MMA Library – Hideo Tokoro vs Alexandre Franca “Pequeno” Nogueira

Photo Featuring - Hideo Tokoro and Volk Han

The K-1 Hero*s promotion features some of the greatest MMA fights of its time, unfortunately most people were only watching UFC and PRIDE at the time. This is from the second Hero*s event, featuring one of big stars of the promotion – Hideo Tokoro. A lifelong pro wrestling fan, some of Tokoro’s favorite pro wrestlers were Volk Han, Kiyoshi Tamura and Akira Maeda. His aggressive grappling style is reminiscent of the style of worked grappling that we saw from Han and Tamura. Also, he is an incredibly likable figure since he worked as a janitor while competing professionally in mixed martial arts.

Alexandre Franca “Pequeno” Nogueira was the best featherweight for years until the emergence of a new breed of top lighter weight fighters. The way Rousimar Palhares has made the leglock his go to “finisher”, Pequeno would always go to his guillotine choke as his finisher. A product of Luta Livre who eventually ended up also training with the Brazilian Top Team, Pequeno was one of the most exciting MMA grapplers on the planet.

Enjoy the match, full of great grappling and excitement.

P.S. – Check out Akira Maeda at the end of the fight in his loud red jacket.