Besides the lightweight tournament semi-final bout between Artur Oumakhanov and Tomonari Shikamata, many probably thought the only other interesting fight in this show was K-taro Nakamura vs. Takefumi Hanai. However, I must say that the Cage Force shows, in the Japanese MMA world, now has become little more than just who is fighting who.

UFC veteran K-taro Nakamura finished Takefumi Hanai with series of knee shots from a Muay Thai clinch.

Ever since the beginning Cage Force show has been trying to change the direction of the entire Japanese MMA, with a cage instead of ring. Allowing elbow shots to the head but prohibiting soccer kicks, stomping, and knee strikes to the head on the ground. Even the weight classes are the same as the ones in Nevada and New Jersey. Yes, Cage Force is the first show in Japan that has accepted the reality - "The Major League of MMA" has moved from Japan to the United States. With the collapse of PRIDE and rising popularity of UFC in the states, this was more than obvious. While everybody was confused, perhaps mislead by the illusion of PRIDE, Cage Force was the only one who went through a reality check. To claim the best in the world, the time has come for fighters to prepare to fight in the cage, under the rules sanctioned by the Nevada athletic commission. Just as in boxing, after all, the fight sport capital is in the United States.

Therefore, establishing the Cage Force shows under these current rules was nothing but a determination by the GCM, the promoter, to produce Japanese fighters that can win in the Majors. When the foundation of Cage Force was announced back in September 2006, almost everyone in Japan was still thinking that Japan is the world's Mecca of MMA but the reality was that GCM was already declaring the defeat of the Japanese MMA. We must make a transition into the American way.

Although it was a win via cut, Artur Oumakhanov kept his unbeating streak against the Japanese fighters.

And now this is the seventh Cage Force show, almost one year since its first show on November 25, 2006. Fighters are beginning to look comfortable getting stuck against the cage, taking elbow shots to the face. Although its still "spot buying" instead of receiving the "licensing deal" the Cage Force show is currently broadcast by TV Tokyo, one of Japan's five privately owned national television stations. Therefore, a fair number of viewers are now watching this show. On top of this Cage Force began women's bouts at this show, and most importantly, it seems like "cage fighting" like MMA is starting to get accepted by the spectators. Slowly but surely, Cage Force is on its way to achieving what they set out to be; t he show that can produce a Japanese MMA fighter who can win the title in the United States.

The way K-taro demolished Hanai tells everything about this transition that Cage Force is emphasizing. Everyone was hoping to see K-taro engage in a ground battle against the man who claims to be a "Back Room 10th Degree Black Belt in Leg Submission" but when K-taro landed a solid right hook, instead of taking the fight to the ground he went for the kill. K-taro grabbed Hanai into a Muay Thai clinch and unleashed a series of knee shots to the face and it was all over. K-taro didn't even bother taking it to the ground. Although against a lesser opponent like Hanai, an instinct K-taro acquired from fighting in the UFC probably made him go for the kill immediately instead of taking the fight under his game plan and then winning. When the opportunity arises, you've got to take it. It’s the way of fighting in the cage. Not only K-taro but also many of the fighters in this show seem like they are beginning to understand this philosophy.

Other Phots & Official Results CAGE FORCE 11/11/2007 >>