The MMA show for the amateurs and rookie pros called "THE OUTSIDER" produced by the founder of RINGS Akira Maeda will begin on March 30th at Differ Ariake in Tokyo. The purpose of this show, promoted by RINGS, is to discover the next stars out of the top amateurs and rookie pros. Just as it is implied in the event name this show is also about giving an opportunity for professional debuts to those young delinquents who like to engage in street fights. Maeda said, "From here on I want to see 'Tomorrow's Joe' coming out of this. I am going to be Danpei Tange." He is talking about the comic book that captured the heart of young Japanese boys back in the 70's. The story is about a young man named Joe who gets discovered off the street and ends up being a champion boxer. And of course, the master who has taught Joe everything about boxing and life is none other than Mr. Tange.

RINGS founder Akira Maeda is now starting a news show called THE OUTSIDER.

For the past three years Maeda was a supervisor of HERO'S but since the show is now making a transition to DREAM under the old PRIDE staff he no longer holds the title of supervisor. For almost the past ten years, Maeda and PRIDE were in a cat-and-dog relationship but FEG and the promoter of DREAM officially declared that they are also cooperating with Maeda's new project. FEG president Sadaharu Tanikawa sat at the press conference with Maeda on February 16th. "Some media reported that since DREAM is starting, the relationship between FEG and Maeda-san would go bad but that is not the case. I personally always thought that everything Maeda-san wants to do is not condensed in just HERO'S. In order for Maeda-san to create his world in OUTSIDERS, we, FEG will cooperate. I would like to provide a passage where those fighters who do well in this show would go up to the professional show." Maeda is also feeling very welcoming about FEG getting together with the old staff from PRIDE to start DREAM, "Its much better than being torn apart like in the old days of the kickboxing world. In terms of PRIDE, I just had a problem with the management rules and violence issues but I had never thought anything bad about fighters and the actual operation staff. The operation staff were doing a great job, and those introduction videos were better than anybody else’s. DREAM will do well even if I am not involved. Then actually I believe I want to build amateurs."

THE OUTSIDER is planning on four shows this year. From the second show, Maeda is considering of implementing some kind of tournament, "I would like to gather fighters raised in THE OUTSIDER and progress into the final stage called RINGS. I also want to book fighters from OUTSIDERS to DREAM, and a communication route with the UFC as well." It seems like THE OUTSIDER is not going to be a minor league for some specific promotion. In it’s own term, this is a show to discover the next generation for the entire MMA world. Maeda continued, "I want OUTSIDER to be amateurs for many different MMA promotions. For RINGS, for DREAM, otherwise this industry itself will not last. Compared to those smooth transitions of a generation taking place in other sports like sumo, both K-1 and MMA, are all backed up. Replacing the old with the new type of movement in MMA is a bit dull and that is why fight purses keeps going up. Tanikawa started the K-1 MAX version of high school baseball. Recently its been proven that even though you pay top money and bring in top athletes from judo or wrestling to MMA they won't win. We need to raise fighters from the amateur stage otherwise the entire industry is going to be a "house of cards"'.

RINGS Presents 'THE OUTSIDER'

March 30th, 2008
At Differ Ariake, Tokyo, Japan
Doors Open - 13:00
Fight Starts - 15:00

Ticket Prices:
Special Ring Side - 25,000 yen
Ring Side - 10,000 yen
Reserve A - 7,000 yen
Reserve B - 5,000 yen
Reserve C - 3,000 yen