With the UFC returning to Japan for the first time in a decade for this Saturday's UFC 144 in the storied Saitama Super Arena, the UFC has done its best to stack the card with Japanese fighters from their roster.
That roster includes fighters who rose to prominence in Japan after the boom like Hatsu Hioki, fighters who toiled in the smaller Japanese promotions like Riki Fukuda and Takeya Mizugaki, Yushin Okami, a fighter who has fought in the UFC for almost his whole career and even fighters who were big stars during Japan's MMA boom such as Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto and Takanori Gomi.
But no Japanese fighter on the UFC 144 card is a bigger star in his homeland* than Yoshihiro Akiyama. Frustratingly for Akiyama and the UFC, his 1-3 run with the promotion keeps him out of the headliner or co-main event slots.
But the 36-year-old has finally decided to cut weight and fight against men his own size in the welterweight division. Former Strikeforce champ and UFC #1 contender Jake Shields will be his test case.
He talked to UFC.com about the decision:
"I am not tall and big enough among other UFC fighters and decided to change to my "original" division," said the 5-foot-11 Akiyama through translator Takashi Iizuka. It was at 81 kilograms (178 pounds) that Akiyama won numerous judo titles, and while he will retain the technical knowledge and gritty competitiveness that has marked his seven year MMA career, he'll also be competing on a level physical playing field, and he believes that "I think that I could acquire more speed."
It will be very interesting to see if Akiyama can get a win over the tough Jake Shields and if the fight will make any waves in Japan. The UFC did manage to buy some TV time on TV Tokyo, the smallest broadcaster in Japan. Unfortunately the fights will air at midnight Tokyo time, hours after the fights are over but it's a start.
Based on reports from Fight Opinion, it looks as if the UFC's deal with the Dentsu advertising agency and sponsor Don Quixote to book the event as a "sold show" was a very smart play. UFC 144 is a low-risk proposition for Zuffa and just might represent a first step in rebuilding the MMA market in Japan.
*Akiyama is a native of Japan but of Korean descent.
Photo via Getty Images.
0 recs | 58 comments
I'm not too worried about Akiyama's weight cut
Earl Montclair - February 22, 2012
Mr. MDH, You are a gentleman and a scholar.
…That was a woman I was talking to..she has a very low voice. Probably a smoker.
gxc - February 22, 2012
Akiyama's "star power"
I forget what podcast I was listening to, I think it was one of Sherdog’s, but they were talking with Jake Shields about the fight and he brought up the fact that Akiyama wasn’t exactly well liked in Japan. Is that true?
I also never really knew much about all the previous accusations of greasing and stuff. While he’s extremely sexy, does Akiyama have a tendency to bend the rules?
TMadeBurner - February 22, 2012
thats a reference to a judo match he had
The opponent said there was something in his gi which didn’t allow him grab hold. Akiyama switched his gi for another provided without complaint.
benten20 - February 22, 2012 via mobile
I could have sworn Shields made reference to Sexy being a multiple offender.
TMadeBurner - February 22, 2012
Supposedly he greased in his fight against Sakuraba.
The Japanese fans were not terribly happy about that.
lolumad - February 22, 2012
Supposedlyhe greased in his fight with Sakuraba.Machiel Van - February 22, 2012
yes there were two times he was accused in judo
benten20 - February 22, 2012 via mobile
He also greased against Sakuraba.
Not really fine with Japanese fans.
Sweet Scientist - February 22, 2012
It appears from that picture that Akiyama has gone Super Saiyan.
May God have mercy on us all.
M.Sphinx - February 22, 2012
the sexiest kamehameha ive ever seen someone fire
benten20 - February 22, 2012 via mobile
And with Jake shields Galick Gun it’s sure to span 3-4 episodes
Krimson - February 22, 2012
kaio ken x4!!!
benten20 - February 22, 2012 via mobile
Fuck yeah...
Sugel Mendoza - February 22, 2012
nice one! lol rec
benten20 - February 22, 2012
It’s a stacked Japanese roster on thsi card with the return of Japan’s wayward son, QWENTON RRRRRRRRRRRRRRAMPAAAAAAAAAAAAAGE JACKSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON. But how much marketing have the Japanese done with this? Are they utilizing Akiyama’s name and gdlk image from the poster? Or is it just the one flying octogon commercial that w’eve all seen?
Krimson - February 22, 2012
Probably none at all
It would be like broadcasting an Aussie Rules Football match on ESPN2. There just isn’t enough interest to spend a ton of money marketing it.
alxn - February 22, 2012
What about Korea? I swear I remember that whole country shutting down for the first UFC broadcast for Dong Hyun Kim and Akiyama on the same card. And (don’t quote me) didn’t they do the same with Tiequan Zhang (God help me if I got that name wrong) for China?
Krimson - February 22, 2012
Probably a bit overstated to make the fighters sound like big deals in their countries, but I honestly have no idea.
alxn - February 22, 2012
Wish they gave him an easier fight
Tats16 - February 22, 2012
I wish I never had to watch shields fight anyone.
Not a fan.
DankNabbot - February 22, 2012
really?
I enjoyed his last fight.
merryprankster - February 22, 2012
You and me both
A pat on the back here, but I predicted his loss to Jake and Fitch’s loss to Hendricks. I also think Sexy beats him here.
halitosis - February 22, 2012 via mobile
Akiyama!
Y u so orange?
Matthi - February 22, 2012
Excessive amounts of sexy
Damon O. - February 22, 2012
Your theory is invalid
Krimson - February 22, 2012
get that monstrosity off the site! its only sexy on sexyama!
benten20 - February 22, 2012 via mobile
BEGONE FOUL BEAST!!!!
Damon O. - February 22, 2012
NOT EVEN RICHTER BELMONT CAN STOP THIS KINDA SEXY!!!!
Krimson - February 22, 2012
Blonde Sexyama will kill it!
dgonz - February 22, 2012
Blonde AND eyebrowless
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
I stared at that gif so long trying to see if he had eyebrows or not
The Lethal Haze - February 22, 2012
He doesn't
child of the 90s talking here.
Chris Groves - February 22, 2012
The animators had to do relocate all of Goku's hair to supply his flowing, golden locks
ElliotMatheny - February 23, 2012
In all seriousness
I think the author said he wanted SS3 to look more Neanderthal looking than the other forms.
/nerd
discoandherpes - February 23, 2012
It definitely looks primordial
I don’t get the lack of eyebrows, though. You would think that he would be hairier all over, if they were going for the caveman look.
ElliotMatheny - February 23, 2012
you would think that i guess but they went a different direction for some reason
i did not like that no eyebrows chill but the long hair was awesome. Also they went a totally different direction with Super Saiyan 4
benten20 - February 23, 2012
SS4 doesn't exist
GT can eat a dick.
discoandherpes - February 23, 2012
Yeah, that was a real disappointment for me too.
It just got more and more convoluted.
ElliotMatheny - February 23, 2012
Sans eyebrows
Damon O. - February 22, 2012
It's like I'm seeing double!
Machiel Van - February 22, 2012
snooki want shmush shmush!
benten20 - February 22, 2012
Im soo conflicted...
not sure whether to rec for the Belmont reference or flag for that picture.
imissnoch - February 22, 2012
benten20 - February 22, 2012
I'm not going to post John Boehner's face here
Even I’m not that coldhearted
some schmuck in texas - February 22, 2012
I am.
Machiel Van - February 22, 2012
Boehner is such an ass.
lolumad - February 22, 2012
don't say that
he’ll start crying again
some schmuck in texas - February 23, 2012
this just in, orange is the sexiest color in the world
benten20 - February 22, 2012 via mobile
Swedish celebrity author Björn Ranelid agrees
Horselover Fat - February 22, 2012
cant touch this!
benten20 - February 22, 2012
My God
Jonathan. - February 22, 2012
.
Baba Booey - February 23, 2012
haha
I was thinking of him
the guy with the big nose - February 22, 2012
Nice :)
Horselover Fat - February 22, 2012
what does it mean
to “book the event as a ‘sold show’”?
the guy with the big nose - February 22, 2012
Dentsu (Japanese ad agency) is covering all costs of the show from sponsor money
Don Quixote (former primary Sengoku backer) and Softbank are two of the show’s big sponsors.
Rob Young - February 22, 2012
The sex is just oozing out of that photo.
Jonathan. - February 22, 2012
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