Maybe it's time for DEEP JEWELS to close

Emi Tomimatsu

Today's DEEP JEWELS show turned into a big mess to such an extent that it looks like matchmaker Shigeru Saeki is seriously considering closing and folding it into DEEP. I thought he should have done that last year. The main event was supposed to be the final of the DEEP JEWELS Lightweight Championship tournament between MIZUKI and Emi Tomimatsu. Unfortunately, MIZUKI missed weight and couldn't get down to 52kg. Here in North America when that happens, the fighter is penalized financially. But they don't do that in Japan. Saeki decided to award the title to Tomimatsu on an interim basis. They still had the fight but MIZUKI couldn't win. She actually won by armbar but it was ruled a DQ. So Tomimatsu has the belt but a rematch is likely on the next DEEP JEWELS show. Of course MIZUKI apologized and Tomimatsu admitted she planned to drop to 48kg. Of course we all know Mika Nagano's retirement match was canceled as she got married and pregnant. It turns out she married one of her training partners at CORE. She says she will continue to work there and teach wrestling to children. So with the top of the show gone south, that didn't leave much for fans. Shizuka Sugiyama won over Mizuho Sato by TKO. But they need to find better competition for Sugiyama. Maybe Saeki thinks she'll fold like a cheap suitcase. In other fights, Sugi Rock beat SARAMI by split decision. So Sugi Rock is still in a funk. Masako Yoshida beat MIYOKO by unanimous decision. No one cares about either of them. Amiba beat Mamiko Mizoguchi by rear naked choke. Mizoguchi returned after over two years away from MMA. And Sachiko Fujimori beat Shiori Hori by rear naked choke. So it wasn't much of a show. The one bit of good news is that Saori Ishioka is returning after two years off to start a family. Saeki said the next DEEP JEWELS show will probably be in May but he hasn't booked the building yet. Maybe he is finally getting the message that DEEP JEWELS can't support itself and should be absorbed by DEEP. When I suggested that last year, people got mad at me. At the time, I didn't think they had enough talent to put on decent shows. And with a lot of fighters retiring over the last year, they have even less talent today. The DEEP JEWELS shows have been terrible. So maybe the best approach is to put the best fighters on DEEP shows until they can recruit more talent. They aren't doing themselves any favours by putting on poor shows.