[9.0] "This was a pretty fun show with several good matches and a RINGS classic for the main event. Han and Tamura delivered yet again. Sakata vs McCulley (NR) - Match was a bit too clipped on the WOWOW show, hard to rate but it looked like a decent match. Zaza vs Naruse (***3/4) - Zaza looked good here, and worked a decent match with Naruse who continues to impress as well. Sort of your classic RINGS lower-card match here with good grappling and tight working on the mat. Kohsaka vs Ilyukhin (****1/4) - Good match with a lot of heat from the crowd. Ilyukhin and Kohsaka try to outmuscle each other with some good matwork and reversals. Zouev vs Nagai (****) - I personally enjoyed this match quite a bit. Might seem slow to others, but Zouev is such an intricate matworker that puts a lot of focus on finesse. Nagai was solid here too and made for a good opponent. Cool finish at the end. Maeda vs Maurice Smith (**3/4) - Kind of dull, could have been worse though. Tariel vs Yamamoto (***) - A bit exciting at times, but also not that great either. Solid match though, with Yamamoto looking increasingly desperate against Tariel, who looked comfortable and never in real danger. Han vs Tamura (*****) - RINGS classic, and the second incredible entry into the Tamura/Han trilogy. Great psychology and storytelling in this match as Tamura tries to prove he is better than RINGS' top gaijin and "combat sambo" master. Han proves once again that Tamura isn't ready for him."