The tournament is now about as rough as it gets when it comes to organized fighting in Japan.
There’s no K1 or Pride-style sheen to proceedings and no pretty boy posturing or dramatics by the participants either. There are rules but not many of them: no biting, no hits below the belt, and no hits to the face when a player is down.
Submissions are forbidden and KOs pay extra dollar, so that’s the end goal; though usually “matches end up pretty much just like street fights with someone stepping in to break things up” says Yamamoto. Waru is all-out blood, sweat, and tears, as the red stained rags used to mop the ring after matches will testify to.
- See more at: http://www.bjpenn.com/video-underground-fighters-of-japan-compete-in-nearly-illegal-bouts/#sthash.nY0tGBRH.dpuf
