Well folks it's official, since Mirko was able to squirm out of the grips of American Ron Waterman (managed by the retired legendary American female Pro-wrestler Phyllis Lee) DSE has drafted Yamamoto to perhaps be Cro-Cop's next victim or victimizer. (Japonics) This was announced after Yamamoto's extremely disappointing victory against Mark Kerr, who literally knocked himself out cold after shooting in for a double leg take down. Kerr landed on his face and simply rolled over to his left. Mirko, who has yet to conquer a title in the K-1 Grand Prix is once again being booked in "A Quick One" perhaps to enhance his MMA record, or "Get It While He Can." The real record that Mirko is setting here is, the most MMA fights in a year with the shortest ring time ever. We must wonder why Yamamoto is being punished, and why Mirko is being given middle of the road opponents rather frequently? Ron Waterman is no pushover, neither was Fujita, Sakuraba, or Vovchanchyn these were huge victories for Mirko. On the other hand, many of Cro-Cop's fights have been very carefully arranged.

In his first five encounters he dipped his toes into MMA with special rules matches, which do not necessarily reflect the true outcome of those bouts. He was given an automatic draw against Wanderlei Silva, who dominated him and was much lighter. Then against Takada, who broke his foot in the second round, he was unable to take him out because Mirko refuses to go to the ground and finish. Against ramblin gamblin Sakuraba, he was being controlled and and busted the bones around Saku's left eye with a heel from below; an accident. This was enabled by Sakuraba, who agreed to knees on the ground and kicks from the bottom despite a plus 15-kilo weight difference. This was aside from the special rules. Igor Vovchanchyn was Mirko's first legitimate MMA victory against a veteran of Pride. It was definitely a tactical error that cost Igor that fight so prematurely. When Mirko fought Waterman, Igor was watching very closely and is very hungry for revenge against the Croat ex-cop turned politician.
How many of you trust cops or politicians?
Mirko just met with the Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and offered to send his superb paramilitary anti terrorist police to Japan if ever needed. Peace Man!

Meanwhile, the fans in Japan are not very pleased with all the trash Yamamoto talked leading up to his fight with "The Smashing Machine," and they are less pleased with his talk after the fight, claiming that he put him out with DDT, a Pro-wrestling move. If so, why did he punch him out while obviously unconscious. Once upon a time, while very young, Yamamoto was the first Japanese victim of Rickson Gracie in Japan Vale Tudo 96. He gained a lot of respect for hanging in there for awhile with this MMA legend, who has also just announced one final conflict before retiring. Since then, this Takada Dojo man has had a roller coaster ride MMA career with mostly valleys instead of peaks.

What will be interesting about the Mirko – Yamamoto match up, is seeing whom the Japanese fans will be cheering for. Mirko, a marketing phenomenon that seems very uncomfortable at press conferences is doing a round of television show appearances and was invited to train at the Takada Dojo during his stay in Japan. He stated that he was willing to teach other fighters his own techniques, and would supposedly be learning some grappling from Sakuraba, who joked that Nogueira gave him pink eye. It seems that this match up has brought about a slight conflict of interest, being that Yamamoto is a member of this dojo, so Mirko won't be stepping in there until after Bushido. Seems that this rookie politician is taking a lot of personal days, I'm sure in the name of national security.

Meanwhile, Yamamoto stated that he has thoroughly studied the Mirko Cro-Cop vs. Wanderlei Silva fight and believes he will succeed. Yamamoto ain't no Wanderlei, but then again, he is one of the big boys. Personally, I wish Ogawa was still on the MMA train. At least he would be "BIGGER" trouble for Mirko.

Another very exciting card, which is part of the next Pride Bushido, Japan vs. Chute Boxe Academy, will be the Takanori Gomi (Kiguchi Wrestling School) vs. "Little Wanderlei" Jadson Costa. Gomi was formerly "Ichiban" the number one 155 pounder in the world, (15-0) until loosing his Shooto belt to Joaquim Hansen, who then lost it to Shaolin Ribeiro. Only two months later, Gomi accepted a challenge from B.J. Penn after a bit of partying and not being in top form. Gomi confessed to us that he was neither physically not psychologically prepared for this fight. This was his cage debut (Rumble on the Rock 4) and he fought in Hawaii, B.J.'s home turf. He seemed disoriented in the cage and fell prey to a rear naked choke in the third round. This was the same way B.J. Penn would steal Matt Hughes' welterweight belt in UFC 46, but in the first round instead.

This is the first time Gomi is fighting as a welterweight and when we talked to him he ate lots of pasta and shellfish, finishing it off with chocolate cheesecake. The stress of cutting weight has become the job of keeping it on. If Gomi pulls out a victory, I believe the stage is set for a rematch between him and B.J. Penn, perhaps in Pride Bushido or for the UFC welterweight belt. Gomi wants us to let Dana White know that he is. "Still waiting for an offer!" Did you hear that Dana?

Another fight I am particularly looking forward to will be the Mauricio Shogun Rua vs. Gono fight. Gono is the GRABAKA man who took a hard groin shot from Nielson De Castro and couldn't go on in the Pancrase 10th Anniversary event, but he then avenged himself in the rematch bout. Of course Shogun is Ninja's little brother and this kid attacks like a blender. Gono is going to have to neutralize him with grappling skills to avoid knees, strikes and stomps.

Hayato "Mach" Sakurai vs. Rodrigo Gracie should be another interesting match, as both are excellent grapplers and submission fighters, although Mach is coming down while Rodrigo is on the rise.

Yes ladies and gents, there will be many exciting cards for the upcoming Japan vs. Chute Boxe Pride Bushido blow out. And of course, the top MMA light heavyweight fighter in the world will be taking on Brazilian Top Team guest Minowa. This small middleweight is coming off a loss to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson in the Pride Special 2003 - New Year's Eve show. Minowa has had a domino series of losses and although he has a heart the size of Tokyo, he should consider becoming a middleweight. He simply doesn't have the frame to compete successfully at this weight, nor the technique to overcome this size disadvantage. But, who knows, Wanderlei might underestimate him and I might wind up eating my words!

Why Yuki Kondo wasn't given a shot at Wanderlei is beyond me. He has beaten a much larger and taller Sammy Schilt in three out of four encounters in Pancrase. He also almost tumbled Josh Barnett, a former UFC heavyweight champion, for the openweight King of Pancrase belt. Then, not only did Yuki take out submission master Sanae Kikuta for the light-heavy King of Pancrase belt, but he also decimated BJJ man Mario Sperry in no time flat, out grappling a grappler. I think this is Yuki's year, perhaps the stage will be set for a rematch against Tito Ortiz, especially now that he will be fighting the Ice Man Chuck Liddell in the upcoming UFC 47, Gunfight at the OK Corral.

Watch out cowboys, I sense some very tough Samurais coming your way, into your caged and insulated MMA territories.