[MMA]: M-1 Global Sets Sights on Japan
A press conference was held today in Tokyo. The theme of the event was "aiming at the globalization of MMA." The press conference was to announce a small show on 4/16 at Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo called "M-1 Selection ASIA EDITION 2010 Japan." Heading up M-1 Global Japan is former AtoZ Japanese pro-wrestling women’s wrestling ring announcer Mr. Tsuruga (he’s in the middle of the photo linked above). There will be M-1 events throughout Asia (including South Korea).
It will be a tough sell for M-1 Global really break into the already saturated Japanese market, which has started to show cracks much like the Japanese pro wrestling industry did after the All Japan split into NOAH and Shin'ya Hashimoto leaving New Japan to form Zero-One after the shame of his series with Judoka and MMA "fighter" Naoya Ogawa. ASTRA has shown what could be the beginning of vanity MMA promotions (as it is Yoshida Dojo's vehicle at the moment) in MMA in Japan, which on top of DREAM, SRC (the big two) and the smaller promotions like SHOOTO, DEEP, ZST and GCM. If Japan continues to fracture, any outside force breaking into the market will be futile (be it UFC, M-1, Strikeforce or anybody else).
