Cristiano Kaminishi: Japan's HEAT Champion

When Cristiano Kaminishi left Brazil for Japan, he wasn’t really thinking about the Japanese half of his ancestry, he wasn't thinking about PRIDE, or MMA, not even jiu jitsu. He was just a seventeen-year old young man with hopes of working hard and making enough money to return to Brazil and have a nicer life. Maybe buy a house and have a car one day. He never guessed that his journey to a foreign country would also be a journey into a completely different way of life. Now Cristiano's possessions are not those he's bought, they are those he's earned: uncountable Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gold medals and the HEAT MMA Heavyweight Championship Belt. He still wants that house, car, and a family in Brazil. However, they can wait a bit longer; there are still other belts he wants to claim first. 

I was on my way to meet Cristiano at Grips Gym for this interview when I coincidentally stumbled upon him in the street. Perhaps 'stumbled upon' isn't the best description of what happened - more like recognized him, thought 'whoa that guy is HUGE', and stopped dead in my tracks. Of course this is Hong Kong and the 189cm HEAT Heavyweight Champion towers above most of the locals.  His gentle and polite demeanor, molded by years in Japan, is an interesting contrast to his appearance.  When he smiles, dimples come out, and it's hard to imagine this nice could could ever knock anyone TF out.

We sat down to talk on the mats as fellow black belt Rodrigo Caporal's evening class was warming up. I'd researched Cristiano, and there wasn't much in English about him. Some Tatame interviews in Portuguese and links to his profiles in the organizations he's fought in were about the extent of his online existence. He told me he's never liked interviews or press; he doesn't want to be talked about - he just wants to work and train and fight. Even so, he is kind and talkative, quite engaging. And he was THERE when PRIDE started; he was in Tokyo training at the advent of international MMA based in Japan. So I knew there had to be much more. What Cristiano shared with me took several days. His story is unique, and very special. I feel honored he shared his experiences with me and honored I can help share them with the English-speaking world.

UFC Japan - Dissecting the UnderCard

For a moment, reflect upon the glory that was PRIDE matchmaking back in the day.  Nog running Rocky Balboa on Cro Cop before getting an armbar.  Cro Cop's devastating high kick unleashed on Wandy.  Wandy and Rampage's personal war.  Nick Diaz' gogoplata upset over Gomi.  Sakuraba versus Carlos Newton in a grapple brawl of the century.  Yoshihiro Takayama and Don Frye beating each other senseless.  The long-awaited match between Fedor and Cro Cop.  Royce, Hendo, Arona, Shogun, Minowa, Misaki, Sakurai, Aoki, Kawajiri.

from pridefighting.us

An era of pageantry and full-on world-class MMA came to an end when PRIDE's parent company lost their Fuji Network broadcast amid scandalous allegations of yakuza involvement and the subsequent sale of the promotion to Zuffa.  DREAM was born from the ashes, Sengoku rose in prominence, and some of the top talent returned overseas to fight in the cage.  But nothing yet has filled that void in the PRIDE fans' hearts.

from mmapast.com

Even at its inception, the UFC knew the importance of Japan's fight culture and held four events there - 15.5, 23, 25 and 29.  Right after that last event, parent company SEG's financial difficulties almost sidelined the promotion and Zuffa purchased it in early 2001.  For the next 6 years, they focused on their domestic market.  In 2007, the payoff came, with results of stunning PPV buys and regular gate attendance of over 10,000 people.  Then in 2009 they began an overseas push into the European market.  Australia and Abu Dhabi were added in 2010, and back to Brazil in 2011.  Rumors of a show in China circulated after the UFC opened an office in Beijing, but nothing materialized.   And now, a staggering 12 years later, the UFC will once more hold an event Tokyo, Japan on February 26, 2012.