Ishii Signs With World Victory Road
by Robert Sargent
Ending nearly a year of speculation, 2008 Olympic Gold Medallist in Judo, Satoshi Ishii, has officially signed a two-year contract with World Victory Road and will make his mixed martial arts debut at a "Sengoku" event later this year.
Among the most coveted free agents, the 22-year-old native of Osaka, Japan made headlines last year by stating his intentions to battle #1-ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko.
Speculation ran rampant from the moment that Ishii made it clear that he wanted to pursue a career in MMA. First thought to be headed to World Victory Road, reports then shifted and suggested that Ishii had signed with K-1 and DREAM parent company Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG) for a rumoured ¥500 million (approximately $5.86 million USD).
However, last December saw UFC parent group Zuffa enter into exclusive contract negotiations with Ishii and his management team, K-Dash. It was then widely assumed that Ishii would sign with the UFC and make his debut sometime in 2009. At the time, Ishii publicly stated that the UFC was where he wanted to fight.
Negotiations with Zuffa did not pan out, however, and Ishii soon expressed an interest in possibly competing for UFC rival Affliction. In the end, Ishii listened to those around him who suggested that it would be unwise for the Judo star to make his debut in a high-pressure bout in the Octagon.
The deal with World Victory Road is for two years, but does not call for a set number of fights and has a clause that would allow Ishii to compete for other promotions outside of Japan. This would include the UFC.
World Victory Road director Takahiro Kokuho announced that Ishii could debut as soon as "Sengoku IX" on August 2nd at the Saitama Super Arena. Ishii, who recently visited the camp of new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida in Belem, Brazil, hopes to work on his striking in the Netherlands with Fedor Emelianenko and his Red Devil Sport Club. The same Emelianenko whom Ishii first spoke of challenging nearly one year ago.
Unquestionably the biggest signing for World Victory Road to date, Satoshi Ishii could be the key to WVR competing on a larger stage with current rival DREAM.
