PRIDE Bushido 2 Preview

YASUHITO NAMEKAWA: Japanese grappler, DEEP veteran, Night of the Samurai veteran, Inoki Bom Ba Ye veteran,trains under and with and members of the RINGS Japan, with a record of 14-12-1 in MMA, making his 1st appearance in the ring of the PFC

Abbreviated Fight History: Yasuhito Namekawa is a long time RINGS Japan veteran and competed regularly in the final 3 years of the event. He also fought in the short-lived RINGS USA events and made the move to the DEEP organization after the demise of the RINGS events in Japan. With a 4-0-1 record in DEEP, he brings a vastly improved game to Pride. Below are some of Namekawa's more significant contests:

Namekawa/Alistair Overeem: Namekawa gets the takedown and Overeem fights from guard. Alistair just casually traps the left arm, swings over and armbars Yasuhito in forty-five seconds.
Namekawa/Falaniko Vitale: Vitale throws a leg kick and combination punches to close the distance but Namekawa knees him in the body, clinches and puts Vitale in the corner. Namekawa continues to knee with a front headlock applied and rolls him forward to the mat not once but twice. Vitale gets out of the headlock and punches Namekawa in the face and body from the clinch. They exchange punches in the corner and Vitale starts foot stomping Namekawa. It was very effective but Namekawa takes Vitale down and they work from Niko's guard. Vitale attempts an armbar but Namekawa won't allow Vitale to close his legs. Niko tries again but it is unsuccessful and Namekawa tries to gain side control. Vitale stands up and they exchange strikes in the clinch. The Japanese fighter continues to score with knees to the body but Niko unloads some bombs on Yasuhito's face. They continue to grapple in the center and Namekawa gets a front headlock. Vitale pulls out easily and Namekawa goes to his back. With just seconds left, Vitale tries to mount, go for an armbar and a leg submission all in the same sequence but doesn't commit to any of those moves. Namekawa scores a double leg takedown and they fight from Vitale's guard. While Niko is attempting an armbar, he kicks Namekawa in the throat and the bell sounds. Between rounds Tsuyoshi Kohsaka and Hiromitsu Kanehara seem to be telling Namekawa that Vitale is tired and Kanehara slaps Namekawa in the face a few times to pump him up. It worked. Round two opens with a straight left to the face from Namekawa. Vitale tries to answer but is bombarded with knees and punches to the body. Yasuhito gets a front guillotine choke and continues to land knees forcing Vitale to tap in under 30 seconds.

Namekawa/Volk Han: Both fighters come out striking and Han is working for a standing armlock. Han gets the takedown and seizes Namekawa's back for a rear choke but cannot sink it. The whole first round is back and forth with neither fighter establishing control of the bout. They have a heated exchange to start round two but Han nails him with an illegal elbow in the corner and Namekawa needs time. When they resume, Han is the more effective striker and drops Namekawa to the canvas with a back suplex. They grapple from half mount and when Namekawa turns to his stomach, Han nails him again with an elbow high on the back. Han acts like he isn't familiar with the rules though he's fought in this organization for years…but it's usually in Japan and not at home in Russia. He gets a yellow card and starts pounding away at Namekawa until Yasuhito shoots for a lifesaving takedown. Han has an armbar sunk but Namekawa escapes just before the bell rings. Han wants to finish it standing in round three but Namekawa scores a takedown. There's not a whole lot going on as both are tired and they are stood up. Namekawa shoots, misses, and basically sits on the mat as Han climbs on his back. Volk would achieve mount numerous times in the last round and would pound away at the body. He also had another rear naked attempt finished the round standing and beating a fallen Namekawa. Han wins the three-round decision.

Also worthy of note: Namekawa battled Lee Hasdell (loss/KO), Willie Peeters (loss/TKO), Christopher Haseman (loss/submission) and Wallid Ismail (loss/decision)
Strengths And Weaknesses: Namekawa has decent takedown and submission skills but he is not the greatest striker. However with just one legitimate submission victory in the last three years, he has gotten away from the techniques that secured his early victories and now he likes to strike more.

How He Can Beat Valavicius: By submission. He was pummeled on the feet in the first fight and submission seems to be Valavicius' weakness. If he can take him to the ground, there's a good chance he can finish him there.

EGIDIJUS VALAVICIUS: Lithuanian kickboxer, trains with Erikas Petraitis, Povilas Markevicius and the rest of RINGS Lithuania team at Drakonas Gym, with a record of 5-3 in MMA, making his 1st appearance in the ring of the PFC.

Abbreviated Fight History: Valavicius is from Lithuania where MMA already has a strong following. He competed in a Lithuania Shooto event organized by Donatas Simanitis who is the president of Bushido Lithuania. There where 4000 fans were in attendance and many Lithuanian fighters such as Remigius Morkevicius, Kestutis Smirnovas and Egidijus Valavicius have already competed in Japan. Most of the fighters in this region are strikers and Valavicius is no different. He has competed in 5 RINGS Lithuania events and twice in RINGS Japan. Below are some of Valavicius' more significant contests

Valavicius/Yasuhito Namekawa: At the bell Valavicius hits him with a flurry and Namekawa hits the mat. He gets up but he's wobbly and gets a standing eight count. Namekawa shoots and Valavicius avoids the initial takedown but Yasuhito's persistence pays off and he brings him down anyway. However Egidijus won't stay grounded as he continues to move and elevates Namekawa out of mount to get back to his feet. From the clinch Valavicius knees to the body and falls on him. He quickly sits in side mount and gets a side headlock but Namekawa sneaks out the back and sits in his guard. Namekawa punches to the body from half mount and turns to work for a kneebar but Valavicius sees it coming and stands up. Egidijus throw two hook punches to the face and Yasuhito hits the canvas face first. He is stood up and given the standing eight but he is still out of it (he didn't even close his fists when asked if he was ready). Valavicius is ready to tee off but Namekawa needs an equipment adjustment before he can be hit again. As expected, Valavicus cuts loose and though Namaekawa is able to avoid some damage by shooting in, his corner knows he's finished and throws in the towel. Doesn't sound like grounds for a rematch to me.

Valavicius/Christopher Haseman: Haseman gets the action rolling with a hard leg kick and later a stepping sidekick. Valavicuis is content to just bounce and circle. Haseman misses with a reverse hook kick but follows with another leg kick and a head height roundhouse. Valavicius has still done nothing. He eats a roundhouse and a reverse sidekick and still nothing. When he looks to finally score, Haseman cuts him short with his trademark front leg sidekick and takes him to the mat. Christopher moves from half mount to mount to side mount with little effort and cranks on Egidijus' head with a guillotine choke. Haseman circles on the mat maintain position and settles on side mount. He seizes the arm but Valavicius sees the armlock coming and avoids it. It takes a bit more work but Haseman works on his right arm and softens him up for the armbar win.

Valavicius/Gele Gesadze: Both fighters come out throwing bombs and Valavicius is cut. After a brief stoppage, the bout continues and Valavicius takes Gesadze down and applies a guillotine choke for the win in the first round.

Also worthy of note: Valavicius battled Andrei Kopylov (loss/decision) and Fedor Emelianenko (loss/submission)

Strengths And Weaknesses: Standing. His ground skills have improved but he is still limited. On the feet he has looked solid at times but if he is to go further in the sport, he'll need to work the ground a lot. Some of the weakness can possibly be attributed to not having all the best people to train with. Holland is known for their stand-up expertise as well but they have made the adjustment to learning the ground. Hopefully RINGS Lithuania will get what they need too.

How He Can Beat Namekawa: Standing up. He should try even harder this time to get the quick KO. Namekawa has looked almost lost in exchanges on the feet and the kickboxer should stick to what he knows.

MY PICK: Valavicius. Both are coming off victories but Valavicius is 2-2 since the first bout and Namekawa is 4-2-1. Yasuhito has been much busier and his ground game has improved a great deal. However, Valavicius went two rounds with Fedor Emelianeko and he won his last bout by submission. Tough call but I favor the striker. This guys is no "Cro Cop" but he can hit. I feel it will be Valavicius by TKO/referee stoppage in the 1st Rd.

DOWN THE ROAD:
Namekawa/Alexandre Ferreira: "Cacareco" is now part of Gracie Barra but has not fought in a few years. Namekawa is a winnable comeback fight for him.

Namekawa/Dean Lister: Lister was supposed to face Arona at the last Pride show but the bout was called off. He was also supposed to fight in Pancrase a few years back. Can somebody get this guy a fight in Japan?

Valavicius/Alistair Overeem: Overeem is a star in the making. Although he'd likely chew this guy up, he needs a fight to stay current in the public eye.

Valavicius/Ebenezer Fontes Braga: The Luta Livre stylist has returned to fighting and went 2-1 last year. He's been fighting in the Heat Fighting Championships but would likely make a return to Pride if offered.