Yong-Soo Choi vs. Yamato Mitani - sleeper trilogy of the 90's?

Cool list, I don't really ever think to rank trilogies.
What's your favourite fight here?

 

Choi always seemed to be in good back and forth fights with plenty of action. He usually got the benefit of the doubt too, with Mitani both times, Sim, Matsumoto, Hatakeyama I etc. A protected paper titleist and just a solid journeyman type talent despite his nice looking record but always in good entertaining fights. He won his bauble on the road though and defended it on the road too instead of staying at home. He was a fighter I looked at more to fill in a knowledge gap than anything but ended up being entertained by. I haven't seen the first Mitani fight though, sorry.

 

Which ones which?

I know how childish that sounds but I've genuinely never seen or heard of either before

 

I don’t know but it is a good question. I try and puts trunk/shorts colors to identify them to others in my reviews to answer that because in a few fights that was how I scored them, until I knew who won and could use their name.

 

Yong-Soo Choi VS Yamato Mitani II

Choi (Mullet Mauller) Yamato (Tokyo Thrasher)

R1: 9 -10 (Sneaky headbutts from Yamato. You can see he's much more talented tho)
R2: 10 - 10 (Close as it gets)
R3: 9 - 10 (Very rough, bodyshots made the difference for Yamato)
R4: 10 - 9 (Very close)
R5: 10 - 9 (Choi defense a lot better here for some reason lol)
R6: 10 - 9 (Very close again)
R7: 9 - 10 (Yamato much better off moving than mauling)
R8: 9 - 10 (More effective punches from Yamato)
R9: 10 - 8 (-1 Yamato, Yamato suddenly inaccurate this round)
R10: 9 - 10 (Horrible mauling here favoured Yamato)
R11: 9 - 10 (Yamato won with superior movement and sharp shots)
R12: 10 - 9 (Lots of mauling. Yamato's last flurry not enough to win round IMO. It wasn't that effective anyway)

Total: 114 - 114 DRAW

I scored the second even. If forced to choose, I'd probably favour Yamato. He probably should've got the decision.
I think it was a rare legit draw. No one held the clear momentum.

Notes:

• One of the closest bouts I've ever seen.
• A very rough bout, with lots of sneaky shots. Very hard to score, especially if you're not used to watching this type of bout. Have to be attentive here.
• The momentum changes constantly. Battle of wills.
• Yamato loves headbutts!
• Yamato has great movement when he chooses to use it. He could've constantly turned Choi, though I doubt the workhorse would let him anyway.
• Choi had some great sneaky bodywork. Also had a nice, if slow, right hand - shift left hook, which he caught Yamato with repeatedly.

 

Thanks, @IntentionalButt . I remember Choi had an interesting round robin series with Takenori Hatekayma and ultra-tough Mongolian Lakva Sim, but I wasn't aware of this trilogy and will happily check it out.

 

Not too surprising that this was a draw/SD/MD type of fight. I thought 7 rounds were super close and difficult to score one way or the other...hence some variables on our cards and the judges. I found 1-6 and 8 difficult to score...watch for yourself though and be the judge...very fun fight that has some good fireworks and questionable tactics bordering on dirty at times. Good ebbs and flows in most rounds.

1 Mitani 10-9
2 Choi 19-19
3 Mitani 29-28
4 Choi 38-38
5 Choi (Choi 48-47)
6 Choi (Choi 58-56)
7 Mitani (Choi 67-66)
8 Even (Choi 77-76)
9 Choi 10-8 (Choi (87-84)
10 Mitani (Choi 96-94)
11 Mitani (Choi 105-104)
12 Choi (Choi 115-113)