The Neo Samurai - The World’s Greatest Entertainer

He's been a geisha, an African tribal leader, and a futuristic sci-fi warrior. He's entered the ring with a smoking KFC bucket on his head. He's even dressed up as Charlie Sheen's "Wild Thing" from the movie Major League. The entertainment value of sport typically comes from within the playing surface. Very rarely does an athlete come along where his goal is not only to win, but also to entertain. This is especially rare with the confines of mixed martial arts. Whenever Genki Sudo fought, be it in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, or the Japanese equivalents Pride and K-1, Sudo has become renowned not only for his incredibly unorthodox fighting style, but also his elaborate ring entrances. Most fans of fighting want only the action within the ring, finding long drawn out walks to ringside a waste of time from the eventual fight. For Genki Sudo, it was different; here he could really express himself. And entertain.

click here to watch his entrance
December 31, 2006

This video was the last entrance from Genki Sudo’s fighting career. Sudo abruptly announced his retirement following his tap out victory on this New Year’s Eve 2006 fight, shocking all his fans, as Sudo was still in his early 30’s. When asked what persuaded him to retire so young, he said:

“When I went to the bathroom there was a sign on the wall right in front of me saying: ‘ONE STEP FORWARD!.’ … I felt I needed to start something else.”

He mentioned that he would travel the world to see how human beings solve problems and live happily together. Sudo has since written 8 books in Japan, earned his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, and started up a Japanese Pop group, World Order. In his free time, he coaches an over-30 amateur men’s baseball team. There’s nothing this man can’t do.

click for a compilation of Genki Sudo's entrances

 

So why is this man the world’s greatest entertainer? Despite the elaborate entrances, his singing, dancing, and generally being different from everyone; his unpredictability continued in the ring (or octagon) when fighting. He would punish his opponents using a style for which no one could train against. His fighting style, Bushido (Japanese for: The Samurai Way), is good reason for his nickname, The Neo Samurai. This occasionally involved him fighting with his back facing the opponent, continuous spinning backhands, front flip kicks to the head, or flying kicks from the ring corners. His final record upon retirement across all Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) competitions was 15 wins, 5 loses, 1 draw. His wins included twice garnering the UFC Fighter Award (UFC 38, UFC 47), winning the Tap Out Award in both events. Despite weighing less than 155 pounds, Sudo also accepted a challenge from superheavyweight boxer Eric Esch, better known as Butterbean. Though Butterbean is not a trained mixed martial artist, many thought the near 300-pound weight advantage would be too much for Sudo at the K-1 event in 2003. Instead, after running off the ropes to perform a flying dropkick, Sudo performed a heel hook on the massive Esch, forcing him to tap out less than one minute into the 2^nd round. Sudo’s resume also includes knocking out Royler Gracie, a fighter for the esteemed Gracie MMA family, through a barrage of punches.

click here for a fighting compilation

Genki Sudo was also well liked for his message after fights. After wins, he would always bow to the crowd, bow to his opponent, and pull out a big sign with the words: WE ARE ALL ONE.

Fight fans can now only dream that one day, Sudo may return to us and amaze us once again with his athletic talent, unpredictable fighting style, and beautifully choreographed entrances. Otherwise, those privy to watching him fight in the past can only look back on a fighter who truly was one-of-a-kind. 

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Note: Be sure to watch all the videos!

(And be sure to come back Friday as Genki Sudo garners the 'Song of the Week' award.)

Artwork above by: Allan Youl (alleycatsgarden.com)