Filed under: Japan
Japanese MMA has a reputation for freak shows, the unusual and above all else – putting entertainment above the sport in MMA. A large part of that reputation is due to Shigeru Saeki. The former Public Relations Director of PRIDE fighting championship, mastermind of PRIDE Bushido and the boss of Deep has a penchant for the fun and the bizarre.
Deep’s 10th Anniversary 50th Impact card is an excellent example of the kind of bizarre MMA that Saeki loves. A superhero will face a 300-plus pound Thai boxer. A volleyball player/pro wrestler/actor will fight a karateka. Shinya Aoki and Sanae Kikuta will fight MMA first-timers and both veterans will bring in significant weight advantages. There are also a multitude of name fighters involved in very reasonable bouts but Deep will always attempt to keep things fun, and for that reason, it has become one of the most successful and active promotions in Japan over the past 10 years.