Why “7” is the Magic Number for Alexandre “Pequeno” Nogueira and Rumina Sato
Stephen Martinez Mar 10, 2005
TOKYO, March 9 — Like any good sports fan, or better yet like any
good MMA junkie, I always liked the idea of checking the history of
the sport from its very beginning. Since I moved to Japan, I
started to follow more closely every aspect related to the Japanese
organizations and the “mysticism” behind their fighters.
Now I’m telling you this because of an upcoming SHOOTO show on Friday, March 11 in Tokyo, when any fan could witness the mysticism behind some matches—in this case, a double title match between Alexandre “Pequeno” Nogueira vs. Joao Roque and Rumina Sato vs. Makoto Ishikawa.
Let me start by pointing out how similar Rumina Sato and Pequeno Nogueira are
in real life. I know they don’t look anything alike, probably
because one is from Brazil and the other is from Japan, but only
for a minute lets skip the obvious and concentrate in how these
guys become what they are now.
There is no need to look further than to when both fighters started their careers. SHOOTO was the very first place they fought, and unfortunately for many MMA fans, they keep fighting there without a chance to perform elsewhere (besides Sato’s short runs in Hawaii Super Brawl, which used to be under the SHOOTO banner).
Now, the most in interesting point—and probably why I think “7” is the magic number between both fighters—is the fact that one has been champion for seven years, but the other has been chasing the title for the same amount of time.
“Pequeno” Nogueira started his reign of terror inside SHOOTO with what is now his trademark move, the guillotine choke, over SHOOTO legend and Rumina Sato’s teacher, Noboru Asahi, back in September 1999.
Since 1999 Pequeno quickly earned the SHOOTO fans’ support and respect as the most fearful champion ever to walk in the organization. The SHOOTO commission played the difficult role of finding the best of the best in their rankings to face the new Brazilian prodigy, but Pequeno remained on top after surviving, one by one, against every single fighter he faced in a title match.
Out of Pequeno’s five title match defenses, he remained on top with three choke submission wins over Uchu Tatsumi, Tetsuo Katsuta and Hiroyuki Abe, as well as a unanimous decision over Katsuya Toida and draw against dangerous Hawaiian striker, Stephen Palling.
This makes Pequeno the longest running MMA champion in the history of the sport. But oddly enough, with only five official titles defenses during this span of time. This doesn’t mean Pequeno is one lazy champion who only fights once in awhile. The SHOOTO commission has this “sport-like” way of matching fighters to see who deserves a title match. So, in other words, Pequeno has faced other opponents inside SHOOTO, but without the risk of placing the title on the line.
What makes his match against fellow countryman Joao Roque so interesting? Well, keep in mind that Pequeno’s opponents so far (besides Palling) have been Japanese fighters. In fact, Pequeno’s professional record is rooted in fights against Japanese fighters, with the only exception been two matches versus the Hawaiian.
Joao Roque is a different kind of monster, the likes of which Pequeno has never faced before. Sure he survived an onslaught of good strikers like Palling, Hiroyuki Abe, Mamoru and Tetsuo Katsuta. Yes he made good grapplers like Noboru Asahi, Uchu Tatsumi, Katsuya Toida, Hideki Kadowaki, Masahiro Oishi and Rumina Sato look like amateurs. But until now, not a single opponent played so well against Pequeno’s game and strength like Roque appears to do.
Roque is a veteran from Vale Tudo Japan, UFC and DEEP. And he was '96 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship Pluma division champ, '98 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Oscar Cup winner and '99 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Team competition champ. He also sports a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu under Andres Pederneiras from Nova Uniao, besides being known as a fearful ground fighter with excellent control and submission game.
On the other side, Rumina Sato got his first title match opportunity the same year as Pequeno, in 1999; the only difference is he lost what many consider the best SHOOTO fight in history to Caol Uno by choke.
Since then, SHOOTO’s “charisma,” as Sato is known inside Japanese circles, has captivated the imagination of thousands of fans in Japan and around the world as one of the most entertaining and fun fighters to watch. His daredevil skills and submission game, the always “go for broke” attitude, and his overall personality inside and outside the ring, truly places him among the biggest MMA stars from Japan.
But all this accomplishments are not enough when there is something missing, something so important that it reminds me of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills during the early 1990s. Sato, like the Bills, had a complete game and the fans behind him. He was big news with magazines covers, toys, clothes and videos. But once again he fell short of scoring the big one, always rushing until the last second to miss the end zone. Like the Bills from those seasons, Sato has all the records but lacks something really important: a champion title.
Sato’s first opportunity came when SHOOTO living legend Yuki Nakai returned the welterweight title. Back in 1999 the SHOOTO commission placed the two most exciting and young fighters from the welterweight division in a title match for the now vacant title.
In one corner was a young and rising star, Caol Uno, facing the biggest challenge of his life against the wildly popular Sato. After three rounds of and insane back-and-forth war from both fighters, Uno manage to secure a rear-naked choke over the fatigued Sato to claim the title.
A year later in 2000 these two were once again face-to-face. Uno was defending his title for the first time and Sato was still chasing the dream to become the champion. Minutes into the first round, Sato sat over the ropes with an ice bag over his head, Uno in front of him, bent over his knees, paying respect to the fallen warrior.
Sato once again let the dream get away after he met a kick and punch combination from Uno early into the first round. His dreams to become a part of history were once again broken into pieces.
Still Lady Luck was not done with Sato. After Uno returned the title in 2000 to pursue his dream to become an international fighter with UFC, the SHOOTO commission once again picked Sato for a third run to the title, this time against an ex-teammate, Takanori Gomi.
Both Gomi and Sato used to train under the same roof at K’z Factory, but as soon as the SHOOTO commission offered both fighters the chance to fight for the title Gomi, without think twice, packed his gloves, shorts and wrestling shoes and moved out under Kikuchi Wrestling School in order to face Sato for the title.
Sato was coming into this match as a clear favorite, but the wrecking machine Gomi had other ideas in mind. After surviving Gomi’s takedowns and ground-and-pound for three rounds, Sato saw his dream slip for the third time away when the SHOOTO commission president placed the title around Gomi’s waist.
Now, like any never ending story, Rumina Sato is bouncing back from a critical point in his career after surviving through high and low points to once again get the opportunity to fight for a belt.
Makoto Ishikawa is Sato’s new nemesis on the way to the title. Fighting out of Enson Inoue’s Purebred Gym, Ishikawa packs power in his punches besides being well versed in wrestling and submission defense.
These two will face each other for the new SHOOTO Pacific Rim lightweight title on the same card with Pequeno-Roque SHOOTO World lightweight title.
I’m not superstitious, but the Japanese culture indicates “7” as a lucky number. This could be both Sato’s and Pequeno’s night when destiny is fulfilled and dreams become true, or this could be the night dreams are once again shattered and new champions are born.
Now I’m telling you this because of an upcoming SHOOTO show on Friday, March 11 in Tokyo, when any fan could witness the mysticism behind some matches—in this case, a double title match between Alexandre “Pequeno” Nogueira vs. Joao Roque and Rumina Sato vs. Makoto Ishikawa.
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There is no need to look further than to when both fighters started their careers. SHOOTO was the very first place they fought, and unfortunately for many MMA fans, they keep fighting there without a chance to perform elsewhere (besides Sato’s short runs in Hawaii Super Brawl, which used to be under the SHOOTO banner).
Both Sato and Pequeno share similar styles, since they both rely
more in submissions than striking. Actually, both fighters are
guilty of showing poor stand-up skills, but on the other hand both
are well respected and feared on the ground.
Now, the most in interesting point—and probably why I think “7” is the magic number between both fighters—is the fact that one has been champion for seven years, but the other has been chasing the title for the same amount of time.
“Pequeno” Nogueira started his reign of terror inside SHOOTO with what is now his trademark move, the guillotine choke, over SHOOTO legend and Rumina Sato’s teacher, Noboru Asahi, back in September 1999.
Since 1999 Pequeno quickly earned the SHOOTO fans’ support and respect as the most fearful champion ever to walk in the organization. The SHOOTO commission played the difficult role of finding the best of the best in their rankings to face the new Brazilian prodigy, but Pequeno remained on top after surviving, one by one, against every single fighter he faced in a title match.
Out of Pequeno’s five title match defenses, he remained on top with three choke submission wins over Uchu Tatsumi, Tetsuo Katsuta and Hiroyuki Abe, as well as a unanimous decision over Katsuya Toida and draw against dangerous Hawaiian striker, Stephen Palling.
This makes Pequeno the longest running MMA champion in the history of the sport. But oddly enough, with only five official titles defenses during this span of time. This doesn’t mean Pequeno is one lazy champion who only fights once in awhile. The SHOOTO commission has this “sport-like” way of matching fighters to see who deserves a title match. So, in other words, Pequeno has faced other opponents inside SHOOTO, but without the risk of placing the title on the line.
What makes his match against fellow countryman Joao Roque so interesting? Well, keep in mind that Pequeno’s opponents so far (besides Palling) have been Japanese fighters. In fact, Pequeno’s professional record is rooted in fights against Japanese fighters, with the only exception been two matches versus the Hawaiian.
Joao Roque is a different kind of monster, the likes of which Pequeno has never faced before. Sure he survived an onslaught of good strikers like Palling, Hiroyuki Abe, Mamoru and Tetsuo Katsuta. Yes he made good grapplers like Noboru Asahi, Uchu Tatsumi, Katsuya Toida, Hideki Kadowaki, Masahiro Oishi and Rumina Sato look like amateurs. But until now, not a single opponent played so well against Pequeno’s game and strength like Roque appears to do.
Roque is a veteran from Vale Tudo Japan, UFC and DEEP. And he was '96 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship Pluma division champ, '98 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Oscar Cup winner and '99 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Team competition champ. He also sports a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu under Andres Pederneiras from Nova Uniao, besides being known as a fearful ground fighter with excellent control and submission game.
On the other side, Rumina Sato got his first title match opportunity the same year as Pequeno, in 1999; the only difference is he lost what many consider the best SHOOTO fight in history to Caol Uno by choke.
Since then, SHOOTO’s “charisma,” as Sato is known inside Japanese circles, has captivated the imagination of thousands of fans in Japan and around the world as one of the most entertaining and fun fighters to watch. His daredevil skills and submission game, the always “go for broke” attitude, and his overall personality inside and outside the ring, truly places him among the biggest MMA stars from Japan.
But all this accomplishments are not enough when there is something missing, something so important that it reminds me of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills during the early 1990s. Sato, like the Bills, had a complete game and the fans behind him. He was big news with magazines covers, toys, clothes and videos. But once again he fell short of scoring the big one, always rushing until the last second to miss the end zone. Like the Bills from those seasons, Sato has all the records but lacks something really important: a champion title.
Sato’s first opportunity came when SHOOTO living legend Yuki Nakai returned the welterweight title. Back in 1999 the SHOOTO commission placed the two most exciting and young fighters from the welterweight division in a title match for the now vacant title.
In one corner was a young and rising star, Caol Uno, facing the biggest challenge of his life against the wildly popular Sato. After three rounds of and insane back-and-forth war from both fighters, Uno manage to secure a rear-naked choke over the fatigued Sato to claim the title.
A year later in 2000 these two were once again face-to-face. Uno was defending his title for the first time and Sato was still chasing the dream to become the champion. Minutes into the first round, Sato sat over the ropes with an ice bag over his head, Uno in front of him, bent over his knees, paying respect to the fallen warrior.
Sato once again let the dream get away after he met a kick and punch combination from Uno early into the first round. His dreams to become a part of history were once again broken into pieces.
Still Lady Luck was not done with Sato. After Uno returned the title in 2000 to pursue his dream to become an international fighter with UFC, the SHOOTO commission once again picked Sato for a third run to the title, this time against an ex-teammate, Takanori Gomi.
Both Gomi and Sato used to train under the same roof at K’z Factory, but as soon as the SHOOTO commission offered both fighters the chance to fight for the title Gomi, without think twice, packed his gloves, shorts and wrestling shoes and moved out under Kikuchi Wrestling School in order to face Sato for the title.
Sato was coming into this match as a clear favorite, but the wrecking machine Gomi had other ideas in mind. After surviving Gomi’s takedowns and ground-and-pound for three rounds, Sato saw his dream slip for the third time away when the SHOOTO commission president placed the title around Gomi’s waist.
Now, like any never ending story, Rumina Sato is bouncing back from a critical point in his career after surviving through high and low points to once again get the opportunity to fight for a belt.
Makoto Ishikawa is Sato’s new nemesis on the way to the title. Fighting out of Enson Inoue’s Purebred Gym, Ishikawa packs power in his punches besides being well versed in wrestling and submission defense.
These two will face each other for the new SHOOTO Pacific Rim lightweight title on the same card with Pequeno-Roque SHOOTO World lightweight title.
I’m not superstitious, but the Japanese culture indicates “7” as a lucky number. This could be both Sato’s and Pequeno’s night when destiny is fulfilled and dreams become true, or this could be the night dreams are once again shattered and new champions are born.
