10 Best MMA Wrestling Crossovers

"Inokism" is considered the dark age of New Japan Pro Wrestling, but Kazuyuki Fujita can stake a claim as the experiment's biggest success story.

During the late nineties, New Japan chairman Antonio Inoki grew concerned that the rise in MMA's popularity would damage the fan base of pro-wrestling, and in an attempt to sell his performers as athletes booked many of his top names in legitimate MMA fights - with mixed results.

Fujita, a four year veteran of New Japan, made his MMA bow at the 2000 Pride Openweight Grand Prix, scoring a win over former UFC tournament winner Mark Kerr before bowing out in the semi-finals.

Fujita committed to MMA shortly afterwards, earning the nickname "Ironhead" due to his ability to take massive amounts of punishment without being knocked out. Over an 18 year career, Fujita claimed wins over Ken Shamrock and Gilbert Yvel before earning a match with Pride heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko, where he came close to beating the MMA legend before succumbing to a rear naked choke.

Fujita's newfound "toughman" status saw him given a main-event push with New Japan, becoming a three-time heavyweight champion in main event programs against Yoshihiro Takayama, Bob Sapp and Don Frye. Fujita would relinquish the belt to Brock Lesnar in 2005, after which he took a sabbatical from pro-wrestling to focus full time on his MMA career.

Fujita is currently on a three fight winning streak with an 18-14 record, while still performing sporadically for regional wrestling promotions in Japan.