Shinsuke Nakamura, too cocky?

[niniendo warrior]

Credit from SSS:

K-1 MMA Rules: Alexey Ignashov beat Shinsuke Nakamura (R3 1:19) by KO

other results can be seen at SSS...
http://www.puroresufan.com/other/123103.php

Of course, this is MMA stuff, but Nakamura is, of course, carrying the NJPW flag, AND the IWGP belt with him...

What was Shinsuke thinking when he took up this match? Did he ever expect to come away with a victory? Maybe it's because he beat Tenzan...

I don't know, but ever since I found out that Shinsuke accepted this match, I just said to myself: "He'll definitely be another KO victim..."

UPDATE: I stand corrected here.

This is an excerpt from SSS report on K-1 Dynamite:

The other fight is the controversial one, and was between IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Shinsuke Nakamura, and K-1's "next Cro Cop", Alexey Ignashov. This was a very hard fought fight, but Nakamura INSTANTLY took down Ignashov and almost ended it early. Ignashov showed good defense, and the first round ended without major incident. Nakamura got the upper hand in round two, which was more physical. Both men hurt each other, but reports said Nakamura won the round, despite taking one of Ignashov's much feared knee kicks. Nakamura stayed up after it, and went for the takedown again. They tussled in the third round, before a brief pause when the doctor had to check a cut under Ignashov's left eye. After some more fighting, Ignashov landed another knee, and Nakamura hit the mat. Nakamura rose immediately... yet the referee stopped the match! Nakamura raised his voice in protest, clearly conscious and in control of his senses. The ring became a chaos zone, with arguments erupting. Backstage, a cocky Ignashov said "Nakamura was not strong". Director Uei immediately blasted K-1 producer, Sadaharu Tanikawa, demanding to know why the referee stopped the fight without even starting a count. Uei said is was unacceptable, and said furiously, "Shinsuke stood immediately!". After flooring Nakamura, Ignashov threw a cheap kick to the back of his head, which normally might have gotten him a yellow card, but that was overlooked. Nakamura was asked about whether he was damaged from the knee kick, and he said, "Not at all". Uei said there must be another war, and protested further. Tanikawa took it under consideration, and as of right now, the match is "no result". Tanikawa is considering a rematch, but that doesn't answer what the result will end up as. We should hear a decision soon, but many people watching the fight got the impression that the K-1 referee stopped the fight at the first opportunity he could, perhaps to protect K-1's big investment. No doubt the controversy will continue, especially if Ignashov's victory stands; New Japan and Nakamura will never acknowledge this as a defeat, and Nakamura, usually humble, was visibly disgusted.

Shinsuke Nakamura has won my respect not only as a wrestler, but as a fighter. I was wrong to quickly dismiss his 'loss' as a fool-hardy attempt at MMA. May he continue to strive hard in MMA and be successful there.

Pictures here: http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/...a09/index.html

[Spunkwhy]

He wasn't being cocky really, just doing what the company wanted him to do. New Japan has (had maybe) the vale tudo bloodlust.. Mixed Martial Arts is one of hte top spots in Japan right now, and Pro-Wrestling isn't even top 10 material anymore, when 10 years back it was number 3.

How else to regain your composure but to send your young, promising stars to fight against people that fight for a living? And don't tour, etc.

As for the decision being reversed, well.. A little too late if you ask me. Check it out for yourself, go to K-1's homepage and try to find info on the reversed decision. While it might of gone down in the books, only die hard K-1/fight fans know of the reversal, as well as puroresu fans. So I don't know, in most people's minds, they remember Nakamura face down on the mat, declared the loser.

[niniendo warrior]

I was expecting a lot of flames when I figured out that I was very much mistaken about the whole thing.

I know you are probably more tolerant than most of the people... and I thank you for not flaming me.

As for the reversed decision, K-1 did announce it at the Tokyo Dome... whether or not K-1 will make the effort to let it be known, that is another case.

[Dr Feelgood]

It is down as a NC on the K-1 site.

[Spunkwhy]

Yeah, they never publically made a statement about it though..

[edgehead1984]

They announced it at the 01/04 NJPW Tokyo Dome show.

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

I enjoy watching his fights and listening to his interviews. Actually, he's somewhat humble but shows a strong passion for the fighting sports.

[Spunkwhy]

Aye, they announced it at a New Japan show.. How many K-1 fans do you really think bother to follow New Japan? Or Pro-Wrestling in general? My point is there was never a K-1 statement in K-1 based media.