Yuki Ishikawa vs. Katsumi Usuda, BattlARTS 6/9/2002
Feb 16, 2023 16:54:35 GMT -5
Post by jetlag on Feb 16, 2023 16:54:35 GMT -5
Our only BattlARTS main event of the year, but it's a good one. These two always have good matches, and this time they went for a full blown 19 minute main event. What was cool about this was that normally you had Usuda as the aggressive striker with Ishikawa working counters. Here Usuda was still aggressive but Ishikawa gave him back good, so Usuda was also using his defensive tools more, which is something he does very well, and you had a match basically built around who could turn the others aggression against himself first. Match has lots of good matwork and also some insanely stiff headbutts and kidney shots. I especially like anytime Usuda would get aggressive on the mat, normally you would go to the mat to seek safety from a striker, you aren't safe from Usuda though. It really is a crying shame Usuda was so underutilized on the indie scene, atleast Ishikawa got himself a spot on Michinoku Pro undercards that year. Usuda takes as good as he gives, taking some crazy crazy suplex bumps. There are some excellent submission teases and the finish was pretty epic with multiple face shattering kicks and Ishikawa just rattling Usuda with a big punch. The finish plays up the story of the match as it was all about who would get the deciding counter.
Watching again, this definitely stands out among the better Japanese singles of the 2000s. The drama and submission counters in the last couple minutes were incredible and next level. Usuda may be one of the greatest ever at putting submissions over as dangerous. Add the top level BattlARTS general violence and insanty (both guys hitting each other so hard the yakuza in the front row are wincing) and you have a minor classic.