#251: Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Yoshihisa Yamamoto, Fighting Network Rings RISE IV (6/24/1999).
This is the highest rated match from Rings on Cagematch, which is the only reason I seeked it out! Shoot Style Wrestling is so interesting to me, so I’d likely be watching this no matter what.
I’ve never seen Yamamoto wrestle before, but I did watch Tamura’s 1998 clash with Tsuyoshi Kohsaka for the blog last year, and that was a technical masterclass. I expect the same here!
Tamura fakes a handshake and just slaps the shit out of Yamamoto. The bell sounds, and Yamamoto quickly takes control of the back. They scramble on the mat, and are back to their feet immediately. Yamamoto looks for an arm bar quickly, but Tamura escapes and both are back to their feet. The 2,000+ in Korakuen approve. Tamura kicks Yamamoto’s leg out from under him. They’re back to their feet, peppering in some leg kicks.
Tamura blocks one and applies a leg lock. Yamamoto takes side control, and looks to hammerlock the arm. He sits on Tamura’s head for added leverage. He’s close to fully applying the Kimura, and then transitions to an arm bar. Tamura is quick to scramble away, but Yamamoto stays on pressure. He takes top position, and lightly punches at Tamura’s chest. He pancakes, attempting to smother Tamura. He takes the back, and grapevines his legs around the midsection.
Yamamoto tries for a rear naked choke, but Tamura wisely tucks his chin. He escapes the hold, but Yamamoto still has his legs wrapped around Tamura’s stomach. He turns on the back and lands some light punches to the ribs. Tamura with a smooth transition to the back, and now he looks for control. He tries for a suplex, but Yamamoto uses his foot to block it. They’re back on the mat, and Yamamoto grapevines Tamura’s leg.
Tamura takes control of Yamamoto’s leg and almost is going for a Calf Crusher of sorts. Yamamoto is trying to wrap his whole body around Tamura, who responds with a brief leg lock. Tamura in the guard now. Yamamoto is bare foot with kick pads, ala Mike Bailey! Tamura takes the back now, until Yamamoto transitions into the guard next. Light punches by Yamamoto, and Tamura is tired of it and throws some wild strikes of his own. Yamamoto is fired up, and he’s throwing some hard punches now. He gets a yellow card from the referee, which I assume isn’t good. Side note: I love the band Yellowcard.
Both men are back to their feet, until Tamura gets Yamamoto back to the mat. They scramble for control, and Yamamoto ends up in the guard again. He’s trying to advance, but Tamura will not let him at all. Good ground control by Tamura here. Light punch to the sternum by Yamamoto, and he tries to hammerlock the arm again. Tamura hooks the leg and gets Yamamoto on his back. The crowd are so silent and into this match, I can hear a baby crying somewhere in Korakuen.
Tamura in top position, and he peppers in some punches to the chest. They get progressively harder, and Tamura now looks for an arm bar. He’s close to getting it applied, but Yamamoto is doing his best to block it. He takes the back quickly and locks in a rear naked choke! Tamura gets his foot on the ropes, which earns him a yellow card. Okay, so those aren’t good! Guess I should probably read up on the rules, huh?
Back to their feet, each man peppers in some hard kicks to the body. Nice open handed strikes by Yamamoto, and a couple of knees by Tamura, as they get tied up in the turnbuckle. Tamura with some hard knees to the midsection, and now he’s back in top position. He transitions to the back next. Tamura with an arm bar attempt now, but Yamamoto is fighting it off. Tamura with a few punches to stop the block. He’s pulling with all his might, but Yamamoto is able to reverse it and take the guard position. He lays in some strikes, and pancakes on Tamura. Tamura tries for it again, but Yamamoto is able to get to the ropes to break the hold. Another yellow card for Yamamoto. They’re back to their feet now, and the kicks continue.
Hard slaps by Yamamoto, as he’s pushing the pressure! Tamura is no slouch, as he hits some hard knees to the chest! Yamamoto with some crazy roundhouse kicks, but Tamura catches one into a leg lock! Yamamoto quickly escapes, and takes the back. He locks in a Guillotine Choke on Tamura, but the man in red frees himself with several punches to the ribs, then he goes right into a leg lock! Not to be outdone, Yamamoto fights it off and gets a leg lock of his own! Tamura reaches and gets to the ropes to break it. They are tied with two yellow cards a piece.
Back to their feet, Yamamoto keeps the pressure on with punches and kicks. Tamura with a kick to the midsection. Yamamoto with a few knees to the chest, and more slaps. Tamura with some slaps of his own, and a knee to the chest. Yamamoto is forcing Tamura to back away, but only briefly! He pushes back and takes the strikes. Neither man is letting up. Big knee by Tamura, and a slap from Yamamoto that rocks Tamura!
Another slap, and Tamura is down! The referee counts, and Tamura manages to get to his feet! Two red cards for Tamura, but he’s back on the offensive with a jumping kick to the head, and a roundhouse to the jaw! Another one right to the face, and Yamamoto is down! The referee counts, and Yamamoto is back up! He has two red cards now, as both men are tied with less than a minute to go. Tamura takes Yamamoto down, but stands back up. He wants to strike!
Both men go for broke, as they throw slaps and kicks. Tamura with a crazy flurry of kicks to the midsection, then a takedown into a leg lock. Yamamoto forces his way on top of Tamura, as the time expires. We have ourselves a nice little draw. Post match, both men shake hands and hug it out, showing immense respect for the other.
Awesome match! Maybe the best Shoot Style Match I’ve seen up to this point – and I haven’t seen many. This was a great grappling exhibition for the most part, with some nice strike exchanges mixed in throughout. That said, once both men ended up with two yellow cards, that finishing stretch was absolutely incredible! Both men through wild strikes back and forth, and neither man had the advantage. In fact, I’d say neither one had the advantage during the entire match.
Tamura was likely the odds on favorite coming into this, but Yamamoto held his own, and gave Tamura a run for his money. I popped hard when Yamamoto knocked Tamura down, and almost got a KO victory. That felt like a huge underdog moment in this match. I also like that crazy flurry of kicks from Tamura near the end. He was determined to see this one to the end no matter what! This was a wild and crazy match up, featuring world class grappling, and fucking wild strike exchanges throughout. Definitely a must see if you like something unique, but also familiar at the same time.