Monday, July 24, 2017

Nobuhiko Takada vs. Yoshiaki Fujiwara (UWF, 2/27/90)

Nobuhiko Takada isn't the most exhilarating mat technician; his bread-and-butter is striking. He'd heat up the crowd with some of his kicks but then immediately cool them off by applying a very pedestrian leglock. Thankfully, Yoshiaki Fujiwara makes up for that, grabbing an armbar when and where he can and avoiding a lot of Takada's wild swings.  He's pretty great here as the wily veteran, hip-hopping Takada into a corner and blasting him with a headbutt, which serves as the real turning point in this match. Takada starts letting loose with the kicks, there are a couple of suplex throws from both sides, and the finish was pretty great, as Takada goes for one of his lame ass leglocks and Fujiwara counters with the cross kneebar and really cranks it in, sending Takada reeling, scrambling for the ropes and trying to peel Fujiwara off before finally tapping out. Fujiwara's post-match old man celebration is about as good as the match itself.

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