Ep 9 - The Story of Pancrase: Japan’s Original Hybrid

21/07/2025 1h 2min

Listen "Ep 9 - The Story of Pancrase: Japan’s Original Hybrid"

Episode Synopsis

In this episode of The Catch Chronicles, Blake Ferris and Javi Araujo take a deep dive into the legendary Japanese MMA promotion Pancrase. Before the UFC took the world by storm, Pancrase was pioneering a hybrid style of combat — blending catch wrestling, striking, and submission fighting under a unique rule set that blurred the lines between pro wrestling and real fighting.Blake and Javi break down how Pancrase shaped the early days of MMA, its influence on modern combat sports, and the iconic fighters it produced, including Bas Rutten, Ken Shamrock, and Masakatsu Funaki.👉 Subscribe for more deep dives into MMA history, catch wrestling, and the stories behind the legends.