YAMATODAMASHII PODCAST

In this episode of the Yamatodamashii Podcast, Enson Inoue is joined by longtime friend and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Baret Yoshida. They look back on the early days of training in Hawaii and Japan, share never-before-heard stories involving the Yakuza, Kid Yamamoto, Shooto, Helson Gracie, Abu Dhabi and the wild era that helped shape modern MMA. From unforgettable street fights to the evolution o...

Enson Inoue shares his honest thoughts on Dustin Poirier's recent arrest and explains why his initial reaction completely changed after taking time to reflect on retirement, identity and the mental challenges many fighters face after leaving the sport. Rather than judging the situation, Enson draws on his own experiences and discusses why life after fighting can be one of the toughest battles an a...

Enson Inoue is back to break down one of the most talked-about fight cards of the year as UFC Freedom 250 brought the action to the White House. From Justin Gaethje's incredible performance to the biggest moments, controversies and surprises from the card, Enson gives his unfiltered thoughts on everything that went down. Was this one of the greatest UFC events ever? Did Gaethje shock the world? An...

In this episode of the YAMATODAMASHII PODCAST, Enson Inoue gives his firsthand perspective from inside the arena as Breaking Down staged a man vs woman fight that has divided opinion across Japan. We also discuss:🥊 Dozer's brutal one-punch knockout🥊 Soncho's impressive victory and incredible journey🥊 Meka's controversial loss and the medical staff incident🥊 The visa problems that cancelled Kor...

Enson Inoue gives his thoughts on the debut MVP MMA event on Netflix, including Ronda Rousey’s quick finish, Nate Diaz vs Mike Perry, Francis Ngannou’s performance, the empty arena atmosphere, and whether the overall level matched top UFC competition. The episode also covers Jon Jones comments about Ngannou, the future of MVP MMA, fighter pay, and why Enson believes promotions need long term susta...

Enson Inoue gives his thoughts on UFC 328 after a wild night of fights featuring Sean Strickland vs Khamzat Chimaev and Tatsuro Taira title fight against Joshua Van. We break down Strickland surviving Chimaev’s early pressure, whether Chimaev gassed himself out trying to force the finish, and the post-fight respect between the two after weeks of intense trash talk. We also discuss Taira coming up...

Enson Inoue gives his thoughts on RIZIN 53 after a wild weekend of fights in Japan. We talk about Luis Gustavo becoming the new lightweight champion, the emotional story behind his win, Ren Hiramoto’s exhibition boxing match with Koji, and why Enson ended up turning the fight off. We also get into possible future matchups for Ren, Mikuru Asakura, Takeru’s retirement fight against Rodtang, and why...

In this episode of the podcast, we go back to the early days of MMA in Guam and how the scene really started to grow. Enson shares the story of his first trip to the island in the late 90s, how a chance encounter led to training in a garage, and how a group of guys with no gym, no money, and no real structure built something that’s still impacting the region today .We also talk compare how Enson t...

In this episode of the YAMATODAMASHII PODCAST, we break down everything from UFC 327 and Rizin Landmark 15.We dive into the main event and that unbelievable performance where a fighter pushed through injury to still find a knockout, showing a level of heart you rarely see . We also react to one of the wildest heavyweight fights in recent memory, and talk about how the division might finally be get...

In this episode, Enson Inoue shares his experiences from the early days of Shooto—a time when mixed martial arts was still evolving and the standards were very different from today. We dive into what training under the original Tiger Mask, Satoru Sayama, was actually like, separating myth from reality. What his relationship was like with Enson. How Enson feels about other notable Shooto fighters,...

The YAMATODAMASHII Podcast returns with a breakdown of the latest UFC drama, the controversial BMF fight, and the escalating tension between Dana White and boxing promoter Eddie Hearn. In this episode, Enson Inoue gives his take on the latest MMA news and the politics surrounding the UFC heavyweight division. We discuss the BMF title fight between Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway, the reaction fr...

The YAMATODAMASHII Podcast is back with a full breakdown of RIZIN 52, one of the most exciting MMA events of the year. In this episode, we recap the biggest moments from the card and discuss whether Japanese MMA is experiencing a resurgence. The main event saw teenage prospect Kyoma Akimoto shock the MMA world with a dominant performance against former Bellator champion Patchy Mix. With explosive...

In this episode of the YAMATODAMASHII Podcast, Enson Inoue tells the full story of what happened at the 1998 Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championships in Hawaii — an event that nearly erupted into chaos and changed the course of Hawaii’s BJJ scene. What started as a tournament appearance quickly escalated into one of the most talked-about off-the-mat incidents in 90s jiu-jitsu history. Enson breaks dow...

In this episode of the YAMATODAMASHII Podcast, Enson Inoue addresses comments made by Relson Gracie in a recent Brazilian podcast interview. Relson was Enson’s first jiu-jitsu teacher in Hawaii, and the two were once extremely close. But decades later, Relson has publicly claimed Enson removed the Gracie logo from his shorts and left the team because he felt he didn’t need them. In this episode, E...

In this episode of the Yamatodamashii Podcast, Enson Inoue reads and responds to fan comments after his controversial take on Tom Aspinall, eye pokes, and fighter reactions inside the cage. After posting a clip comparing Tom Aspinall’s reaction to eye pokes with Paddy Pimblett’s, the comments section exploded. Fans were split, emotions ran high, and the debate quickly turned into something bigger...

After a brutal war with Justin Gaethje, the performance — and how Paddy handled adversity — changed a lot of minds. In this episode, we break down the fight, the eye poke controversy, and why this moment showed what real toughness in MMA looks like. From surviving heavy pressure to refusing to look for an easy way out, this was a performance that silenced doubters and reframed the conversation aro...

In this episode of the YAMATODAMASHII Podcast, we question whether the Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua fight was really as straightforward as it looked — and why so many fans came away feeling that something was off. We also give a full breakdown of RIZIN’s New Year’s Eve event, reacting to the atmosphere inside the arena, the biggest fights on the card, and what the results mean for Japanese MMA goin...

In this episode of the YAMATODAMASHII Podcast, Enson Inoue shares his honest thoughts on a recent Breaking Down incident that raised serious concerns around fighter safety and responsibility. We also discuss how moments like this impact the wider fight culture, where the line should be drawn between entertainment and danger, and how these situations can affect a fighter’s future. Beyond Breaking D...

Enson discusses exactly what happened at the Breaking Down 18 auditions — including the moment he was sucker-punched in the back of the head by a teenage fighter, the chaos that followed, and why this incident has blown up across Japan. Enson reveals the behind-the-scenes truth:• Who might have told Leo to attack him• Why the camera crew seemed to know it was coming• How the producers tried to con...

Enson Inoue returns on the YAMATODAMASHII PODCAST to break down some of the biggest controversies in MMA right now. We look back at some of the comments received on the Tom Aspinall’s eye poke podcast, to the ongoing UFC betting scandal and chaos in RIZIN as on of Enson's fighters stormed the stage., Enson gives his raw, unfiltered opinions — no holding back. We also dive into the “Scumbag or Misu...

Enson Inoue shares his brutally honest reaction to Tom Aspinall’s eye poke controversy and the decision that’s got the MMA world divided. In this episode of the YAMATODAMASHII PODCAST, we cover everything from audtions for a new Team Yamatodamashii for Breaking Down, Buu's Power Slap debut in Saudi Arabia, and finish with Enson’s no-holds-barred take on Tom Aspinall’s eye poke incident. We als...

In episode 125 of the YAMATODAMASHII PODCAST, James (Jim) shares his thoughts on the Smashing Machine. The movie hasn't been release in Japan yet so Enson hears how Hollywood has portrayed Pride FC, Mark Kerr’s story, and even Enson’s own fight with Mark. The two also discuss UFC 320, Jiri Prochazka’s incredible comeback, Bare Knuckle FC chaos, Power Slap in Saudi Arabia, and updates on Team Y...

In this episode of the YAMATODAMASHII Podcast , Enson Inoue talks with Koichi Hirashi just days after his second professional MMA fight at DEEP. Koichi reflects on battling through a broken nose, what he learned from the experience, and how it fuels his drive toward future goals in RIZIN and the UFC. Despite the setback, his fighting spirit and determination left a strong impression on fans and sp...

In this episode of the Podcast, Enson reacts to the shocking incident involving Rampage Jackson’s son, Raja, at a pro wrestling event. We break down what happened, why it escalated, and what the consequences could be. The discussion also covers Buu making history as the first Japanese fighter in Power Slap, set to compete in Saudi Arabia. We look back at the recent UFC card including Khamzat Chima...

In this episode of Enson opens up about the biggest shake-up in TEAM YAMATODAMASHII'S history. He reveals why he cut three fighters from the team, the importance of loyalty and character, and how he’s moving forward with a stronger, tighter squad. We also talk about recent fights at Breaking Down 16.5 and upcoming bouts in K-1, DEEP, and possibly RIZIN. Enson shares updates on Meka, Bu, Koichi...