M-1 Challenge 2009 show 3 - Japan vs. UK card - April 29th (Tokyo)

[iandean]

From Japan-mma.com

The M-1 Challenge has gained in popularity, and last year's event in Korakuen Hall was very good. This year the event is being held in Differ Ariake, and it looks like it should be a very good event.

The Japanese team is taking on the UK, and it should be a very competitive battle. The stars on the Japanese team are Hidehiko Hasegawa, Riki Fukuda and Yusuke Kawaguchi.

I have had some problems finding the fight record for some of these fighters, but there are some very good talents in here. There will also be some superfights and opening fights at this event. But just with the M-1 challenge fights there are 15 fights, this should be very good value ticket.

http://www.japan-mma.com/2009/04/429...nge-japan.html

Fightcard

Japan vs UK
・Luiz Andrade vs Ian Butlin
・Hidehiko Hasegawa vs Simon Phillips
・Riki Fukuda vs Matt Thorpe
・Tatsuya Mizuno vs Tom Blackledge
・Yusuke Kawaguchi vs Rob Broughton

USA Team West vs Korea
・David Jansen vs Nam Yuichul
・Fabio Nagao vs Bea Myungho
・Giva Santana vs Heo Minsuk
・Raphael Davis vs Kim Jaeyoung
・Shane Del Rosario vs Lee Sangsoo

France vs Spain
・Makhtar Gueye vs Jose Luiz Zapater Aguirre
・Farouk Lakebir vs Jose Belrtran
・Christophe Dafreville vs Rayco Zebenzui Romero Silva
・Christian Mpumbu vs Enoc Solbes
・Soufian Elgarne vs Rogent Lloret

[thaison]

good luck to the british team

[brawler4life]

some good fights rob broughton has a tough fight

think tom will win so will ian butlin

not sure about the rest

[THE MOSS]

some good fights rob broughton has a tough fight

think tom will win so will ian butlin

not sure about the rest

as does matt thorpe but dont doubt any of em!! good luck team UK

[$candalous]

Best of luck men.

[Andrew Garvey]

The M-1 Challenge is utterly baffling to me.

Good luck to the UK team.

Isn't Riki Fukuda fighting this weekend as well?

[iandean]

The M-1 Challenge is utterly baffling to me.

I Agree and i'm involved in it lol. I can try and help you though, what's bothering you.

I do think it is a great concept

Isn't Riki Fukuda fighting this weekend as well?

Yeah he is !

[Andrew Garvey]

I Agree and i'm involved in it lol. I can try and help you though, what's bothering you.

I do think it is a great concept

I just struggle with the entire team thing since I can't think of a time when its ever actually worked in MMA. The UK vs. Japan thing - I do get that, after all, its in Japan but Spain vs. France on the same show? Just weird.

They've got some great fighters but I just wish they'd tidy up the concept a bit, make sure they actually have relevant fighters/teams for the country, and it'd be nice if I had a clue where it was all going, lol.

I mean, even YOU find it confusing! How is anyone else meant to follow it??

[iandean]

Thing is with 16 teams this year they are having to put on more team challenges bouts

So each event has 3 team challenge per show

Basically there are 4 groups of 4 teams
Each team fights the other 3 teams in there group in a best of 5 bout series
The top team in the group goes through to theSemi Final in October
Final in Nov/Dec

[$candalous]

I think Big Robs gonna shock a few people by the end of the year. He faught Rico on short notice and was totally dominating until Rico pulled of the knee bar. With a full camp and after watching him train recently he looks in the best shape ever and ready to do some seriouse damage.