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4. Aoki vs. Nagashima
K-1 Dynamite: The Power of Courage 2010
Dec. 31, 2010 | Saitama, Japan
To properly understand the madness that was Shinya Aoki-Yuichiro Nagashima, it is important to have a little context. Japanese MMA, especially a few years ago when it was desperately trying to hang onto viewers in the aftermath of the Pride Fighting Championships and Dream debacles, embraced spectacle in a way about which today’s dominant American MMA promotions can only dream. One of the ways it did this was through mixed-rules bouts between recognizable names in different combat sports.

On paper, pitting MMA and grappling star Aoki against K-1 MAX kickboxing champion, cross-dresser and cosplayer Nagashima was, well, pretty insane; the actual bout was even more nuts than we all thought it would be. Consider the picture of Nagashima and remember he was the saner, relatively well-balanced fighter in this matchup.

The first round, contested under kickboxing rules, consisted almost entirely of Aoki diving into the clinch, tossing Nagashima to the canvas, falling onto his back at every opportunity and generally making an ass of himself and a mockery of the “regulations” according to which the match was supposed to be fought. It was somehow fitting then that the second round -- to be contested under MMA rules -- turned out the way it did.

Aoki wasted no time in coming out of his corner and dropping levels for the takedown. Naturally, Nagashima met his wild, telegraphed takedown with a flying knee and separated Aoki from consciousness. Japanese MMA, we miss you.

Number 3 » Ill-Fated Kiss