Japan's 'other' MMA organization

The demise of PRIDE following its purchase by the principals behind the UFC left a vacuum in the Japanese MMA scene for over half a year.  In a country with such a history of fight fandom, however, it was just a matter of time before new promotions began to enter the marketplace.  While DREAM has garnered the most press coverage nationally and internationally they were beaten to the punch by World Victory Road and the group nominally perceived as Japan’s #2 promotion may be best positioned for long term success.

The formation of World Victory Road was announced in mid October of 2007, and at the same time the WVR hierarchy revealed their plans to create the Japanese MMA Association.  The goal of the Japanese MMA Association was to provide more rigorous oversight than currently exists in the seemingly “anything goes� environment.  While Japanese MMA is nominally regulated by the World Shooto Association their oversight has been decried as lax to nonexistent.  The Japanese MMA Association, meanwhile, seeks to provide not only regulatory oversight but to serve as a promotional vehicle for the sport.  With the understanding that creating a uniform environment within the chaotic framework of Japanese fightsports is a daunting task, they’re rightfully convinced that their goal is needed for the good of the fighters and the sport.

To provide contrast to the often inexplicable business dealings and shady characters that have historically characterized Japanese fight sports, the WVR hierarchy is a paragon of integrity and credibility within the culture of the country.  That commitment starts at the top, where former Tokyo Police Chief Yukihiko Inoue serves as the promotion’s commissioner.  Inoue is something of a national hero in Japan, as he was instrumental in the successful investigation of the 1995 sarin gas attack on a Tokyo subway.  His resigned from his post in some degree of ignominy after accusations of internal corruption, but remains a highly revered figure in Japan.

The President of WVR Tomiaki Fukuda who also serves as the head of the puroresu oversight group Japan Wrestling Association.  Vice Presidents are Hiroshi Hase, a hugely popular and highly regarded pro wrestler of the 1990’s and Japanese businessman Takao Yasuda.  Former  WBA light flyweight champion  Yoko Gushiken serves in a largely ceremonial position on the board of directors, though his credibility enhances the product greatly since he’s still popular in Japan despite not having fought since the late 70’s.  The entire corporate structure of WVR was created to emphasize the transparency and accountability that had been absent in numerous promotions of the recent past.

WVR received another boost to their credibility and long term prospects for success when Fuji TV picked up their programming.  Not only did this enhance their financial viability, it was also an important symbolic statement.   Fuji TV ending their relationship with PRIDE in 2006 is frequently cited as the beginning of the end for that promotion.  WVR became the first MMA programming on the network since then and was seen as a “vote of confidence� in the integrity of the organization.

In addition to putting together an impressive lineup in the front office, they’ve been able to sign a number of top stars who became famous in PRIDE.  Josh Barnett and Takanori Gomi are likely the best known of their fighter roster, though they’ve got a deep lineup of solid competitors.  The WVR rules are somewhat different than DREAM’s (which are largely derived from PRIDE’s rulebook) with the most obvious difference being the structure of the fight—WVR fights are contested in three five minute rounds just like the UFC. 

In another break with the typical Japanese “make it up as you go along� theory of fight organization management, WVR planned their first event for five full months. Their debut event, Sengoku 1, was held on March 5^th in Tokyo.  While there were no official attendance released for the event the fan turnout looked solid for a card headlined by Josh Barnett’s submission victory over a game Hidehiko Yoshida.  PRIDE vet Yoshida is an Olympic Gold winning judoka and is also highly regarded in the mainstream Japanese culture.

While its difficult to see what, if any, inroads have been made by the Japan MMA Association in regulatory oversight the prospects for the promotional side of World Victory Road is much more hopeful.  They’re running their second event (Sengoku 2) on May 19^th with an intriguing main event pitting Josh Barnett against former UFC heavyweight challenger Jeff Monson in a battle of world class submission wrestlers.  The level of fan and media interest in this event will help ascertain where WVR stands relative to their flashier DREAM counterpart.  The show is scheduled between DREAM.3 and DREAM.4, so they’ll have their work cut out for them in winning media coverage and fan interest. A strong showing by Sengoku 2 will be a huge victory for the organization.

Still, despite the perception of World Victory Road as the #2 organization they hold some significant advantages over FEG’s DREAM promotion.  They’re certainly a better organized and more professionally managed company.  While this could be achieved by default given DREAM’s notoriously chaotic front office, they deserve a good deal of credit for bringing a degree of order and professionalism to a marketplace long characterized by a complete lack of these qualities.   Additionally, World Victory Road’s deal with Fuji TV is much better than DREAM’s television clearance.  In a Japanese media market that’s 5 to 10 years behind the US PPV is less of a factor and exposure on “free� TV more of a necessity. 

Ultimately, there may be room for both promotions in the fight crazy Japanese media market.  Alternately, there could be a merger or other working agreement down the road with many veteran Japanese fight industry observers suggesting is the most likely scenario.  Even if neither of these eventualities were to transpire it would be foolish for DREAM to dismiss the challenge posed by the World Victory Road organization.  They may not be the “sexy� promotion in the eyes of the worldwide MMA fan base, but their liabilities outside the ring could make them vulnerable to a better run adversary.