TV battle live between Sak and Rickson on the news in Japan!!

[YeLLa-TiGeR]

I took this straight out of the UG



"Rickson was just on a Japanese news program called News 23 on TBS television. It's a news program which is broadcast at 11:00 PM here in Japan. This program is on a different station from those which broadcast PRIDE and Coliseum. Not much that he said was something that we haven't all heard before, the samurai stuff, etc., but there were a few things of note on the program. When asked what he thought the strongest martial art is, he paused for a little while, and answered, "Judo." When asked if he thought he was the best, he clearly answered, "No." The highlight of the interview occurred when a phone call message was sent from Sakuraba, who was apparently watching the news program from a Japanese baseball player's (friend's) residence. Sakuraba said (very loosely) "You can't keep running. When are you going to answer my challenge." Rickson didn't really change his demeanor, but he smiled and only gave a cookie cutter type reply. Something to the extent of, "I hope it will happen."

[Mad Dog]

For those of you who say Rickson has nothing to prove, I can see your point. My own feelings on the matter are that, now that someone has appeared on the scene who is kicking Gracie ass left and right, all of a sudden he doesn't want to play. Based on the level of his opponents lately, he's a "B" level fighter (Rickson that is).

[Martial Artist]

Rickson by Choke 11:43

[sakattack]

There should be no reason why the fight between Rickson and Sak should not happen. Everybody wants it and there's a big paying audience in Japan. Wanting more money is not a good enough excuse.

Rickson should stop running. I agree that now that there's a Gracie killer, Rickson needs to step up. He's not fighting Sak because he has too much to lose. Now, he's setting up a fight with Ogawa, who's probably not even in the top 20 fighters in the middleweight division.

At least Frank Shammy vs. Sak will happen next year.

[L3FTH00K]

I watched Rickson's Gracie's choke video. I know Rickson is an smart fighter and a realistic one too. What I mean is you sometimes see fighters who have the attitude that he will never loose a match, and believe it. Rickson I believe has doubts, and that's ok. It is not wether your nervous to fight but rather how you will use your nervous energy as a positive. I know Rickson is not physically scared to loose a fight, but rather emotionally. Money is not the issue here it's literally PRIDE. He has been touted as the best Gracie and has never experienced defeat before. I bet Rickson would rather see RYAN beat SAK so people can once again say the Rickson is the best. People would once again say "well there is no way SAK would have beaten Rickson because Ryan defeated SAK." My opinion it's all going to be in the hands of the media. If the media keeps calling Rickson out to fight SAK, then Rickson will eventually have to accept the challenge.

[david a]

It will never happen.

If he lost, it would ruin the Gracie name, and their business. Why do you think Ryan is fighting him, and not Rickson... He's probably being told not to fight him.
The Gracies need that mystique; without it they could never charge outrageous fees to train with them. They would be like any Bob Stiffs Karate dojo- struggling. Almighty dollar, that's what it comes down to.

[Cooter]

The guy that called in was just a prankster, it wasn't really Sakuraba. Saku confirmed this today.

BTW, writing that Ogawa is "not even in the top 20 fighters in the middleweight division" is ludicrous. Ogawa is 240+ pounds and would DESTROY many top 20 middleweights. If he fights Rickson and it is legit, look for this to be close.

[Patterson]

Do you guys really think bjj schools are going to go out of business if Rickson were to lose to Sakuraba over in Japan? How many Americans would actually know about that? I can see the point you are trying to make but you must be having to try really hard to believe it. Did Gracie Torrance Academy have a higher than average amount of student's quit and a lower than average new arrivals count the weeks following Royce's loss? Of course not.

[pfsjkd]

I agree with L3FTHOOK, it's not money, it's the mystique of the Gracie name that he doesn't want to tarnish.

Patterson, you're right in one sense, the US Gracie schools would probably not suffer too much, but I guarantee you that EVERYONE in the US who's into BJJ, GJJ, and MMA would hear about it soon if Rickson lost to Sak. Same goes for Brazil. That's probably where he would lose the most face.

[Bau13]

Why would BJJ schools suffer?

The Chicago Bulls suck now...oh I guess I should stop playing basketball then...

Patterson:

No, there isn't a direct cause-and-effect relationship, but damage to the "Gracie Mystique" will result in diminished revenues in the long run.

In that sense, Rickson is wise not to fight Sak.

Which, in my mind, is all the more reason why he should.