Tenshin vs Horiguchi was Japan's Mayweather vs McGregor and it was absolutely awesome

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Drake

Cunning Linguist
Jul 9, 2017
465
615


“Is this really happening?” is just one of the many quotes or questions that may be asked when witnessing one of those obviously special sports moments.

One of the more fun parts about being in the combat sports world is that there are separate sports that are similar enough for athletes to try their hands in the other aspects and varieties that exist outside of the one that they’re accustomed to.

We’ve seen it before where top MMA fighters have gone over to other combat sports. Generally, it’s in or from boxing or kickboxing that mixed martial artists find themselves testing out and one of the most successful or notable cases earlier on may have been with Alistair Overeem. One of the lesser successful being James Toney’s attempt in MMA in 2010.

That same year, the Dutchman Overeem would win one of the most prestigious striking tournaments in combat sports, the K-1 World Grand Prix.

As amazing and big of an accomplishment as this was, it still lacked a certain magnitude of that “once in a lifetime” type of spectacle. And in hindsight, whether we want to admit or not, the cross-sport boxing match between all-time great boxer Floyd Mayweather and the then UFC lightweight champion and former featherweight champion Conor McGregor was exactly that.


Continued: Tenshin vs Horiguchi was Japan's Mayweather vs McGregor and it was absolutely awesome
 

BrunoMcGyver

Bruno no dey carry last
Dec 30, 2015
6,395
10,265
Absolutely great match and both guys did well. Man at 20 years old Tenshin has a bloody amazing decade or two ahead of hin
 

sparkuri

Pulse On The Finger Of The Community
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
34,423
46,563
No kidding...its 32-0 at 20 is insanity.
Close, 27-0 kickboxing, 4-0 MMA.
Amazing fighter to watch for sure, most wanna see him fight higher level comp. outside Japan.
Not quite ready, and really no reason to absorb the punishment of MMA if he's making top dollars Japan style in kickboxing.

That fight was a split until late in that 3rd round, amazing showing by Horiguchi.
 

Drake

Cunning Linguist
Jul 9, 2017
465
615
Close, 27-0 kickboxing, 4-0 MMA.
Amazing fighter to watch for sure, most wanna see him fight higher level comp. outside Japan.
Not quite ready, and really no reason to absorb the punishment of MMA if he's making top dollars Japan style in kickboxing.

That fight was a split until late in that 3rd round, amazing showing by Horiguchi.
Ah. Silly Rizin must have combined his records in KB & MMA...

But agree for the most part.
 

SongExotic2

ATM 3 CHAMPION OF THE WORLD. #FREECAIN
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
39,772
53,672
I said it during the fight and I'll say it again. Tenshin has a flaw in his game that nobody has noticed. Put me in there and he's going out cold
 
Nov 21, 2015
9,140
12,443


“Is this really happening?” is just one of the many quotes or questions that may be asked when witnessing one of those obviously special sports moments.

One of the more fun parts about being in the combat sports world is that there are separate sports that are similar enough for athletes to try their hands in the other aspects and varieties that exist outside of the one that they’re accustomed to.

We’ve seen it before where top MMA fighters have gone over to other combat sports. Generally, it’s in or from boxing or kickboxing that mixed martial artists find themselves testing out and one of the most successful or notable cases earlier on may have been with Alistair Overeem. One of the lesser successful being James Toney’s attempt in MMA in 2010.

That same year, the Dutchman Overeem would win one of the most prestigious striking tournaments in combat sports, the K-1 World Grand Prix.

As amazing and big of an accomplishment as this was, it still lacked a certain magnitude of that “once in a lifetime” type of spectacle. And in hindsight, whether we want to admit or not, the cross-sport boxing match between all-time great boxer Floyd Mayweather and the then UFC lightweight champion and former featherweight champion Conor McGregor was exactly that.


Continued: Tenshin vs Horiguchi was Japan's Mayweather vs McGregor and it was absolutely awesome
Incredible fight. This is the kinda excitement the UFC "used" to give me
before they turned into a clown show rich mans WWE