Red Hot Summer

November. It's the month that Japan gets colder and colder day by day. The temperature went down a bit. Leaves started changing colors. Girls are wearing long sleeve shirts or some are already wearing winter jackets. (Damn, no short skirts anymore? That's no fun!) After my hard days work, I walked out from my office trying to convince myself that "Summer is over Masa!"

Two minutes later, which is way before I could say good bye to summer, I hit the door of Smack Girl at Korakuen Hall. And suddenly I saw a lot of girls -- none wearing long sleeves or even short skirts. They wore only rush guards and fight shorts. Yes! That's it! It is always Red Hot Summer inside of Korakuen Hall. Alright fellas let's start the Smack Talk!

There was a women's fight show in Indiana on November 6: Hook'n'Shoot Revolution 2. As this Hook'n'Shoot show is already talked on the forum a lot, women's fights are becoming tougher and more technical one after another. Two days before this show, we had a SMACK GIRL at Korakuen hall on November 4.

In the main Event, there was a match between Yuki Kubota and Amanda Buckner. This assassin from Academy of MMA BJJ Boulder destroyed Kubota's knee, 41 seconds of round two. Amada basically dominated both the first and second round, although Yuki took Amanda down with beautiful judo throw several times. But every time Yuki took Amanda down, I saw Amanda moving quicker on the ground than Yuki. And as Amanda submitted Yuki, after Amanda took Yuki down, Amanda quickly caught Yuki's left leg and executed the kneebar in mach speed.

"Pakiiiiiin!" some of my friends say. "I heard the pop." Another friend says, "No it didn't make any noise." Personally, I didn't hear the crack noise. But, after the referee stopped the fight, Kubota was still rolling around on the matt holding her left knee. And her face was showing that she just started long rehabilitation program. While Yuki was struggling and groaning on the matt, Amanda looked a bit surprised and confused about what she'd done -- and what she's gonna do now.

I am very sorry for Yuki to get such an injury. But the fight is fight. Amanda submitted her very quick, and looked relentless. But if she didn't submit Yuki, Amanda could be submitted or knocked out. So Amanda completed her job. Well done, Amanda. The Korakuen Hall went all so quiet when Yuki started squirming around, because this fight was one of her retirement matches. While everybody froze in the hall, I saw a few SMACK GIRL staff running around before they brought a stretcher. But Yuki, who's a very tough minded warrior, regained her feet, then offered a little "thank you" speech to the audience who came to cheer her for her retirement match. And the audience answered with very warm hands.

I don't know if she's fighting again or not, but I'm sure her students will be very strong in taking over Yuki Kubota's spirit, and they will respect their instructor as a mixed martial artist. On the same day, there were two preliminary fights for an eight-woman tournament, which will be held on December 19 in Sizuoka Prefecture. Fighters who earned the ticket to join this tournament are Yoko Takahashi and Miwako Ishihara. Both of them don't fight like a girl. Especially Miwako I. I've heard so many legends about Miwako Ishihara: Undefeated against any Japanese girl fighter in past 10 years -- her friends call her " Bob Sapp without a third leg" etc. ...

To my shame, this November show was the first time I'd seen Miwako Ishihara's fight live. Man, her punches are so sharp. No Joke. I'll tell you what, she is on a different level from any other Japanese MMA female fighter. Her punch is very quick and pretty accurate. And she does have knockout power, which most of Japanese girl don't have. Maybe her friend should call her " Bob Sapp with excellent technique"? (I didn't say Bob Sapp doesn't have technique.)

Man I can't wait for this tournament because, aside from those two fighters I previously mentioned, there'll be Erin Toughill, who I don't have to say anything about. She is strong! (By the way, may God bless the Toughill family and help them get through their terrible tragedy.) Marleos Coenen, who won first Re-Mix Tournament and Won Da big "Bling-Bling." Debi Purcell, KOTC Veteran from Ruas Vale Tudo. (Check out her site and see her video.) Anna Calorina from Team Dracrino, Mecca Vale Tudo Veteran. Megumi Yabushita, who's a really good Judo specialist with sick submission technique. And there's still one spot to be set. I wonder who's gonna be in spot? But I can tell one thing: every single fight will feel like a main event.

The big surprise for this tourney is the winner gets a big prize. I heard details of this prize information from SMACK GIRL staff, but I can't write about it on here because it's not officially released yet. But I'd say, it is more than Marleos Coenen got in last tournament at Re-Mix 2000. How Sweet!

OK, it's time go. There's Indiana Jones on TV. Harrison Ford is speaking perfect Japanese, while I'm checking some phrase in an English dictionary. Talking about phrases, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was in Japan last week. Every time I see him on TV, he said "I'll be back" while staring at the TV Camera. I think he really needs a new catch phrase. Oh well, that's none of my biz. While he was in Japan, there was a SHOOTO show. I wish Mr. Schwarzenegger could see this sports show. That may help Californian MMA industry grow faster. OK, I'll shut up by shutting my PC down. I'm ready for that.

Oh ... no, no, hold up! I wanna add one more thing. This SMACK GIRL show had the hottest Ring Girl in Japan. This is what I'm talking about, and I think this is what Quinton Jackson was talking about (not anymore though). I almost forgot to write about her. Her Name is Nozomi-chan. She also trains in Osaka Area. She definitely helped the Korakuen hall to be Red Hot Summer. Hope my picture will be posted here with my story. OK, all done. See ya'll again! I'll be back!

I just got three Bob Sapp CD "Sapp Time!!" One for me. One for Sherdog. Who wants the last one? I know this is so last year. But if you wanna get busy with it, let me know. I'll Ship it out fo ya'.