Gracie vs Kikuta Classic Set For ADCC 2017 – The weekend of September 23rd and 24th sees Helsinki, Finland hosting the Abu Dhabi Combat Club’s ADCC 2017 Submission Wrestling World Championships. Among the super fights on the slate is Renzo Gracie vs Sanae Kikuta in a battle of two men whose best moments were in 2000, during the third competition.
Kikuta won the 2000 under 88KG tournament and that win still stands to this day as the highest placement ever by a Japanese competitor. The tournament started in 1998 and in 1999 the first Japanese competitors participated, including MMA superstars Hayato Sakurai, Rumina Sato and Caol Uno. The trio of SHOOTO stars were carrying the hopes of Japan on their soldiers and both Sakurai and Uno finished 3rd and 4th in their respective weight classes, but it was Kikuta who stole the show for the Japanese team. It was one of the iconic moments of the tournament when the entire Japanese team overcame their politics and heaved Kikuta in the air celebrating victory. Kikuta did not return to the ADCC to compete after that.
In contrast, Gracie has competed in practically all of the 12 ADCC championships and he did his best work competing at around 170 pounds (77 KG). Gracie has competed in the 88 KG class throughout the years, but history tells us that those were the tournaments that saw Gracie come in flat. Here he will compete in the 88KG pound division simply because both competitors are years remove from making 170 pounds.
It will be interesting to see how this bout develops on the mat. Over the years as a competitor, Gracie has established himelf as one of the most cutthroat fighters out there when it comes to looking for the win. The ADCC has always been considered to be Renzo’s world as he has a long standing personal friendship with event founder Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed that at times motivates Gracie to peak performances. The other side of the coin could see both men take a respectful approach to the fight where neither man is going at 100 percent. Though odds have not been released for the Gracie vs Kikuta bout as of yet, check back as we get closer to fight time. Look for Gracie to open the betting favorite when a line is produced.
Gracie and Kikuta met in an MMA match under the PRIDE promotional banner back in 1998 and that match saw Renzo Gracie win via guillotine choke. It was a long and methodical match-up that saw a weary Gracie finish Kikuta in the opening minute of round six. Really there is not much that can be gained from that nearly 20 year old result, as both men are now in their mid to late 40s.
The ADCC 2017 also sees a pair of other super fights on the books as Chael Sonnen faces Leo Vieira and superfight champion Andres Galvao defends his title against last year’s Absolute winner, Claudio Calasansin. Both fights have already been issued lines at BETDSI, don’t miss our review here at GMS.
Gracie vs Kikuta Classic Set For ADCC 2017 / Check out more boxing news and features at The Sweet Science, where the best boxing writers write.
The ADCC 2017 is at the Metro Arena in Helsinki, Finland the weekend of September 23rd and 24th. Check http://www.adccfinland.com/ for tickets and more details.
You can watch the 2017 ADCC World Championship action and follow your bets at FloGrappling.com
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