Olympic judo gold medalist moving to MMA
Japanese champion Satoshi Ishii makes move to professional fighting
 Charles Dharapak / AP Gold medalist Satoshi Ishii of Japan displays his medal at the Beijing Olympics. |
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TOKYO - Olympic gold medalist Satoshi Ishii is giving up judo to take up a career in mixed martial arts, according to a published report.
Ishii, who won the gold medal in the men's over 100-kilogram event at the Beijing Olympics, informed Japanese judo officials on Friday of his decision to become a professional mixed martial arts competitor, Nikkansports said.
He will become the third Japanese judo competitor to switch to professional martial arts following 1992 Barcelona Games 78-kg champion Hidehiko Yoshida and Makoto Takimoto, who won the 81-kg title at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Mixed martial arts is very popular in Japan. Events often attract as many as 60,000 fans. Ishii is expected to sign with the DREAM promotion.
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