MMA Fighters Give First Hand Accounts on Japan Earthquake

Several MMA fighters from the US and Japan were in shock after the devastating 8.9 earthquake hit Japans last night.

Several tweeted and blogged their experience as it was happening.

Aguilar with Megumi Fujii at JEWELS Weigh-ins

American fighter Jessica Aguilar, who was supposed to fight at JEWELS MMA in Tokyo,  tweeted:

"I've experiences the scariest thing in my life an earthquake hit Japan at 8.8 points on richter scale.. My fight was cancelled, but that's good news compared to the tragedy that is happening here. I am safe... Let's keep Japan in our prayers."

She went on to tweet about the aftermath.

"We went to try to get food and stores are empty people sleeping inside .. It's so sad it surreal."

 

Britanny Decker at a recen JMMA event

Brittany Ann - an American fighter living in Japan and host of "The MMA Sweetdown" tweeted:

"This is the biggest earthquake ive been in and im terrified."

"I HATE earthquakes. Was in the parking lot when it happened. I've never seen cars shake like that before; still getting little ones."

Brittany was able to get back to her apartment, but the aftershocks are still rattling her.

"Being on the 8th floor during an earthquake REALLY sucks.They keep coming back, its scaring me."

Fujii on the train moments after the quake

One of the top fighters in MMA, Megumi Fujii blogged that she was on a train at the time of the earthquakes. Train service stopped during the major action, but she was able to get home safely. Her brother and mother are in the region most devasated by the quake, but was able to call them and confirm they are okay.

Modaferri, Aguilar, & Fujii at JEWELS weigh-ins Thursday morning

American fighter living in Japan Roxanne Modafferi gave a complete account of the earthquake from her Facebook page this morning. 

So I was on my way to work at about 2:30 and decided to go to the supermarket to grab some kamaboko fish sausages for a snack.

I walk to the register and see a register woman collapsed on the floor, and another staff lady is holding her, crying out, "She collapsed! She collapsed!" I'm trying to think of what to do, when I notice a strange sensation. People are starting to halt their normal motions, and I start feelnig a little nauseous! I see people looking around, and then stuff on shelves starts moving...

It hits us all that it's an earth quake! And I don't want to be in the basement of a 8 story building when it hits, that's for sure, especially to feel it standing up? Usually if you're sitting down you notice it.

I put my fish sausage down somewhere and make my way towards the exit with a few other people.

Then the place freaking starts ROCKING. People start BOOKING it for the door. Come on, grandma, ditch the cart! Like 5 grandmas were like blocking the doors with their carts...

We make it outside and even standing on the pavement, we can feel it. I look up and see antenae waving back and forth wildly, and I SEE THE FREAKING 7 STORY BUILDING SWAYING compared to the one next to it!!

It was so scary! The building was moving! People were pouring out of all the nearby buildings.

Eventually, I went to my office and saw my co-workers with students standing outside. Turns out that we cancelled classes for the rest of the day. Well, only two kids showed up and we sent them home. There were aftershocks, and it was really scary.

I read twitter about how Jewels was cancelled...what a darn shame! Man I can't believe all those good fights didn't happen...but there are worse things to worry about. Like the HUGE damage and loss of life in other places in Japan, tsunamis, omg. The earthquake was 8.9? in Northern Japan? Wow.

Now I'm at the office still...I cleaned the teacher's room. I'm staying here tonight. After shocks are still going on...we are on the 2nd floor.

We are thankful everyone is safe, but our prayers go out to those families who lost loved ones in the earthquake and tsunami.

There are 2 comments on this post. Join the discussion!

NiamhG says:

Thanks for sharing this. Sometimes it's hard on a sports blog to find a meaningful way to share real-world events outside the gym.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 5:22am EDT

MarQFPR says:

I am planning on talking more with Jessica Aguilar about her experiences in Japan this week on the WTS podcast as well as Brittany Ann, who is still in Japan.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 6:02am EDT