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 Hey everybody, I'm Phil Conners and this is the MMA Today Show. This is where we bring to you some of the greatest fighters in Los Angeles and explore what they are all about. This week we will be visiting with Ouji Eiichi. Ouji is UPF-LA's undefeated middleweight champion and maybe one of the greatest fighters ever to fight in Los Angeles, lets hear it for Ouji Eiichi.
[Ouji enters the set carrying a six pack of budweiser, offers Phil a beer and sits down]
Phil: Thanks for the offer and as soon as the show is over I'll throw one down with you [chuckles] but for now I had better keep my head straight, I am a real lightweight [chuckles]. Anyway, welcome to the show Ouji.
Ouji: みんなこんにちはありがとうございます
Phil: Boy, I am going to need a translator. Rita, can we get something going here?....We're going to take a short break here folks and we'll be right back.
After a short intermission promoting the half million dollar "Ultimate Pit Fighter of the Year" tournament we return to the show to find that Ouji's chair has been replaced with a couch and an interpreter is seated next to Ouji.
Phil: Thank you Rita, folks let's hear it for Rita, is she on top of things or what?......Welcome to the show Ouji.
Ouji: (speaks in japanese) Thanks. Hello guys.
Phil: So Ouji, can you tell us a little about yourself, whats a day in the life of Ouji Eiichi like?
Ouji: [takes a drink of his beer] (speaking in japanese) A day for me is all about training, training and more training. I aim to become one of the best in this sport. Martial arts is a big part of our culture, and i am proud to showcase it to the world.
Phil: Well I think you have done a great job at that, you are a very popular fighter and always draw a big crowd [chuckles]. So....you are undefeated, hold the championship belt now, you were a champion in your last org, what's left for you now, where do you see your career going?
Ouji: (speaking in Japanese) Thanks [laughs]. Well,I'm gonna have to hold on to this belt. I will defend it as long as I can. I know there is always someone out there who is hungry for this belt, that is why I will have to train even harder. As a matter of fact, I'm even moving to LA now because of the gym invitation the org has offered me. Thanks a lot Michael Sanders. I will try my best to make my fights as exciting as possible.
Phil: I was talking with Mike yesterday during my show prep and I know he is very impressed by your performance in the cage. So far it looks like you will be one of the fighters who will be eligible for the "Ultimate Pit Fighter of the Year" tournament. That is an open weight tournament, do you plan to participate if you qualify? I mean it could mean facing guys who outweigh you by up to 100 lbs.
Ouji: (speaking in Japanese) A tournament with no weight limit? I used to watch fights like those in Japan when I was a kid [laughs]. I'm a champion so i can't refuse. If I even qualify, just inform me.
Phil: Yeah, no limit. The top 8 fighters that are over ID 190k from each UPF org qualify no matter what their weight class, the winning manager will get half a million dollars. I have seen middleweights do OK against heavywieghts but a bantamweight might have a pretty rough road in the tournament [chuckles]. I'd like to delve into the man behind the fighter, Are you married, is your family here in America?
Ouji: [takes a drink of his beer] (speaking in Japanese) Well,there are lots of elite fighters in each of the UPF orgs so I guess I might not be joining this year's tournament. I just imagined fighting a 260 lbs fighter. Damn! [laughs]. Im actually single that is why I was able to move to LA so easily. I have to thank my manager and his friend here in LA for giving me a place to stay.
Phil: No family here in Los Angeles, but you are a part of the UPF-LA family now. So you are single huh, I saw this hot blond eyeing you at last Saturday's event, I'll get her number for you [chuckles}. After all even a champion needs a little entertainment sometimes. What kind of entertainment do you enjoy, not related to MMA?
Ouji: (speaking in Japanese) [Laughs] You are funny Phil. But thank you for the warm welcome. I appreciate it. During the rest of my day I watch Hollywood Movies all day. Sometimes I go out and drink "sake". My coaches in Japan used to scold me for it [laughs]. But I guess I wont be drinking those anymore now that I'm in America [takes a drink of his beer].
Phil: And when you watch these movies, is that something you do alone, or is there someone special in your life, is there a future Mrs. Eiichi?
Ouji: (speaking in japanese) I just told you i am single right? I intend to stay that way (laughs). I usually watch alone. My parents passed away early and my brother now has his own family so the family house is left to me.
Phil: Now Ouji, you had an impressive first round KO victory over Mauricio Calvancante in your last fight, where you as surprised as the rest of us at how quickly he went down?
Ouji: (speaking in Japanese) Yeah. I was surprised. He's a tough opponent so I was happy to be able to catch him with a good punch and finish him early. I was thinking that if the fight went on longer, there might be a chance that he will be able to take the fight to the ground and submit me. I think my training at the gym paid off.
Phil: You have to face another ground fighter in you upcoming match against Jimbo Jones on the 27th, Jones took out Anderson Silva by submission to earn his shot. Do you have any predicitions on your upcoming fight?
Ouji: (Speaking in Japanese) So far I haven't been taken down my entire career...yet, but I shouldnt be too confident in my takedown defense. Let's just put it this way. If I'm able to keep the fight standing, I'll win. If he takes me down, I'll lose.
Phil: Well, it looks like we are just about all out of time for this weeks show, as usual we've saved the last 30 seconds for you. Is there anything you would like to say to anyone out there? Anything goes.
Ouji: (Speaking in English with an accent) Hey Mauricio
Phil: Whoa, wait a minute, you mean you speak English?
Ouji: Of course I speak English, English is as common in Japan as Spanish is here in LA. I was about to answer in English as well when you broke in and wanted a translator, so I just went with it [laughs]. Hey Mauricio, I'll be expecting your retirement soon, just as you promised before our fight.
Phil: There you have it folks, Ouji Eiichi. Put your hands together for the prankster, our undefeated middleweight Champion, Ouji Eiichi. Don't forget to join us next week same time, same place, when we will be spending some time with Francis Stark. Francis is a fighter with a future, a real powerhouse and one of the many talanted middleweights moving up the ranks and looking for his shot at Eiichi. Until next time, this is Phil Conners saying "Don't Forget, Don't Submit".....So long.
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