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Showing results for tags 'Volk Han'.
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Previously on PWO:
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Han vs. strikers always delivers. Here he's fighting the former Ludvig Borga who's wearing boxing gloves. While not an all-time classic, I will say this is quite the spectacle and visuals of this reminded me of Onita's fights with boxers. Han uses his speed and technique to try and ground the much bigger Finnish fighter. Meanwhile Halme is throwing brutal shots that drop Han to the face and body. The gloves however don't restrict Halme from getting throws in as he's able to hit a pretty big belly-to-back suplex in the finishing run. Han eventually is able to fight off Halme and he catches him with one of his wicked kneebars.
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I'm a sucker for Han vs. strikers, namely Dutch kickboxers as his matches with Vrij always deliver. While Nyman doesn't have the personality of Vrij and this isn't on par with the Vrij matches, this is still good. Nyman isn't afraid to throw fire-y flurries with some nasty leg and head kicks and Han commits the mistake of trying to stand with him and he eats some nasty head kicks, with one even him knocking him outside of the ring. Han also tries to get Nyman to gas while trying to dodge his flurries and shooting for takedowns to try and take advantage of his superior grappling. Quality finish with Nyman eventually falling to Han's takedown and a quick submission, although it seemed a bit odd as it seemed like someone was tapping the ring and Han thought Nyman had tapped out and he let the armbar go before he noticed Nyman hadn't tapped and he locked it in again until Nyman actually tapped.
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Awesome stuff here. The insane crowd reactions for the entrances clue you in on this being something special and commentary describes it as Maeda's final match in Osaka or something along those lines, definitely part of his retirement tour. The action itself is great as well, they did a great job of building up every transition on the mat and the keylock counter and the fighting over the leglocks were the highlights of the match, and honestly it probably wouldn't stand out if it happened on a smaller show a few years ago, but here it was more important that the action is good enough to supplement the beautiful atmosphere than to try and force a classic, which, with Maeda's detoriating health, almost certainly wouldn't have been as good of an option as a couple of minutes of tight work. ****
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Only 4 minutes, but what a great 4 minute match. Volk Han is an undeniable wrestling god, even when he is not on the offense his movements are poetry. I also always get a kick out of Maeda hitting the mat with anyone who's not Takada. I really liked how Volk sold his demise, you'd think how can you sell your demise well in a fluke match, but him howling when Maeda breaks his grip and grabs the kneebar is how you do it.
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Sublime match with a completely different dynamic from their 94-95 bouts which were more about the underdog Yamamoto trying to survive. Here, he is near/at his peak and so the exchanges are far more competitive. Han does a great job at presenting him as a serious threat with a superb display of subtle vulnerability. The mat exchanges rule as expected (though they are a noticeable step down from the Tamura/Han interactions but that's an awfully high standard to be fair). The standup game is arguably even better and more dramatic and intense. Probably the best thing about the match is the way they use the points system with interesting twists and turns, comebacks and teases. Fantastic finishing stretch as well. **** 1/4
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What I'll remember this match for most is probably Yamamoto's second and how his advice lined up with the action. He yelled at Yamamoto to attack the body for a minute and then when Yamamoto finally did so he started celebrating, it was quite the endearing moment. When Yamamoto had control the second would yell at him to watch out, yell at him if he thought a move was coming and so on, and it lead to several cool moments, Yamamoto would get control of Han, and cautiously avoid his counters, but when he'd go for a hold himself (the wesome Reverse STF particularly stood out) he'd often get countered. Yamamoto is polished both standing and on the ground but wherever the fight went it didn't feel like there was a chance for him, he played the roled of the fired up youngster well, but this was more about Han and his awesome highspots, with him kicking away at Yamamoto's hands to break his grip and dragging him across the ring as a bonus. ***1/2
