversible. The forge in which a significant part of MMA was kindled will die, and the significant contributions that Japan (in its fighters, techniques, and its organizations) made will eventually be lost to the ages, as is the fate of any fad.
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