Powergate: Exhibition

Next up was an exhibition (read: completely meaningless) match between Yamazaki Zenta from Team KGW, and Izumiya Takeshi (Tsuyoshi?) from M-BLOW. Yamazaki was bigger at 69kg to Izumiya's 65kg. None of this would be a factor as they sparred with leg pads at something I would estimate at 45% effort. Therefor the match was at times entertaining but inherently unsatisfying. Like marginally good food after you already ate. I could have done without it. The highlight would have to be Izumiya entering to Bon Jovi's "You give Love a Bad Name" while leaping the top rope. Yamazaki still wore his belt that he won last June in the grand-prix finals on a draw.



Izumiya (sporting dark green trunks) appeared to be the more complete striker, but put very little into it.




This halfhearted striking rendered the takedowns easy for Yamazaki, who shot double-legs and worked slams for the entire first round.



Izumiya worked to reverse the mount.



And was briefly successful.




Yamazaki worked the fight back to standing.



Grunted and laughed through a German Suplex to arm-bar transition. And the bout was over.



I should mention that this was in the second round, but the rounds were abbreviated due to it being an exhibition match.

An interview ensued and I realized that the small woman who had been keeping time and ringing the bell was just a small man with long hair.

Yamazaki said that he had gotten fat. "You pig!" Yelled a clever chap. Yamazaki continued that he had begun training again after the New Year and had a match coming up in April and would then put his built on the line in June. Izumiya said that he had spent two years off working and hanging out. That he had only trained stand-recently but was getting back to training and would start competing again.