It’s hard to believe that it’s been seven months since Dream’s Super Hulk Tournament burst onto the MMA scene to show the world what a real freak show is all about. The opening round featured Japanese shit-show regulars like Bob Sapp and Hong Man Choi, but also new faces like Jose Canseco, and even Gegard Mousasi before he pulled out to explore less freakish fighting goals. But now the tournament has been whittled down to two remaining giant-slayers, and the good people at Dream put together this highlight to remind us what’s at stake this New Year’s Eve when Dynamite!! 2009 ushers in the finale of a pursuit many believed was too ridiculous even for Japan.
The irony here is that the two finalists in the Super Hulk tournament — Ikuhisa Minowa and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou — were two of the least super hulky guys in the tournament. Not that it’s surprising that Sapp and Choi failed to make it to the finals (hell, Sapp went 0-2, which is kind of impressive considering it was a single-elimination tournament), but Minowaman vs. Sokoudjou is actually an unusually normal fight for New Year’s Eve in Japan.
Since Minowaman is a Japanese pro wrestling icon, while Sokoudjou is the scary African guy who won’t stop hitting an opponent just because the referee is acting as a human shield to protect him, it’s easy to see who’s likely to have the support of the fans in the Saitama Super Arena. As for who has the better shot at victory, that’s a tougher one.
Minowaman beat both his opponents in the tournament with leg-related submissions, so he’s a threat to twist your knee or ankle into knots from pretty much any position. Sokoudjou, on the other hand, has been a vicious lion when he’s matched up against hapless fat guys, and little more than a kitten when he has to fight someone legit. The last non-hulk he beat was Kazuhiro Nakamura back in 2008, and since then he’s been knocked out by Luis Cane and Mousasi, as well as submitted by "Babalu" Sobral.
What do you say, Potato Nation? Will Sokoudjou’s Super Hulk fire be enough to carry the day? Or will Minowaman pull off another submission to claim the freak show title once and for all in the name of the city of Japan?
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Comments
Tue, 12/22/09 - 10:43
i don't know what to make of sokoudjou. he shows flashes of brilliance even against the top guys. at least for a bit. he's definitely always scary on the feet, at least for a while. and i mean. he's only been fighting a short while. losing to machida, banha, gegard, and babalu isn't anything to sneeze at early in your career. his expectations were just set way too high after his two big upsets in pride. i dunno. we'll see. he should beat minowaman though. hopefully.
Tue, 12/22/09 - 10:53
I told you potatomaniacs when this was first set up, Minowaman is winning this shit and taking over the #1 spot on the P4P list. Now start your fist pumping or get achilles-locked.
Tue, 12/22/09 - 10:55
MINOWAMAN... armbar.
Tue, 12/22/09 - 10:59
The Japanese fans will literally shit wasabi if Minowaman beats Sokoudjou. I'm still quite distraught we didn't get to see a Sapp/Hong Man Choi finals. I'm hoping FEG will come to their senses and have a 3rd place fight between the two. I'm also sad to see that we'll be without the fighting skills of Bobby Ologun again this year. He used to be an annual ritual for NYE shows.
Tue, 12/22/09 - 11:28
What the fuck is Bam Bam Bigelow up to these days?
Tue, 12/22/09 - 11:38
@Burrito Dead. Cocaine. Oh.... and fatness.
Tue, 12/22/09 - 11:39
he's dead..
Tue, 12/22/09 - 11:47
Fkn Minowa will fuck you up Ben!!!!
Tue, 12/22/09 - 11:57
Minowaman takes KO win via FLYING MISSLE DROPKICK damn i love those japs
Tue, 12/22/09 - 11:59
MISSILE FUCKING DROPKICK
Tue, 12/22/09 - 12:05
bam bam lost to kimo leopold in a shoot fight via rear naked choke. but hey.. he said he made $100,00.. now thats a fuckin money weight right there fellas
Tue, 12/22/09 - 12:13
Minowaman.
Tue, 12/22/09 - 12:19
Wow, no shit? Man, that just ruined my day. I gotta go watch someone get kicked in the balls.
Tue, 12/22/09 - 12:22
If only Japan was a city...
Tue, 12/22/09 - 12:42
com'on guys, the fight is IN Japan, you and I both know Minowaman will win weather he deserves too or not. Even if he gets knocked out, those crazy Jap's will figure out a way to give him the victory anyways.
Tue, 12/22/09 - 12:57
peanutbuttter must be a new booty around here..
Tue, 12/22/09 - 02:25
I think the real winner will be the fans.
Tue, 12/22/09 - 03:40
For the record, I think Minowaman has only really had a handful of pro-wrestling bouts. I think everyone just assumed from the get go he was an established pro-wrestler crossing over into shoot, but I *think* he was originally a pro-wrestling inspired shoot fighter who is only now occasionally crossing over into pro-wrestling.
Tue, 12/22/09 - 04:08
Only a crazy Asian would wear those ridiculous red tighties in a fight. Love seeing Bob "The Bust" Sapp getting beat on.
Tue, 12/22/09 - 07:34
Does anyone else hate Sokoudjou as much as I do?
Tue, 12/22/09 - 09:38
Minowaman wins after Sokoudjou is DQ'd for hitting him after the ref jumps in. Citizens of the city of Japan rejoice.
Wed, 12/23/09 - 05:55
I still lol at the 'city of Japan' references everytime. I'm hoping they throw everyone for a loop and have the winner immediately fight Don Frye. Frye via 1st round moustache choke.
Wed, 12/23/09 - 10:30
Minowa. He's got 10 times the skills of Sok and has been nullifying an opponents size and strength advantages for years. Of course Sok has always got a chance with those heavy hands, but I'll say Minowa outsmarts him.
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