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[2004-08-18-U-STYLE] Kiyoshi Tamura vs Hiroyuki Ito


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  • 2 weeks later...

Tamura vs Ito, U-Style August 18th 2004

 

Background: Semi-final in a tournament to crown the promotion's champion. As it turned out there was never a title defense, because the promotion essentially shut down at the end of the year. Thankfully their abortive championship produced this gem. Ito is a massive underdog, lacking the experience and crisp execution of the promotion's ace.

 

Why I think it's underrated: Tamura/Kohsaka was somewhat overlooked at the time, and this was even less prominent initially. While it doesn't match the smoothness of the February submission-fest, it does have a solid story and much more drama in the final minutes. Ito delivers quite the effort.

 

What it deserves: As with Tamura/Kohsaka, top 100 in general and top 50 if you're favorably inclined to the style.

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  • 5 weeks later...

Kiyoshi Tamura vs Hiroyuki Ito - U-Style 08/18/04

 

With the emergence of MMA in Japan, it spelled the end for shoot-style promotions, which were not as differentiated as their pro wrestling brethren. Shoot-style lives in this weird no man's land. It is essentially the worked version of MMA. I have never seen pro wrestling as the worked version of MMA. In fact, I think a lot of non-fan's hangups with pro wrestling come from the fact they are viewing it through the wrong prism. Wrestling is a carnival attraction and it adapts itself to the times. Shoot-style is the sub-genre of pro wrestling that is the closest replication of actual MMA. I have enjoyed what I have seen of the style (Takada's UWFi), but I am no expert. For instance, this is the first Tamura match I have seen even though I know the ballyhooed Volk Han series in RINGS (I have never seen a RINGS match) is very heavily promoted by the shoot-style proponents. Thus it is hard for me to rate this match in the context of this project. I liked this match a lot, but even though all the matches are worked it still feels like comparing apples and oranges.

 

Tamura is the ace of promotion and a well-known talent in the shoot style community and a reasonably successful MMA fighter in Pride and such (sporting a record of 32-13-3). Ito is someone I do not know and I suspect was a heavy underdog. Ito definitely prescribed to the adage "a good defense is a great offense" as he came out swinging on every occasion. In fact, for the first half the match he dominated Tamura forcing him to take two rope breaks utilizing palm strikes, knees to the head, triangle chokes and cross armbreakers. Even though, he was put into an early hole, Tamura never lost his cool and wrangled a leg lace, but Ito was able to get a leg lace of his own, but eventually Ito had to use the ropes to escape. After Tamura caught a kick and applied a heel hook, Ito lost his second point. With the match leveled, Ito concentrated keeping the fight off the ground and tried to win by knockout. They trade knockdowns, but Ito definitely is the more offensive fighter. Tamura presses an advantage and Ito sells his high kicks really well, but Ito is able to sneak in a palm strike to the face to knock him down. One more knock down and Ito wins. Tamura wakes the fuck up and takes Ito to town. He catches Ito's kick and turns it into a half-crab for the win.

 

I loved Ito taking it to the strong favorite, Tamura at every chance. His performance was so urgent and there was a real sense of struggle on the stand-up. No one would confuse this ground game for an MMA match, but they kept it moving. Besides the dueling leg laces, every submission was sold like it could end it. The real highlight of the match is the very dramatic stand-up sequence with both fatigued and just going for broke. It was very well laid out to have Tamura back up against the wall throwing bombs only to finally catch Ito's leg and finish via submission. I would not say a match of the decade contender, but a very good match. ****

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  • 2 months later...

I liked this match a lot. Tamura brings that ace sensibility to it, waiting for the fight to come to him. Ito obliges and takes it to him handily. The quick takedowns into submissions surprise Tamura for a couple of early rope breaks. Tamura battles his way back patiently, but Ito isn't letting up because he knows once he loses control of this it's over. Tamura starts zeroing in on Ito's ribs with kicks during stand-up, then mixing in head attacks as well. The late match stand up reminds me of Kawada vs. Ogawa. Tamura has been put in a hole by the underdog, so he pitbulls his way back into the lead by focusing on a weakness. Only problem is, he keeps running into open hands to the head (not STOs) while doing it. Once he starts settling down and playing defense a bit more, he catches a kick and turns it into a leg submission for the win. Good story, great performance by both, but I like the TK match better.

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  • 2 months later...

This is a great story driven shoot style match and holds up well compared to the best matches wrestled in this style. Tamura may have been the best ace in pro wrestling in 2004. He's so good at playing it cool and showing a hint of frustration before dialing it back to playing cool. It's very subtle and in shoot style subtlety makes a big difference. Ito was fantastic as the outmatched guy who is too determined to care that he's outmatched.

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  • 2 months later...

Re watched this the other night. I'm back and forth between this and the 2/4 Tamura vs. Kohsaka match for the best worked shoot match of the 2000's. This may be the easiest introduction for someone looking to get into shoot style who isn't familiar with UWF, UWF 2.0, PWFG, UWFI, and RINGS.

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  • 1 year later...

Been meaning to do a review of this because after a recent rewatch, I thought this match was absolutely amazing and my #2 for the decade (behind Akiyama-Inoue). Just terrific matwork, striking and storytelling, brilliant little character-based touches from Tamura, great selling by both and an incredibly dramatic finishing stretch. This is as good as any shootstyle ever done. **** 3/4

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  • 1 year later...

I just watched this for the first time, and my initial inclination is to declare this the greatest shoot-style match I've ever seen. I can't think of another match that successfully integrates the technique and realism of shoot-style and the drama and theatricality of pro-style at this level. With most matches in this style, one or the other is sacrificed. Not this time.

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  • GSR changed the title to [2004-08-18-U-STYLE] Kiyoshi Tamura vs Hiroyuki Ito
  • 2 years later...

Tamura is the ace of the promotion and Ito is the scrappy underdog who puts in the fight of his life. This match is quite story-driven, with Ito getting the better of Tamura and scoring two rope breaks early on. The fans are shocked and start to think that Ito might actually have a fighting chance and Tamura sells his disappointment well and his disappointment soon turns to anger as he starts slapping the piss out of poor Ito's mouth. Probably the best match under the U-Style banner.  ★★★★¾

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  • 1 year later...

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