DYNAMITE!! 2009 Public Press Conference

Amazingly, the blustery winter weather didn't come close to cooling the festive spirits of both fans and fighters alike. The card, put together using fighters from K-1, MAX, Koshien, DREAM and Sengoku fighters ,is perhaps the most competitive and exciting in DYNAMITE!! history. It is no wonder the fans came hours early to secure a decent spot so they could hear what the warriors had to say.

The event began with the High School-aged fighters addressing the crowd just as dusk was falling. Reserve fighter Tsukasa Fuji took advantage of Masato's retirement to nervously stumble through the pre-planned line, �gAfter Masato's period in MAX ends, I believe mine will begin. Kusakabe (his opponent), can you help me put on a worthy fight? I'm sorry to say this, but if you fight like you did last time it won't be nearly enough to come close to beating me.�h Of course, the favorite to win the GP walked on stage with the belt he won last year and confidently proclaimed, �gTomorrow I plan to be the man. And I will take the belt home.�h

Super Hulk Tournament finalist Sokoudjou was the first of the MMA fighters to take to the stage. He told the crowd that he was really looking forward to destroying Minowaman, and considering the fact that his opponent is a hometown hero, the lukewarm reaction he received to this comment was rather polite of the crowd. Minowaman himself simply stated that he had nothing left to say other than, �gBe sure to watch the fight.�h

Sparkling from head to toe under the spotlights, blinged out fan-favorite Ray Sefo took to the stage across from the hometown boxer, Nishijima. The Japanese slugger said he hoped the fight was going to be one where, �gI will knock him out, or get knocked out trying.�h Ray pleased the crowd with a Japanese greeting, and then said �gI love you Japan. I appreciate the chance to fight here tomorrow. It is going to be an exciting fight. And I want to wish you all a happy New Year!�h

In the first of the DREAM vs. SRC series of fights, Judo medalist Izumi stepped up and stated rather stiffly, �gI don't plan on putting on a half-hearted fight. Please support me.�h To which his rather jovial opponent Shibata joked, �gAs Izumi's father is a tuna fisherman, tomorrow I plan to dissect the tuna!�h

With his opponent not having shown up, the gutsy battler Takaya Hiroyuki said, �gTomorrow I will do my best to represent DREAM well. To all the DREAM fans out there, please give me your support.�h

Gono gave new meaning to his nickname �gBig Mouth�h with a comment that took as much time as some of his fights have; the crux of which was that he would do more in the way of entertainment than the rival network show �gKohaku,�h and that he would steal his opponents popularity by beating him. His opponent, �gMach�h said he was willing to put his life on the line in the fight, and together they would put on the fight of all time.

Rather dramatically, Misaki then took to the microphone and said, �gTomorrow will close 2009. I hope to show you a wonderful ending to that year, and in so doing, show what Japanese fighting spirit is about.�h His opponent, a man simply unable to put on a boring performance, Melvin Manhoef then replied with, �gI am very happy to fight here at DYNAMITE!! Tomorrow I will let you see an exciting fight.�h

Perennial underdog, Tokoro, firstly thank his opponent for saving the fight by stepping in to replace the original fighter after he was injured. He then went on to say he wanted to show just how strong DREAM really was. The Korean fighter, Kim Jong Man promised, �gSurely my fight with Tokoro is going to be one of the most exciting of the night.�h

SRC fighter, Yokota then re-energized the crowd when he said, �gMy opponent has far more distinction in this world than I do, so firstly I would like to prove that my ability is totally superior to his. Then, I will get on the microphone and say a few words.�h Kawajiri then set that crowd alight with cheers when, after thanking the crowd for braving the weather, chose not to address Yokota but instead the referee of his bout with, �gTo the referee, I'm sure I will have such momentum in the fight tomorrow that I will beat him far too severely. Please be sure to jump in and stop me.�h

�gKID�h Yamamoto's opponent, Kanehara was up next, and he confidently delivered, �gMy opponent KID hasn't turned up today. Anyway, I am in brilliant condition. I am going to absolutely destroy him tomorrow. Please give me your support.�h

Yet another Olympian then took to the microphone. Yoshida greeted the crowd with a heartfelt, �gThe atmosphere here reminds me of the days of PRIDE. I like it. Since the fight with Ishii was confirmed, I have felt it is something that fits perfectly with me. I very much want to show you all a spectacular fight tomorrow.�h His opponent did not show up.

The man whose name has been typed into more forums than any other in the past month or so was next in line. Alistair Overeem practiced his newfound Japanese skills today when he muttered in the local lingo, �gHello. I am Alistair Overeem. I am number 1�h before returning to his seat. His opponent, Fujita, is someone you just cant help but cheer for. He said, �gThank you for braving this cold. I'm surprised to see such fevered interest in our sport since the demise of PRIDE still exists. Tomorrow I have to fight that massive monster over there, but I will show you all my true fighting spirit. Please witness it.�h

The man that many love to hate then pushed the envelope slightly further next. Aoki stated that he believed he wasn't the only one that had memories of Yarennoka 2 years earlier due to the press conference being in the same place. He then followed with, �gSince then DREAM was started, and without a doubt I have pulled it along with me, as well as Japanese MMA in general. Tomorrow I will make sure to show the true difference.�h

Veteran to both the ring and the microphone, Gary Goodridge then addressed the crowd with, �gI'm glad to be back in Japan, a place I consider my home. Tomorrow I look forward to a good fight. I want to show that I still have what it takes. I wish my opponent good luck, and the same to the other fighters on the card.�h Mousasi thanked the crowd for coming out to see them all, and added, �gI am sure we will have an exciting fight tomorrow, so please enjoy it.�h

The final opponent of the most successful kickboxer Japan has ever produced was next to take his turn. Andy Souwer stated, �gI am very excited to be here in Japan fighting on New Years Ever, and also to be Masato's final opponent. However, I am here with my son and the rest of my family and team for encouragement, so my confidence is very high. Unfazed, the winner of the Most Valuable Player award for DYNAMITE!! 2009 before the event has even taken place, Masato of course, replied with, �gTomorrow will be my final fight, and I want to make sure it is so exciting that I leave the ring without a single regret. It is going to be a tough battle that I want to end cleanly with a knockout. I want the result of this fight to be the foundation on which I start building the rest of my life.�h

And with that comment, the press conference was concluded. The event promises something for everyone, and with Saitama Arena being configured for its maximum seating capacity for the first event since 2006, there are still a small number of tickets that will go on sale at noon tomorrow for those lucky enough to be in Japan. For those of you that aren't, be sure to tune in on HDNet to watch it live.

Page Top