[div class=”notice” class2=”icon”]The following is from an article on MMA-Japan, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div]
I’m one of the rare breed that fell in love with MMA through Pancrase (And Saku but that’s best saved for another article) and my favorite fighter by far was Masakatsu Funaki. In tribute to the greatness of this man, here is a look back at his legendary career as i see it.
Masa got his start when he was recruited by the New Japan Pro Wrestling dojo at the incredibly young age of 15, Making him one of the youngest men to ever get a pro wrestling contract. Funaki would be in the same class with such proresu legends as Masahiro Chono, Keiji Mutoh, Jushin Liger, the late great Shinya Hashimoto & Chris Benoit as well as his future best friend Minoru Suzuki.