"Kid" Yamamoto Apologizes, SHOOTO Lifts Suspensions
Stephen Martinez Feb 23, 2006
TOKYO, Feb. 23 — Resembling something out of the best TV dramas,
the feud between Norifumi
Yamamoto (Pictures) and SHOOTO has taken many twists
the last couple of days.
An official press conference held by the International SHOOTO Commission and headed by Kazuhiro Sakamoto of Sustain, the company that promoted the card from which all this drama started, was called Thursday in Tokyo to address these issues. It also provided a contrite Yamamoto the opportunity to address SHOOTO and his fans.
On Friday, Feb. 17 SHOOTO held one of its big shows at Yoyogi in
Tokyo, Japan. Among the final matches was the SHOOTO middleweight
(167-lb.) title match between Yamamoto’s teammate Akira Kikuchi (Pictures) and challenger Shinya Aoki (Pictures), who took the title away by
decision after a brutal match that left Kikuchi with several cuts
in different parts of the face.
While chief SHOOTO doctor Nakayama worked on Kikuchi’s cuts backstage following the fight, reports indicated "Kid" Yamamoto complained about an illegal hit by Aoki that resulted in a huge gash under Kikuchi's eyebrow. Later it was alleged by SHOOTO that Yamamoto verbally attacked the ring doctor with “foul language and other acts of physical violence."
Also, according to the statement, Yamamoto would be suspended indefinitely from SHOOTO and be barred, even as a spectator or second, from entering any building during official SHOOTO events. In addition, SHOOTO asked for an official and public apology from "Kid" Yamamoto and members of Killer Bee to Mr. Nakayama and the SHOOTO commission.
The day after the International SHOOTO commission released its statement, Nakayama made public on his personal blog that there was a mistake and "Kid" Yamamoto never attacked him with physical violence, but only pushed him “lightly” with his foot.
Nakayama also confirmed that Yamamoto did attack him verbally with foul language but that everything else was blown out of proportion.
All this came to a head today when Sustain president Sakamoto held a press conference with both Yamamoto and Nakayama to set the record straight.
With a serious face Yamamoto apologized to Nakayama, SHOOTO and his fans for the behavior. "Kid" explained that he was a little “hot headed” after the result.
SHOOTO then turned over its ban on Yamamoto and Killer Bee, allowing both to participate in future SHOOTO events should they choose to do so.
SHOOTO Suspends "Kid" and Teammates
An official press conference held by the International SHOOTO Commission and headed by Kazuhiro Sakamoto of Sustain, the company that promoted the card from which all this drama started, was called Thursday in Tokyo to address these issues. It also provided a contrite Yamamoto the opportunity to address SHOOTO and his fans.
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While chief SHOOTO doctor Nakayama worked on Kikuchi’s cuts backstage following the fight, reports indicated "Kid" Yamamoto complained about an illegal hit by Aoki that resulted in a huge gash under Kikuchi's eyebrow. Later it was alleged by SHOOTO that Yamamoto verbally attacked the ring doctor with “foul language and other acts of physical violence."
As a result the International SHOOTO commission released a
statement on Tuesday saying it placed a ban all members of
Yamamoto’s Killer Bee gym from competing in official
SHOOTO-sanctioned events, including professional and amateur fights
as well as grappling matches and tournaments.
Also, according to the statement, Yamamoto would be suspended indefinitely from SHOOTO and be barred, even as a spectator or second, from entering any building during official SHOOTO events. In addition, SHOOTO asked for an official and public apology from "Kid" Yamamoto and members of Killer Bee to Mr. Nakayama and the SHOOTO commission.
The day after the International SHOOTO commission released its statement, Nakayama made public on his personal blog that there was a mistake and "Kid" Yamamoto never attacked him with physical violence, but only pushed him “lightly” with his foot.
Nakayama also confirmed that Yamamoto did attack him verbally with foul language but that everything else was blown out of proportion.
All this came to a head today when Sustain president Sakamoto held a press conference with both Yamamoto and Nakayama to set the record straight.
With a serious face Yamamoto apologized to Nakayama, SHOOTO and his fans for the behavior. "Kid" explained that he was a little “hot headed” after the result.
SHOOTO then turned over its ban on Yamamoto and Killer Bee, allowing both to participate in future SHOOTO events should they choose to do so.
SHOOTO Suspends "Kid" and Teammates
