Um...this kid just knocked out Milan Melindo within the last 24 hours and nobody has said a peep about it? Granted that result doesn't mean as much as it once might've, with "El Metodico" already on a skid of two consecutive losses to Nakatani's countryman Ryōichi "Humility King" Taguchi and Kenshiro "Amazing Boy" Teraji, but still... This was a colossal leap up in class for the young southpaw. Nothing on his pro résumé made for ideal preparation for the formerly world class Filipino. Just took his best stuff like it was nothing and dismantled him: This content is protected Is he any relation to Masayoshi, the other recently somewhat-hyped Japanese prospect with that surname? Or just a coincidence? (as they are based in different prefectures, 500km apart)
He's huge, about a half a foot taller than Melindo, and I picked him to win by KO, that being said, that was a very questionable stoppage. But since Melindo has taken a real beating in his last few outings, it was probably for the best.
The ref chose a weird moment but he was marching through Melindo's bombs like a T-1000 and whipping his ass.
Im honestly disappointed in this matchup and it doesn't prove anything about nakatani as far as im concerned. This was good on paper ONLY. Nakatani is huge and strong and they pick the MUCH smaller, featherfisted and damaged melindo for him to fight. I didn't give melindo any chance at all here
It's not being televised until Tuesday, so I've been waiting for that before saying much tbh. He did what was expected against a smaller, older Melindo who has been through 3 successive hard wars. Him and Masayoshi are completely... Unrelated I'm looking forward to the TV broadcast, Kotari's debut, Sadatsune's usually fun to watch, Akaho being and adult boxer and Nakatani.
Stopping a Melindo who was moving up a whopping two weight classes and giving up a sizable height advantage, has not fought for a year, and is coming off three consecutive damaging fights? Not impressed. Should’ve done further research on the fight cause if I had, I wouldn’t have added it to the Kirk schedule.
Ah, yeah...didn't realize it was at super fly. To be fair, Melindo has fought there before and not unsuccessfully, but not since 2016 (and that was against Maximo Flores, who is, like Melindo himself, more of a natural 108/112lber) I think I still just have that impression of blitzing Yaegashi fresh in mind, even though it has now been a couple of years. Hard to wrap my head around Melindo being just an "opponent" now.
It’s kinda sad how ALA Promotions has been handling their fighters recently. This Nakatani fight was probably more about money than opportunity. The Japanese have the money to lure big names that are on the slide or to fights where they’d be at a disadvantage. The luxury.
What the **** has happened to ALA in 2019? They have gone from being the leading Filipino promoter to erm...they still promoter shows? It's been the most dramatic down turn of a promotional outfit I can think of in 12 months
