@Sigilbreaker26
https://mangadex.org/chapter/452071/4
You look at this and you tell me, with only common senses, no bias or fanboyism in the way, who would be the easier fight for Ohma? The guy with only one eye patch and not even a dirt on his clothes, or the guy with wraps all over his body and couldnt even stand he had to be carried?
Imai is the better opponent for Ohma only because he's the one Ohma can win without taking severe injuries.
Plot-wise, this makes sense. Ohma got beaten within an inch of his life in his previous match with Raian. And he would be facing Wakatsuki in the next one and will get another severe beatings again. If he faced Akoya, that makes 3 matches he will be beaten to near death, IN A ROW. No matter how much plot armor the author gives him, it would NOT make sense for Ohma to even be able to walk up to the stadium to fight Gensai.
As for Imai vs Akoya, I will not use the word " Asspull" because people were way too liberal with it. It's more like Deus Ex Machina. It's similar to how Kure Raian lost against Ohma. These are the only two matches in the whole Kengan Asura series that rely heavily on Deus Ex Machina. The good guy was getting stomped and received enough damages he shouldnt even be able to move his fingers, let alone throwing punch, kicks or hold a lock tightly on a big guy. For some same reasons, the bad guy decide to play around rather than finish the match. BAM. Flashback, remember someone said something. BAM. power-ups out of nowhere. BAM. Opportunity popped up and BAM the bad guy is defeated. At least in Raian's case, it makes more sense since he abused his Removal, burn his stamina and screwed himself as the result. I will also give Imai credits that he saw one opportunity and he made good use of it. Doesnt change the fact that Akoya was way stronger and should have won that.
And YES Akoya is definitely within top 10. I dont see anyone else actually stronger than him besides Ohma (by the end), Gaolang, Gensai, Fang, Hatsumi, Julius Reihold, Muteba, and Raian
I get it. Akoya is not well-liked. Heck, i dont even like him. His character is cliche, his fighting style is boring, his berserker/killer mode is nothing new and for the love of God he wont ever stop with his annoying BS about justice this , justice that. Matter of fact, i would love to have him face people like Fang, Gaolang or Gensai so those people can beat his face in, dislocate his jaws so he wont be able to spit out another justtice nonsense. But credits gotta be given where it's due. And i simply see that he deserves better.