September 26th, 2009 will go down as one of the most exciting nights of fighting action as FEG presented the K-1 World GP 2009 in Seoul Final 16 Tournament. 16 of the top heavyweight fighters compete for a chance to make up the final eight participants in fightsports most prestigious tournament, the K-1 World GP Final, this December 5th at the Yokohama Arena. After close to four hours of hard-hitting action from the stars of the K-1 World GP, the eight fighters were finally decided and they will move onto the finals in December where one of them will become the 2009 K-1 World GP Champion.

Unfortunately, one of the eight fighters that qualified is not Musashi. The two-time K-1 World GP Finalist in 2003 and 2004 was unable to score the victory and a place in the Final 8 after losing a hard-fought battle against fellow veteran Jerome LeBanner. With the loss comes the promise that Musashi made about a month before the scheduled bout, that he would finally retire from the sport and end his 14-year professional career as a fighter.

Musashi’s storied career has its ups and downs and it all began back in 1995 when a young Akio Mori started his career in the K-1 World GP, defeating Patrick Smith, who was known for his brutal beating of Scott Morris in the second UFC Tournament. In his early careers, he had already fought many big names in the K-1 World GP at that time, such as Sam Greco, the late Andy Hug, the very first K-1 World GP Champion Branko Cikatic, Masaaki Satake and the legendary Ernesto Hoost. Over the next few years, Musashi would go on to have many good fights against tougher competition and this also resulted in him becoming a four-time K-1 World GP Japan Tournament Champion.

Musashi had a great track record back in the days. In fact, many believed that his best run was between 2003 and 2004. In fact, two back to back victories against legends Ray Sefo and Peter Aerts during the 2003 K-1 World GP Finals were impressive and while he lost to Remy Bonjasky in the finals, he had nothing to be ashamed of. Ironically, both Musashi and Bonjasky would eventually meet once again in the finals of the K-1 World GP a year later and while Musashi once again tried his best, Bonjasky was just too strong for the pride of Japan.

I remembered being a huge Musashi fan back in the days and while I was in Japan, my Japanese family friend, a fan of MMA and K-1 herself, kept on making fun of Musashi’s looks, calling him a fish and, well, not enjoying his fights much. Back in 2003, we gathered by the TV and watched as Musashi defeated Nobuaki Kakuda in Las Vegas, thus ending his career in the process. (On a side note, Kakuda is now the head official for the K-1 World GP and is seen officiating most of the big fights, particular the main events.) That time, my friend was totally rooting for Kakuda, even though he was the major underdog going into that fight. Guess she really doesn’t like Musashi at all.

But as I continued to watch his fights, I noticed a trend and this seem to be his major criticisms amongst fans and experts alike. Musashi has a problem finishing off his opponents, especially against the more established fighters such as Peter Aerts and Ray Sefo. Most of his fights, especially in the last few years, have gone to decisions and his KO wins have come across lesser named fighters, themselves are not experienced in K-1 fights, such as former sumo wrestler and current pro-wrestler Akebono, former pro-wrestler Sean O’Haire, former shot put athlete Randy Kim, taekwando specialist Yong Soo Park and comedian Bernard Ackah. In fact, the only major name he has been able to knock out last was Junichi Sawayashiki, who since losing to Peter Aerts during the 2007 K-1 World GP Finals, had been on a major slump and Musashi managed to take advantage of that situation. In fact, many felt that Musashi seemed to rely on going the distance a lot in his fights. None was more evident than his upset loss to Chalid “Die Faust” Arrab during the 2006 K-1 World GP Final 16 Tournament when the fight went the distance and Musashi looked to be ready to celebrate a routine victory, only for the ring announcer to declare Arrab as the winner while Musashi looked confused. Despite the many major losses he went through over the years, Musashi is still one of the more popular and endearing fighters to the Japanese fans.

After much wear and tear in his body and knowing that he could no longer reach the level that he was before, Musashi made an announcement in August that he would retire from the sport this year and with the many planned retirements of several fighters this year (including Masato, Kozo Takeda and, all but confirmed, Glaube Feitosa and Jerome LeBanner), Musashi’s retirement is just one of the many major ones this year. That said, he begged to the fans and FEG promoters to give him a final chance to compete for the K-1 World GP Title. While his wishes were granted, it was no easy task for the Japanese legend, who had to take on fellow veteran K-1 fighter, the ever-so intimidating Hyper Battle Cyborg, Jerome LeBanner. The fight took place at the K-1 World GP 2009 Final 16 Tournament recently in Seoul, Korea and knowing that he may never compete in a K-1 ring again, Musashi put on what was undoubtedly his best performance in recent years, throwing amazing boxing combinations, thanks to his boxing coach Frankie Liles and was looking sharper than ever. Even the knockdown LeBanner gave him during the fight didn’t hinder Musashi’s amazing performance. When Musashi lost to LeBanner, it was an emotional moment as both LeBanner and Musashi bowed down to each other and embraced with both men raising their arms after an amazing battle that got the Korean crowd on their feet. After Musashi took his final bows, he finally left the ring, now no longer a K-1 fighter.

Musashi may not be the most popular fighter amongst fans around the world, but he has a unique charm and presence to him everytime he steps into the ring. Not one to simply rush into battle, Musashi uses his brilliant technique and strategy to get things done back when he was in his prime. It showed as he was able to defeat the likes of Ray Sefo, Peter Aerts and the massive Bob Sapp. His kicks, especially his middle and high roundhouse kicks, are some of the most devastating in K-1′s history. Over the years, Musashi has been the man to carry the Japanese flag proudly everytime he steps into the ring. It showed having entered more K-1 World GP Final Tournaments than any other Japanese fighter and making it to the finals twice. Regardless whether or not he was a great fighter which I’m sure many fans will be debating about in years to come, Musashi has etched his legacy in K-1 as one of Japan’s top fighters of all time.

I would like to take the time out to say domo arigato gozaimasu to Musashi for the many memories that he has provided in the ring as a courageous fighter and outside the ring as a lovable goofball as evident in some of his antics in Japanese variety TV programs. While the likes of Junichi Sawayashiki and Kyotaro, the two top young lions in the K-1 World GP, try to continue where Musashi left off, it will not be very easy to fill the gap that Musashi had left all this while as Japan’s top K-1 World GP fighter. Regardless of how fans and experts alike will remember Musashi, he will forever remain as one of K-1′s top legends in the sport.