It's not common for anime and sports to cross over, but when they do, the results are awesome. UFC 234 got a very anime showdown when middleweight contender Israel Adesanya compared his upcoming match with MMA legend Anderson Silva to one of Naruto's most famous duels--hit the jump for more!
Rin Nakai, known for her "sexy exercise" videos on Youtube, will be the first female fighter from Asia to join the UFC as she makes her debut in mixed martial arts' biggest promotion with a fight against Miesha Tate on September 20th at the Saitama Super Arena. What she lacks is a nickname and after profiling the competitor, Vice Japan is helping to select one. More after the jump.
Attack on Titan author Hajime Isayama has confirmed that a number of titans, or at least their musculatures, are based on mixed martial arts UFC veterans. Eren's titan is Jushin Okami. The Armored Titan is parts Brock Lesnar, Alistair Overeem and Wanderlei Silva. With the UFC returning to Japan next month, the event has tapped into the connection with a special AoT poster give away and transit ads. Get a look after the jump.
On September 20th, the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Japan with UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson, the mixed martial arts promotion's third fight card at Japan's Saitama Super Arena following UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson in February 2012 and UFC on Fuel TV: Silva vs. Stann in March 2013. As with previous Japanese trips, promotional efforts got a bit of help from Yudetamago, creator(s) of manga's intergalactic wrestler Kinnikuman.
At tonight's UFC 175 - Weidman vs. Machida, 135lb Bantamweight fighter Marcus "The Bama Beast" Brimage lost in a split judges' decision to Russell Doane, but the mixed martial artist still managed to win the respect of otaku. Not only did he wear a Dragon Ball Z scouter to the weigh-ins and other pre-fighter photo-ops, he wore the geeky accessory in his walk down to the caged octagon! Get a look after the jump.
After a ten month hiatus, mixed martial arts doujinshi "Natural Born Comics" has been inspired to return for a new manga analysis of tonight's UFC main event, featuring loud mouthed American wrestler Chael Sonnen versus Brazilian middleweight champion Anderson Silva - who made this name in Japanese fight promotion Pride. Get a look after the jump.
On February 26th, American mixed martial arts promotion UFC will be running its first Japanese event in 12 years. To smooth things over, UFC has brought in some help from manga superhero and intergalactic wrestler Kinnikuman. See the results after the jump.