Bob Sapp vs a cartoon character

[CCS]

In one of the strangest bout announcements in recent memory, K-1 has announced that the larger-than-life Bob Sapp (9-3-1) has agreed to face Japanese anime character Kinniku Mantaro.

Or rather Japanese wrestling standout Akihito Tanaka (0-0) wearing a Kinniku Mantaro mask.

The bout will take place at the year-ending FieLDS Dynamite!! 2008 event at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

The 350-pound Sapp was last in action in February. The 36-year-old suffered a 55-second TKO loss to Jan Nortje while fighting under the Strikeforce banner.

Sapp has been a staple of the Japanese MMA scene since his debut in 2002. Having competed for PRIDE and K-1, the bout with Mantaro/Tanaka will be Sapp's fourth appearance on a New Year's Eve card.

Tanaka is a seven-time All-Japan Wrestling champion. Despite the odd choice of a representing an anime character in his MMA debut, Tanaka is considered a legitimate heavyweight prospect.

That has to be one of the funniest thing's i've ever read.

 

[Lee]

Tiger Mask was an anime character first, so really it's not a new, or funny concept.

 

[CCS]

But Tiger Mask is in Pro Wrestling. Bob Sapp is fighting the cartoon guy in a mixed martial arts fight. It's a very big difference.

 

[Lee]

yeah he's fighting a guy on his MMA debut, a way for him to get over, nothing funny there.

 

[CCS]

The guy's going to fight in a damned plastic mask. That's going to be hilarious.