Akira Maeda vs Volk Han (RINGS - 4/3/1992)

A rematch from 12/7/1991. In some ways, Volk Han looked even better here. The crowd is immediately into this match as Maeda starts the match on the offensive. Volk Han measures Maeda up for a few seconds before delivering a trademark spinning backfist. Volk Han's movement is very noteworthy here, especially in early RINGS. It's one of the more underrated things about Volk, I think. His positional awareness and ability to keep things "going" is very important to the accolades he has built up. Han locks up Maeda in a standing front choke before bringing him down to the mat for a neck crank. Maeda reverses into an armbar attempt! Volk finds a way out but Maeda still has his leg. The two end up in a nice scramble on the mat. This match goes a little longer than their 12/7/1991 match, and I would normally say most longer matches in early RINGS have some weak points, but I don't think this misses a beat at all. Another thing we see more of in this match is Han's unique striking waza, which always stood out in RINGS. I'm not even sure what to call it? He apparently has a background in Muay Thai though. Han appears to have learned a few things from their first match, and is more cautious and cerebral in his technical approach, working Maeda's legs for a bit before Maeda has to reach for the ropes. We see more nifty technical innovation from Han here, as he tries to get Maeda in some sort of a huzinga roll variation but Maeda causes a scramble, which Han gets the better of again. Maeda proves he is a better striker, as he knocks Han down before Han gets back up for a trademark kani-basami takedown (leg scissors). Maeda has no choice but to desperately go for the ropes as Han locks in Maeda's bad knee. Maeda hits a nice suplex and we see another scramble on the mat with some nice counterwork from both as you should expect (we should all remember Maeda's underappreciated katame-waza before his fitness and injury issues). Maeda gets back on his feet and punishes Volk for a knockdown via a jumping roundhouse. Volk gets back up and gets Maeda in a rolling knee bar on Maeda's bad knee. Maeda desperately goes for the ropes again. The crowd heats up in excitement as Maeda and Volk have another grappling battle on the mat, with Maeda winning this time. Han goes for the ropes after an extended period of time with Maeda on top, and is down three points. Han goes for a jumping ax kick but misses. Maeda goes for another roundhouse but misses as well. Maeda appears to be shaken up and the referee calls for a down. Maeda gets up before 7 and is down two points. Volk Han gets another knockdown after hitting Maeda with a thrust kick. Now they are tied on points and we are heading down the final stretch. Volk appears to have Maeda locked in for a kneebar submission but Maeda manages to roll to the ropes just in time! The crowd is firmly behind Maeda here as they chant his name. Volk taunts Maeda as he slithers on the mat, suggesting Maeda should get back on the mat with the SAMBO specialist, but Maeda has none of it. Maeda is forced to go for another escape and now only has one down left (top rope escapes equaled a down in RINGS, and each competitor had 5 downs to spare before a TKO). Maeda hits a suplex and goes for a heel hold but Volk finds Maeda's bad knee for a calf-slicer and gets the upset submission victory! A new star is born not just for RINGS, but for Puroresu in the 90s.

Overall, I thought this was better than the 12/7/91 match even though I gave this match the same rating. Maeda booked this to make Volk look like a real star, and putting him over was a boon for RINGS as they got a new major star out of it. Volk Han and Maeda would carry the promotion until Yoshihisa Yamamoto's rise and Kiyoshi Tamura's debut in 1996. I think people underestimate Volk Han's drawing power during the 1992-1995 period for RINGS, but that's neither here or there. We get to see more of Volk Han's SAMBO techniques here, and Maeda probably has his best match in his post-UWF days (Maeda vs Kopylov I and Maeda vs Yamamoto in the 1996 Mega Battle Final are other contenders). Probably a MOTY contender in 1992? I can see why someone would want to list this match. Hopefully I'm not the only one! ****1/2