For some photos from the ASTRA event on Sunday, April 25th, where Hidehiko Yoshida fought his last MMA match, click here.
In an unusual match up between sempai and kohai, the fight went to a judge decision and Kazuhiro ‘Kazu’ Nakamura won due to his dominating and controlling performance.
A very surprising outcome that day saw Ryo Chonan lose by knockout to Korean, Jung Hwan Cha in the second round. MMA-in-Japan.com hopes to interview Chonan in an exclusive very soon.
Ensen Inoue gave his fans what they wanted, arm barring Antz Nansen, a kickboxer he once cornered.
MMA-in-Japan is watching Michihiro Omigawa’s career closely!
A quick breakdown below.
Astra – Yoshida’s Farewell Results
1992 Barcelona Olympic Games gold medalist, Hidehiko Yoshida, will fight his last MMA match on April 25th, 2010. In an event called ASTRA, he is set to fight Kazuhiro Nakamura, a long-time student of his dojo.
Both have fought and cornered each other in Pride FC so win or lose it will be an emotional event to mark Yoshida’s retire.
MMA-in-Japan was present at a recent training session at Alliance Square, where both Yoshida and Nakamura have trained with Tsuyoshi Kosaka (TK) over the years. Yoshida was open about, and clearly suffering from a cold virus, but he trained nonetheless with still time to recover before the event on Sunday the 25th.
Ensen Inoue will make a comeback appearance at the event, long awaited by many of his fans.
This mix of K-1 and MMA fights, Sengoku and DREAM fighters, fighters in their teens and those in their forties, provided a great show to end the year 2009.
Masato fought his heart out
