"Changing of the Guard" Imminent for Japan?

It's been a persistent question in 2009: can Japanese MMA survive?

All signs point to desperate times for the sport in the Land of the Rising Sun, and with recent news of a "Super Hulk Tournament" at Dream 9 featuring novice Jose Canseco against kickboxing giant Hong Man Choi, many fans are asking, what in the world is going on over there?

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker worked with K-1 promoters Fight Entertainment Group (FEG) for seven years as the promotion's kickboxing connection, and has maintained close contact with the higher-ups at Dream.

The air to Pride's throne has not met ratings expectations with broadcaster Fuji TV and has been moved to a late night spot for its last two events. Though Dream 9 is scheduled for a primetime spot, it may be the network's last-gasp effort to revive the promotion.

In a conference call promoting his upcoming Strikeforce Challenger Series on May 15, Coker addressed his understanding of the situation in Japan. And from the sound of it, major changes are on the horizon.

"I think that they're in a situation where I think there's going to be a transition period soon," he said. "What that means, I'm not sure, as far as who's going to end up, but I think there's going to be some re-branding to another league. There's going to be some changes coming down the pipe; I've heard a lot of different rumors.

"I believe they will be continuing -- I don't think they're going out of business -- but I think there will be a changing of the guard (in FEG)."

Coker is currently working to get his favorite Japanese fighters into Strikeforce: Shinya Aoki, Tatsuya Kawajiri, and Hayato Sakurai. Pride vets Mitsuhiro Ishida and Kazuo Misaki have successfully made the transition to the promotion, and by year's end, Coker wants them in America.

Regardless of the shake-ups that are on the horizon, he says the relationship with FEG will stay strong.

"We have a good relationship with them, and we're still working on some of the fighter relationships going back and forth, which will be great for everybody," said Coker. "Other than that, I don't think it really impacts us. They do some great fights and they do some that I call the circus fights. We're not going to be in that business, but they do have a couple of guys that we really like that we'd like to fight on Showtime and the Strikeforce series."

Meanwhile, a source MMAInsider spoke to on Tuesday said Canseco, initially reported to be weighing the bout despite the promotion's announcement, will take the May 26 fight.