The Most Crazy Judo Fights in Judo History

The uniqueness of our favorite sport is that the bouts are practically not limited in time. Yes, according to the regulations there are 4 minutes and the golden score. But if we are honest, the bout can last 25 minutes, 40 minutes or even 1 hour. By the way, there will be a 40-minute bout in the video today. So make sure you watch to the end. I wish you a very pleasant viewing experience. And we begin with a bout that took place at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. The final of the tournament between Japan's Ono Shohei and Korea's Ahn Chang-rim, who recently ended his career unexpectedly. Two iconic rivals, the eternal rivalry between Japan and Korea. And here's the final. This bout was not the longest but very intense. It's probably the only bout in Ono's career that he's unlikely to want to remember. For I can say with 100% certainty that Ono won undeservedly. First, as far as I'm concerned, 30 seconds before the end, Ahn fended off Ono's attack with a takedown to score a takedown, but he got nothing for it. Write your opinion on this episode. Then the fight was even, close and mutually attacking. Again, Ono went to throw over his back and Ahn twisted him. Again, no score here. And then in the 12th minute of the match, Ono throws completely on his opponent's stomach. At first, the judges did not give anything. They gave both the Korean and the Japanese some time to fight. Then they stopped the match and gave a waza-ari in favor of Ono. The most unfair waza-ari in my memory. And this bout also lasted 12 minutes. It was at the Grand Prix tournament in Tashkent, the first tournament after the 2019 World Championships. In the weight category up to 60 kg, Russian Yago Abuladze and Japanese Koga Genki. The bout was very competitive, but Abuladze was able to turn the fight around and put the Japanese on Ippon with a clinch. Still, the wrestler from Russia was probably physically stronger. And this is the 2019 World Championships in Tokyo, the semifinals. World champion and future Olympic champion Abe against future two-time world champion Maruyama. The heat is maximum. The stands are just roaring in expectation and the bout was exemplary. Abundant attacks and counterattacks, powerful takedowns, interceptions and eventually Maruyama executes an uki waza throw. He earns the waza-ari, advances to the finals and becomes world champion. The next episode took place in 2021 at the Masters tournament in Qatar. At the semifinal stage met again Yago Abuladze and vice Olympic champion Taiwanese judoka Yan Yongwei. It was then at this tournament that I realized that Yan was one of the clear contenders for a medal at the Olympic Games. But then in Doha, as early as 15 minutes into the bout, Yan Yongwei goes in for a back throw from his knees and he manages to earn a waza-ari and win. At the time, many noted Yan Yongwei's unrealistic functional training. Probably the most controversial bout of 2021 in terms of refereeing. Asian Championship in Bishkek, quarterfinals. Yeldo Smetov, one of the best judokas in the weight category up to 60kg in the history of judo, met against Kyrgyz Aybek Ulu Kubanychbek. One minute later, the Kyrgyz earned a waza-ari. Then a minute and a half later, Smetov with a crowning move from the knees earns waza-ari with a throw for two sleeves. Then notice how many times Aybek Kubanychbek hangs onto his opponent and walks away from the fight. And he doesn't get a single warning for that. Then the moment that shocked probably everyone and me among them. Kubanychbek's knees on his back and a counter from Smetov. Pure waza-ari. The most interesting thing is that I'll get the first waza-ari for the same reception from Aybek. Ono Shohei won the Japanese Championship with the same counterhold. But here at the Asian Championships, it is not a score. Then Aybek Ulu Kubanychbek throws with a foot to the stomach and he gets waza-ari. Then Smetov throws with his crowning footstep and gets waza-ari. Then it is cancelled literally in the next episode. A Kyrgyz tries to throw from his knees and Smetov gets a third shido for passing. The bout ended up lasting 13 minutes. And you write what you think about it. It's the Masters Tournament in Doha again. Then in Qatar on the tatami met Russian Irina Dolgova and Frenchwoman Shirin Vukly. One of the leading judokas in the category up to 48 kilograms. And honestly speaking, these two girls showed a real battle and will to win. Abundance of counter moves and dodges from throws. The bout eventually lasted 15 minutes and the Frenchwoman got the third shido. And Dolgova, barely limping, came out of the bout victorious. Kudos to these two judokas for such a will to win. 2020, the iconic meeting between Abe Hifumi and Joshiro Maruyama. Everyone knows what this meeting meant to these two. Whoever wins goes to the Olympics. Abe won, as everyone knows. But how he did it? It lasted a full 25 minutes. 25 minutes of top class real Japanese judo. There were over a million views on the broadcast. The attention of every corner of the world was on the match that would decide who would go to the Olympics. After 25 minutes, Abe earned a waza-ari with a clinch and won. And this is the Grand Slam tournament in Paris in 2021. Denis Vieiru against a judoka from Mongolia named Batiktok. Quarterfinals and Denis was the favorite. But Mongol managed to surprise and in the golden score at 12 minutes of the meeting, Denis Vieiru beautifully finished. And look how softly he landed it on Ippon. And here's a bonus bit of historical facts for you. This is Masahiko Kimura, the greatest judoka of all time. An icon of Japanese and world judo. A real warrior in every sense, who served even in the Japanese army in the last century. Why is he here, you may ask? Well, here's why. Kimura fought at the Japanese championship and reached the finals defeating all Ippon, which is highly valued in Japan to this day. One of the best judokas of the time, Masayuki Nakajima, was waiting for him in the finals. And the bout between Kimura and Nakajima lasted a very long time. In the history of judo, it's probably the longest bout in the history of judo. The two judokas were completely exhausted. And after about 40 minutes of grueling struggle and a real battle, Kimura, like a true master of parterre, held the hold and won before moving Nakajima with a pass to the feet. Thank you for watching and let us know what you think about it in the comments.