 | |
Native name | ヴァーリ・トゥード・ジャパン |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mixed martial arts promotion |
| Founded | Japan (1994) |
| Founder | Satoru Sayama |
| Parent | Shooto (1994-1999) Vale Tudo Japan Executive Committee (2009-Present) |
| Website | http://www.valetudojapan.com/ |
Vale Tudo Japan (VTJ) (Japanese: ヴァーリ・トゥード・ジャパン, Hepburn: Vāri Tūdo Japan) is an annual mixed martial arts competition held in Japan. Originally arranged by promoter and former professional wrestler Satoru Sayama, he had previously created a hybrid martial art organization named Shooto in 1985. He arranged VTJ in 1994 with the objective of creating a more rules-free event similar to the early Ultimate Fighting Championship events in the United States and Vale Tudo competitions in Brazil, previously to this tournament, Shooto did not feature striking in ground position. The fighters were composed by the best Japanese MMA fighters drawn from Shooto, the Shoot Wrestling circuit as well as foreign invitees, including illustrious names such as Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend Rickson Gracie.[1][2]
Some other notable fighters to fight at Vale Tudo Japan include Sanae Kikuta, Takanori Gomi, Enson Inoue, João Roque, Carlos Newton, Rumina Sato, Royler Gracie, Dan Severn, Vladimir Matyushenko, Frank Shamrock, Jean Jacques Machado, Randy Couture, Frank Trigg, André Pederneiras, Rafael Cordeiro, Alexandre Franca Nogueira, Hayato Sakurai, and Yuki Nakai. Vale Tudo Japan events ran from 1994 to 1999, a pair of editions held in 1994 and '95 were single-elimination tournaments, both of which were won by Rickson Gracie.[3] Afterwards, from 1996 to 1999 the events were invitationals.[2][4]
Vale Tudo Japan returned in 2009, now organizing by the "Vale Tudo Japan Executive Committee", with semi-annual events and three reunion events in 2009, 2012 and 2016.[2][5]
Early Vale Tudo Japan events were a huge success, it led to a boom of the popularity and development of MMA and Shooto in Japan, and the tournament is considered a predecessor to PRIDE Fighting Championships. VTJ's format and rules would serve as a basis for PRIDE,[2] while Rickson Gracie's impressive victories in VTJ would make him a celebrity in Japan, leading to him being paired with popular Shoot-style professional wrestler Nobuhiko Takada to headline Pride 1 in 1997.[6]
- ^ "Fight Finder - Mixed Martial Arts Statistics". Archived from the original on March 12, 2007. Retrieved August 28, 2006.
- ^ a b c d Sherdog.com. "The Resurrection of Vale Tudo Japan". Sherdog. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
- ^ Blackett, Todd. "Throwback: Rickson Gracie vs Yuki Nakai At Vale Tudo Japan 1995". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ "Vale Tudo Japan - VTJ (Vale Tudo Japan Executive Committee) | MMA Promoter". Tapology. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
- ^ "Vale Tudo Japan - VTJ (Vale Tudo Japan Executive Committee) | MMA Promoter". Tapology. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
- ^ "Archived Magazine Article". www.japaninc.com. 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2022-01-28.