HERO'S
Encyclopedia
- For the fish, see Heros genusHeros genusHeros is a genus which includes several fish species in the Cichlidae family. They are native to rivers in the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America...
; for the TV Show, see Heroes (TV series)Heroes (TV series)Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
. For other uses, see Hero (disambiguation)Hero (disambiguation)A hero is a person who performs extraordinary deeds for the benefit of others.Hero may also refer to:-People:* Hero of Alexandria , ancient Greek mathematician* Hero the younger , Byzantine land surveyor...
.
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
promotion operated by Fighting and Entertainment Group
Fighting and Entertainment Group
Fighting and Entertainment Group is the leading Japanese combat sport promoter. Its current president is Sadaharu Tanikawa and it is the parent company behind the mixed martial arts series Dream and formerly, the largest kickboxing promotion in the world, K-1.On December 31, 2010 after the Dream...
, the parent entity behind kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
organization K-1
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
. Grown from and branched off of K-1's earlier experiments in MMA, including the K-1 Romanex event and various MMA fights on its regular K-1 kickboxing cards, it held its first show on March 26, 2005. The promotion was handled by former Rings
Fighting Network RINGS
Fighting Network Rings, trademarked as RINGS, is a Japanese combat sport promotion that has lived three distinct periods; puroresu promotion from its inauguration to 1995, mixed martial arts promotion from 1995 to its 2002 disestablishment, and the revived mixed martial arts promotion from 2008 to...
head Akira Maeda
Akira Maeda
is a retired Japanese professional wrestler, also known as Kwik-kik-Lee for his time on the British Wrestling show World of Sport. He helped develop the shoot-style of professional wrestling during the late 1980s....
.
History
Although not as popular worldwide as the Ultimate Fighting ChampionshipUltimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
or the now defunct Pride Fighting Championships, Hero's was very recognizable in the Japanese mixed martial arts scene, thanks in large part to the visibility and resources of FEG
FEG
FÉG stands for Fegyver És Gépgyár, which could be translated as "Arms and Machine Factory". It comes from the Hungarian "Fegyver- és Gépgyártó Részvénytársaság"...
and K-1, as well as the demise of Pride FC, and the then lack of UFC coverage for Japanese audiences.
Hero's in the USA
On March 27, 2007, FEG (the Fighting Entertainment Group) held a press conference at the Los Angeles Coliseum to announce their first US event which was to be held on June 2, 2007. The show, named K-1 Dynamite!! USADynamite!! USA
SoftBank presents Dynamite!! USA was a mixed martial arts event co-promoted by FEG, the promoters of K-1 kickboxing and Hero's MMA events, and EliteXC...
, was a joint operated venture with the newly formed Elite XC, British MMA organization Cage Rage
Cage Rage
Cage Rage Championships, also known as Cage Rage, was a United Kingdom-based, mixed martial arts promotion that premiered on 7 September 2002 in London. Cage Rage went bankrupt and is now no longer trading...
, BoDog Fight
Bodog
Bodog is an online entertainment brand launched in 1994 by Calvin Ayre.Originally the company traded at but the brand was later divested and intellectual property rights were assigned to and consolidated in BodogBrand.com...
and the Korean based Spirit MC
Spirit MC
Spirit Martial Challenge is a defunct South Korean mixed martial arts promotion formerly operated by Entlian Corporation.The promotion was separated into Spirit MC , Spirit MC Inter League, Spirit MC Amateur League. Amateur League was a minor league, which was a stepping stone to the Professional...
. The show was broken down into two parts, with the first part (made up of three fights) being aired for free Showtime and the second part on pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
.
Reformation into Dream
At a press conference on February 13, 2008, FEG announced that they discontinued Hero's and were creating a new mixed martial arts franchise, DreamDREAM (mixed martial arts)
Dream is a mixed martial arts organization promoted by former PRIDE FC executives and K-1 promoter Fighting and Entertainment Group. DREAM replaced FEG's previous-run mixed martial arts fight series, Hero's. The series retains many of the stylistic flourishes and personnel from Pride FC...
, in collaboration with former Pride FC executives from Dream Stage Entertainment
Dream Stage Entertainment
Dream Stage Entertainment was a Japanese company that promoted various wrestling and mixed martial arts events, most notably mixed martial arts Pride Fighting Championship and Hustle professional wrestling events....
. In addition to established Hero's stars, (such as Calvancante, Akiyama, and Yamamoto) many other top fighters from around the world (such as Mirko Cro Cop and Shinya Aoki
Shinya Aoki
is a Japanese mixed martial artist, grappler, and former police trainee who is noted for being the DREAM Lightweight Champion and former Shooto Middleweight Champion. Aoki holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Yuki Nakai, as well as a black belt in judo. He is one of the most prominent...
) joined the new promotion.
Notable Fighters
Many notable mixed martial artists competed in Hero's, including:- Yoshihiro AkiyamaYoshihiro Akiyama, born Choo Sung-hoon , is a Japanese mixed martial artist and judoka. He is a fourth-generation Japanese of Korean descent and acquired Japanese nationality in 2001....
- Gesias CalvancanteGesias CalvancanteGesias Cavalcante Souza is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist. He is the 2006 and 2007 K-1 HERO'S Middleweight tournament champion. He currently fights for Strikeforce and DREAM...
- Royce GracieRoyce GracieRoyce Gracie is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist, a UFC Hall of Famer and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. A legend and pioneer in the sport of mixed martial arts, he is widely considered to be the most influential figure in the history of modern MMA.Gracie gained fame for his...
- Joachim Hansen
- Denis KangDenis KangDenis Kang is a Canadian mixed martial artist of Korean French descent. He was the PRIDE FC welterweight grand prix finalist in which he lost to Kazuo Misaki...
- Sergei Kharitonov
- Sam Salutan
- Lyoto MachidaLyoto MachidaLyoto Carvalho Machida is a Japanese-Brazilian mixed martial artist from Belém, Brazil who fights as a light heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
- Melvin ManhoefMelvin ManhoefMelvin Manhoef is a Dutch-Surinamese Muay Thai kickboxer and mixed martial artist, trained by Mike Passenier and fighting out of Mike's Gym in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In kickboxing, he is the current It's Showtime 85MAX World Champion, and in MMA he was the Cage Rage Light Heavyweight World champion...
- Yushin OkamiYushin Okamiis a Japanese mixed martial artist. He currently fights at middleweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship . Okami is currently ranked the #3 best middleweight in the world by Sherdog and the #2 best middleweight by MMAWeekly....
- Alistair OvereemAlistair OvereemAlistair Cees Overeem is a British born Dutch mixed martial artist and kickboxer, signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, Dream Interim Heavyweight Champion, K-1 World Grand Prix Champion, and made history by being the only fighter in combat...
- BJ Penn
- Vitor Ribeiro
- Kazushi SakurabaKazushi Sakurabais a Japanese professional mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler. He has competed in pro-wrestling for New Japan Pro Wrestling, UWFi and Kingdom Pro Wrestling. He has fought in MMA competition in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, PRIDE Fighting Championships, K-1 Hero's and Dream...
- Bob SappBob SappRobert Malcolm "Bob" Sapp is an American kickboxer, mixed martial artist, professional wrestler, actor, comedian and former professional American football player. Sapp currently has a combined fight record of 21–21–0, mostly fighting in Japan...
- Jake ShieldsJake ShieldsJake Shields is an American mixed martial artist who is currently fighting in the welterweight division of the UFC. He is the last Rumble on the Rock 175 lb champion. He is the first and last Elite XC Welterweight Champion. He is also the former Shooto Middleweight Champion and is the former...
- Jan NortjeJan NortjeJohannes "Jan" Nortje is a South African kickboxer, mixed martial artist, and undefeated pro boxer who has fought for Strikeforce, DREAM, K-1, PRIDE Fighting Championship, and New Japan Pro Wrestling....
- Antonio SilvaAntonio Silva (fighter)Antonio Silva is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He initially fought in the super heavyweight division, but currently competes in the heavyweight weight class. He is the first and last EliteXC heavyweight champion...
- Genki SudoGenki Sudois a retired Japanese mixed martial artist and a kickboxer who, up until December 31, 2006 competed in the Japanese fighting organization HERO'S and before that, the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Pancrase. He is notable for his elaborate ring entrances and unorthodox fighting style. His...
- Norifumi YamamotoNorifumi Yamamotois a Japanese mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He is associated with Purebred Tokyo and Krazy Bee. He quickly gained popularity in the Shooto organization due to his aggressive, well-rounded style and controversial persona...
Hero's GP Champions
| Year | Weight class | Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Lightweight | Norifumi Yamamoto Norifumi Yamamoto is a Japanese mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He is associated with Purebred Tokyo and Krazy Bee. He quickly gained popularity in the Shooto organization due to his aggressive, well-rounded style and controversial persona... |
Genki Sudo Genki Sudo is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist and a kickboxer who, up until December 31, 2006 competed in the Japanese fighting organization HERO'S and before that, the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Pancrase. He is notable for his elaborate ring entrances and unorthodox fighting style. His... |
| 2006 | Light Heavyweight | Yoshihiro Akiyama Yoshihiro Akiyama , born Choo Sung-hoon , is a Japanese mixed martial artist and judoka. He is a fourth-generation Japanese of Korean descent and acquired Japanese nationality in 2001.... |
Melvin Manhoef Melvin Manhoef Melvin Manhoef is a Dutch-Surinamese Muay Thai kickboxer and mixed martial artist, trained by Mike Passenier and fighting out of Mike's Gym in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In kickboxing, he is the current It's Showtime 85MAX World Champion, and in MMA he was the Cage Rage Light Heavyweight World champion... |
| 2006 | Middleweight | Gesias Calvancante Gesias Calvancante Gesias Cavalcante Souza is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist. He is the 2006 and 2007 K-1 HERO'S Middleweight tournament champion. He currently fights for Strikeforce and DREAM... |
Caol Uno Caol Uno is a Japanese mixed martial artist, and former Shooto Welterweight Champion. Specifically, Uno is known for his low single leg takedown and rear naked choke. He was born in Kanagawa, Japan... |
| 2007 | Middleweight | Gesias Calvancante Gesias Calvancante Gesias Cavalcante Souza is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist. He is the 2006 and 2007 K-1 HERO'S Middleweight tournament champion. He currently fights for Strikeforce and DREAM... |
Andre Amade Andre Amade Andre "Dida" Amade is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and Muay Thai kickboxer. Until late 2007 he trained at the Chute Boxe Academy in Curitiba, Brazil.... |