One Japanese MMA icon exits, and another returns. On the same card that will feature Hidehiko Yoshida's farewell fight, Shooto, UFC and PRIDE veteran Enson Inoue will step inside the ring after a six-year absence.
Inoue, who turns 43 by fight night, will face Antz Nansen at ASTRA on April 25 at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan.
Inoue (11-8) began fighting MMA in January 1995 and holds an armbar win over Randy Couture (video above). He left the sport in 2004 after his fifth loss in six fights. He's never been known for being the most skilled fighter, but rather for his gutsy, never-say-die attitude.
The former Shooto champion would rather absorb an uncanny amount of punishment than quit (see PRIDE 10 fight vs. Igor Vovchanchyn), or go to sleep before he taps (see PRIDE 19 vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira).
New Zealand kickboxer Nansen (1-0) won his MMA debut against HIroshi Izumi last September at Sengoku 10.
Current Fight Card:
Yuya Shirai vs. Che Mills
Michihiro Omigawa vs. Micah Miller
Tatsunao Nagakura vs. Akihiko Mouri
Enson Inoue vs. Antz Nansen
Hidehiko Yoshida vs. TBA
Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. TBA
Denis Kang vs. TBA
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