Akiyama-Misaki Ruled No Contest

Following a review of the Dec. 31 bout between Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures) and Kazuo Misaki (Pictures), the Yarennoka executive committee has ruled the fight a No Contest.

The match ended when Akiyama was knocked out with a vicious kick to the face as he attempted to scramble to his feet. Following the bout, there was much debate whether the decisive blow had been illegal.

Akiyama's camp launched a formal protest, and last week Yarennoka executive Keiichi Sasahara said his committee would formally review the bout.

Yarennoka rules director Yuji Shimada said that before the event, officials explained that Yarennoka was different from PRIDE and would have new rules. Fighters were warned about illegal maneuvers, and the officiating committee stressed that it would likely err on the side of caution, perceiving any gray area as illegal.

With these provisions in mind, Shimada said that the Yarennoka committee stated that according to its rules, Akiyama was in a four-point position, and therefore Misaki's strike that ended the bout was illegal.

Shimada further explained that while the committee overturned the in-ring call of referee Daisuke Noguchi, there were no plans to reprimand the official due to the difficult nature of making such a call in the ring.