[2002-04-20-K-DOJO] Kengo Mashimo vs Sambo Oishi

[corwo]

This was Mashimo's second pro match, with Oishi having debuted a month prior for Michinoku Pro. Right off the bat, we're treated to some incredibly slick mat work from Oishi and Mashimo. Shockingly so, considering their level of experience. The transitions in and out of submissions are seamless as Mashimo swiftly catches Oishi in a leg lock and forces him into the ropes. Oishi, for his part, makes good use of takedowns. Mashimo outclasses him on the mat, but said takedowns are enough to give Oishi a fighting chance. The defensive scrambles are breathtaking, with Oishi perhaps putting up more of a fight than Mashimo expected despite Sambo being the more seasoned of the two.

Mashimo gradually wears down the arm with armbars, even going so far as to lock the arm behind Oishi's back when he applies a sleeper. One of my favorite parts of the match sees Mashimo land a kick from the mat, immediately turning it into an armbar, only for Oishi to escape and apply a leg lock. Mashimo continues to smother Oishi on the mat. Oishi finds an opening, turning Mashimo's head kick into a counter and delivers a dropkick to the knee, but his comeback is quickly snuffed out, and Mashimo lands one final kick for the KO.

This was as good as it gets for a six minute match between two rookies with a little over a month of experience between them. If this is the kind of stuff K-DOJO was producing in the early aughts, I may have to do a deep-dive at somepoint. Both competitors looked leagues ahead of most trainees, applying holds with vigor and being buttery smooth when working the mat. A real hidden gem.