Fighters Only

Issue 093

October 2012

UFC welterweight Yoshihiro Akiyama recently appeared on a Japanese TV show to indulge in a traditional game of peculiar-sort-of-dystopian-ninja-esque dodge ball. Akiyama guested on Battle For Money: Sentouchuu, a series of near two-hour long episodes that chronicle separate mass dodge ball-type games seemingly consisting of Japanese celebrities.

Played in an old Japanese town (more than likely a film set), the contestants are given balls with which to hit and eliminate the other players. The last man standing (don’t worry, no spoilers here) is the victor. No word on if acting like a lunatic caused Akiyama’s withdrawal from a bout against Thiago Alves at UFC 149.

London, England: Suffragette jiu-jitsu wiz gets London plaque

The work of a female martial arts instructor who taught jiu-jitsu to the defence force of Britain’s suffragette movement between 1908 and 1911 has been commemorated with a plaque in London. Edith Garrud, who stood at four-feet-eleven, trained the 30-woman ‘Bodyguard’ group in the art to help them protect fellow suffragettes from police arrest as they campaigned for women’s right to vote. A plaque was installed in June at her former residence in Islington, London. It seems today’s pioneering female mixed martial artists can trace their lineage back well over 100 years.

UFC’s Ross Pearson, George Sotiropoulos to coach TUF: UK vs. Australia

British featherweight Ross Pearson and Australian lightweight George Sotiropoulos will be opposing coaches on the upcoming UK vs Australia season of hit UFC reality show The Ultimate Fighter, it has been confirmed. Due to air on FX in the US, the series will be known as The Smashes, a play on the Ashes cricket rivalry between the two nations. Despite last competing in different weight divisions, the two coaches will fight at lightweight at the end of the season, confirmed the organization.

Leading Chinese promotion taps American sports management agency

Premier Chinese promotion RUFF (Ranik Ultimate Fighting Federation) has signed with US-based sports management agency to enlarge its footprint in China. RUFF will use the expertise of Excel Sports Management, which counts names like Tiger Woods and Derek Jeter amongst its clients, to gain an increased presence on television and “comprehensive print and online campaigns.” RUFF is aiming to expand its foothold to reach over 600 million Chinese consumers this year alone.