MMA in Japan: sport or spoof?

More complicated are the struggles of FEG's operators. K-1 mastermind Kazuyoshi Ishii, released from prison in 2008 after serving more than a year for tax evasion, is rumored to be dueling against FEG president Sadaharu Tanigawa for control of the company Ishii founded in 1993.

From the top down, the whole of Japanese MMA is malignant with this kind of strife, and has been for some time.

"Right now Japanese MMA is at a stalemate," said FEG's Mike Kogan, who resides in the U.S. and handles scouting for much of the group's foreign talent. Yet, he said, even if TV ratings aren't "high, they're steady, which shows there's a fan base for MMA in Japan. They're just waiting to see what happens. Some stars need to breakthrough and be created."

Ratings on Tokyo Broadcasting System for Dream 9 and its oversized tournament that featured, among others, Bob Sapp -- a 6-foot-4, nearly 400-pound NFL washout -- were up. (But not because of Sapp. Or Canseco and his 77-second knockout loss to Hong-Man Choi.) A battle at 139 pounds between Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto and American Joe Warren was the highest-rated bout last Tuesday, which, according to promoters, was, welcome news for fans hoping Japanese MMA remains more sport than spoof.

Hoping to emerge as a challenger to Dream, Sengoku promoter World Victory Road sees itself as the other half of a rivalry that could energize fans like when K-1 and DSE feuded.

Half-empty arenas and weak TV presence don't bode well. But solid backing, sponsorship and Monday's signing of 2008 Olympic judo gold medalist and potential crossover star Satoshi Ishii, make Sengoku an attractive destination for some young American fighters, such as Olympic wrestling hopeful Mo Lawal. (Better money, non-exclusive contracts, a busy fight calendar and the reverence that accompanies strong amateur credentials make 11-hour flights worth the effort, Lawal said.)

Months following Nobuyuki Sakakibara's sale of Pride to the UFC, the American MMA juggernaut filed suit because it said he and his subsidiaries failed to live up to the terms of their agreement. Sakakibara countersued, and depositions are expected to commence this month in Las Vegas.

Sakakibara has hinted at returning to MMA, and now some are suggesting he'll make a play at regaining control of the Pride brand. Whether or not that happens, a close associate to Sakakibara said the former Pride boss has designs on putting money into the Japanese MMA market once business with Zuffa is settled. Of course, with the up-and-down nature of MMA in Japan, this would only make sense.