Down the road

Yeah I know this is almost over and I didn’t get to talk about the rest of the lightweights involved in this tournament. But what can I do? In order to give the right amount of respect that everyone deserves I would have to make this article 15 pages long and this is not possible.

All the fighters are class acts. I didn’t have the chance to talk with each and every one, but those that come to mind are fighters like Joachim Hansen (Pictures), Yves Edwards (Pictures) and Jens Pulver (Pictures). They deserve all the respect from fans alike because they really represent and show why this sport is so special. They give respect to each other and their opponents and greet fans like they’ve known them for years.

One particular incident comes to mind. When I was heading home after covering the Bushido press conference the day before the event, I was in Shinjuku ready to buy my ticket and I saw Jens Pulver (Pictures) walking around the station with his team.

I saw him from far away and he saw me back, more than likely recognizing me from the press conference, and he raised his hand to say hello. Now first and foremost, I’m a fan of the sport. I spend my weekends watching MMA events and holding arguments with my friends about who is the best fighter and who will win in the next upcoming event. To see what all those guys do just to make the events exciting and the way they interact with fans is just way beyond words.

I really hope Sakakibara and DSE keep the Bushido series alive and kicking for those fighters in the lower divisions to perform and show their skills.

OK, now is time for the Bushido lightweight 2006 wish list (or in other words fighters I want to see in Bushido soon).

Alexandre Nogueira - I know “Pequeno” is a 145-pound fighter, but a match against Masakazu Imanari (Pictures) could become a grappling seminar live on PPV.

Vitor Ribeiro (Pictures) - Hope I don’t need to explain why “Shaolin” needs to be in the big show.

Rumina Sato (Pictures) - Please, give Sato a shot before his body becomes one with Korauken hall. More than 10 years of fighting in SHOOTO is more than enough for anyone.

Gilbert Melendez (Pictures) - I want to see the “Death Valley Driver” again but this time in Bushido.

Ivan Menjivar (Pictures) - Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures) wants him. DSE should make his dream come true.

Genki Sudo (Pictures) - Maeda hates him. He’s Gomi best friend. Need I say more?

Once again thanks for taking the time to read through all my rants. Hopefully I can get to train with Matt Hume (Pictures) soon to regain some of my old fire back, so I’ll stop being lazy and write more often.