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Post by jetlag on Dec 17, 2018 17:53:48 GMT -5
tl;dr shootstyle grappling masterpiece with both guys at their very best
Probably the greatest grappling match I've ever seen. It has without a doubt one of the best opening and ending sections to a match ever. Greco when he was regularily working BattlARTS was a great matworker in his own right, but he looked several times improved here. Watch all the shin grabbing and entangling Ishikawa with his legs that he did. Carl Greco the kind of guy to disappear for 15 years and look like the greatest worker on the planet in the one match that makes tape during all those years, where on earth is this dude hiding?? Tons of great submissions set ups and counters from both guys. This was far from a showy exhibition though as both guys were really punishing eachother. The choke attempts ruled. Obviously the period post final ropebreak was incredibly intense. The double indian deathlock ruled was it was like a spot from the 1930s in the middle of a highly elaborate modern scientific shootstyle grappling match. |
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Post by microstatistics on Jan 21, 2019 14:34:52 GMT -5
Second. Great match with some of the most intense grappling you'll ever see in a wrestling match. An older, wiser Ishikawa forced to turn it on as one of his tougher past opponents reappears. I'm pretty sure I just made up that narrative but whatever, I think it works. Excellent finish.
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Post by cactus on Nov 17, 2021 5:58:46 GMT -5
Ishikawa was the guy in Battlarts. He was a main eventer from the promotions beginning up until they closed their doors in 2011. He idolized Antonio Inoki and you can tell that by how he wrestles. Carl Greco, also know as Carl Malenko, was a mainstay during Battlart's early years, but he never reached the same heights as Ishikawa. This is his first match for the promotion in over five years. During his absence, he mostly focused on his MMA career, but he's back with Battlarts now and he wants to show the world that he's just as good as Ishikawa.
If you've never seen any shoot-style before, the rope break rule might be confusing. It works like ROH's Pure Wrestling rules in that a rope break can only save you a number of times and it encourages the wrestler to fight his way out of a hold instead of relying on the ropes to escape a submission.
I didn't even think I was much of a matwork guy until I watched this. Some of the ground game here was so convincing that I think it could fool some MMA fans into thinking this was a shoot. Carl Greco is everything Kurt Angle thinks he is. A total wrestling machine. He's more of an MMA-style grappler than Ishikawa is, who could be described as a Battlarts traditionalist. This was built entirely around the ground game and they kept it gripping for 15 whole minutes. This was two half-naked lads going at it in front of barely 200 people and they managed to keep me on the edge of my seat, with my jaw firmly on the ground the entire time. Every transition opened the door for more possibilities. Not a single strike was thrown here and only one suplex was landed. Both guys volunteering to give up their final rope break was a badass move. I want you guys to check this out, so I'm not going to spoil the ending, but the grappling feels even more intense when you know that the ropes can't save them anymore.
Although Ishikawa is only a few years older than Greco, this match felt like the younger shooter coming in to try and prove that his new MMA-style of wrestling is better than Ishikawa's pro-wrestling-based style that help build the promotion. My favourite Battlarts match! ★★★★★
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Post by mvz on Nov 17, 2021 7:12:11 GMT -5
Thanks for the bump this is worth everyone’s time I think. Battle arts fell through the cracks for me and it felt like a few matches that people liked here were hard to find but this was readily available.
I don’t know if it was intentional, but this felt quite legitimate. Too flight grappling throughout and then a really intense few minutes to the finish.
I am not sure what to do with this match as far as rating it besides other matches on my list, but if you are into convincing matwork and haven’t seen this, give it a shot.
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Post by elliott on Sept 29, 2023 20:49:09 GMT -5
Tremendous match. One of the best of the decade.
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