[1997-11-05-BattlARTS] Daisuke Ikeda vs Alexander Otsuka

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

Ikeda gets upset with Otsuka for not politely taking his asskicking and ends up escalating the violence level. Otsuka's selling is excellent. Those slow-motion lariats from Ikeda look amazing. No matter what Ikeda throws at him, Otsuka keeps getting up. He's doing a rope-a-dope strategy and ends up catching Ikeda off guard near the end. I usually hate popping up after a German, but Otsuka executes it in a way that's totally believable here and works. Stiff action and great story make a great match, and this is a really good intro to BattlARTS without giving away the very best matches they have.

[Kevin Ridge]

Otsuka has some bad tights. Ikeda hits lariats to where the palm of his fist is hitting Alexander in the face. Nice. Both guys get up from big suplexes but Ikeda gets dropped on his head too much with Dragon suplexes. I'm still trying to figure out BattleArts with the heavy mat work but then the use of pro wrestling heavy with the suplexes.

[soup23]

This was super. You see the onslaught Otsuka keeps taking and think he is right on the verge. Then gradually you see his end game strategy and see Ikeda realize that he has been duped and has nothing left in the tank and now he has to hang on against Otsuka's offense. Brillant played out and some vicious action throughout with Ikeda's kicks and his leg work on Otsuka. I agree that this was a great intro to Battlarts and feels like one of the best story driven matches of 1997.

[PeteF3]

Definitely a keeper--Otsuka does some terrific selling and it's amazing how he's able to make a somersault plancha, among other things already mentioned, look believable in a shootstyle environment. The key transition toward the end where Ikeda attempts one lariat too many is executed perfectly as well.

[Superstar Sleeze]

Daisuke Ikeda vs Alexander Otsuka - BattlArts 11/5/97

 

BattlArts does a great job incorporating pro wrestling into shoot style.  It felt like a throwback to the Original UWF, more pro wrestling than shoot-style. Ikeda throwing wild kicks but Otsuka trying to take it to the ground. I loved Ikeda basically getting a Fujiwara armbar takedown but with his legs to quash a Otsuka takedown attempt. Huge headbutt and kick to the head send Otsuka to the floor. Otsuka looked like his leg was going to get fucking but reversed into his own legbar. At one point, I was watching the head/neck area but it was Otsuka's leg that was fucked. Thats the difference between BattlArts and RINGS. In RINGS, they register. In BattlArts, they sell. Otsuka selling his leg is bad for business because it gives Ikeda a real target to zero in on. Otsuka does a great job setting up his pro wrestling spots with holds or disorienting spots. Like the Dragon Leg Screw sets up the Giant Swing sets up Piledriver sets up the top rope diving headbutt (I felt like I was watching Tiger Mask) or the dive to outside or sleeper to try for German suplex. Ikeda gets away and hits a spinning heel kick. Really stuns him and that head rocking move sets up his asskicking segment. Not often you think of the Russian Legsweep as a KO blow but Ikeda hits it with force. Ikeda is PISSED that he was losing so handily. He just SNAPS! Boots to the face and throat until Otsuka ends up out of the ring. Otsuka pulls him out, bad move, Ikeda SLUGS him with a closed fist. Ikeda was amazing on offense just brutal. Loved two feet to face and punch to outside. Ikeda just was destroying him with lariats and could never see how he would lose. Ikeda really did kick Otsuka's shit in, but Otsuka would show signs of life and pepper in some hope spots like reversing weight on a back suplex. I really thought Ikeda had him after a barrage of strikes knocked him down in the corner ala the Tiger/Fujiwara finish. Otsuka did a great job grabbing an arm bar takedown on one of Ikeda's big wind up lariats. This began his mounted comeback by dumping him on his head using a variety of suplexes but most importantly a dropkick to head (Ikeda was showing signs of life and struggle up until that dropkick to the head). Then Otsuka just suplexed him to death for the victory.

This was a great head hunting fest. Both made comebacks by going for head rocking. Ikeda ran out of gas and just couldn't put Otsuka away. Otsuka just poured it on. Otsuka looked like he was paying tribute to Super Tiger and Ikeda gave one of his most asskicking performances. Brutal match and great strategy. ****1/4

[RingoPlaysDrums]

Incredible match. Otsuka is the clear underdog here and he takes a beating early on. Ikeda just looks in complete control. Otsuka is barely hanging in there and tries a few things in desperation. Some slaps and so on. It's a joy to watch. Eventually Otsuka has some sustained success. Love the airplane spin which very much feels like Otsuka just taking what he can get. Great moment when Ikeda falls to the outside and Otsuka is left alone in the ring, barely able to stand. He looks hesitant, even changing his mind a couple of times before suddenly just going hell for leather and flipping over the ropes to take Ikeda out. The selling of his leg is just great throughout. Terrific final few minutes as Otsuka just hits big suplex after big suplex and eventually it's enough to put Ikeda away. Best match I've seen for the first time in a good while.