ONE Championship: Mei Yamaguchi training with Japanese legends Sakuraba, Tokoro and Imanari for Danielle Kelly grappling match

Mei Yamaguchi has called upon several legends of the Japanese MMA scene as she prepares for an imminent submission grappling match with Danielle Kelly.

The 39-year-old Japanese MMA veteran will meet Kelly at ONE X – the Asian martial arts promotion’s 10th anniversary celebration – on March 26 inside the Singapore Indoor Stadium. She will spend up to 12 minutes in the cage with the 25-year-old American, who is known as one of the brightest young talents on the submission grappling scene.

Yamaguchi (21-14-1) is not taking the challenge lightly, and has brought in some famous friends as she readies herself for Kelly’s trademark leg locks.

“I’m training everywhere, trying to get all the leg lock defence,” Yamaguchi told the Post. “I’m asking all the legends and grapplers to get my leg and I try to escape. That’s all I do every day. It’s fun.

“All the legends and top grapplers are training with me, like Kazushi Sakuraba, Hideo Tokoro, [Masakazu] Imanari. It’s amazing. They’re trying to pull off my legs and I’m trying to survive. A lot of woman grapplers and jiu jitsu people [too]. This is such a great thing. I never thought all these legends would show me a lot of technique and train with me. It’s a really great opportunity.”

The 52-year-old Sakuraba (26-17-1) is arguably the most important fighter in Japanese MMA history, with a legendary career that spans three decades, several continents, and multiple weight classes.

The 44-year-old Tokoro (35-30-2) is similarly accomplished, and famous for competing in a staggering 7 weight classes. The 46-year-old Imanari (39-20-2), finally, accomplished so much between MMA and submission grappling that several manoeuvres are named after him – such as the Imanari roll and choke.