UFC-bound Yoshihiro Akiyama is ready to face a middleweight Wanderlei Silva

by Jesse Holland on Mar 3, 2009 9:19 PM EST

Quoteworthy:

I decided to fight in the UFC which was a "major league" in MMA ... I will debut in July or August and my contract is six fights. When offered, I thought Dana White was interested in me because he planed to expand his business in Japan and Korea. Aside from his real intention, I am glad if I can attract more Japanese and Korean to MMA. That would be great if I can fight in Japan and Korea as a UFC fighter ... I want to fight a champion someday. I dream about challenging (Yushin) Okami when he becomes a champion. If Wanderlei Silva [does come] down to middleweight, I want to fight him.

-DREAM and K-1 superstar Yoshihiro Akiyama comments on his recent signing with the UFC after a long and storied run on the Japanese circuit. The 12-1 "Sexyama" is a decorated Judoka capable of winning anywhere at anytime — none of his twelve wins have gone the distance. Look for the middleweight heel to get his proper introduction at UFC 97 on April 18 in Montreal, Canada, with an in-cage debut sometime in August -- and it sounds like he's already got some of the big guns at 185-pounds in his sights.

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i never seen this guy fight is he impresive?or well rounded?

by NM on Mar 3, 2009 9:23 PM EST reply actions

I wathced a few of his fights on You Tube to see myself. Here are the only two fighters he has fought that I have heard of Kang and Misaki he beat Kang and had a no contest vs Misaki due to a questionable leg strike to when on the ground. I think Misaki would be a good addition if you ever rember Pride he wasthe mean looking Japanese guy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ROFMA1nl8M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfneA7BE1aQ&feature=related

by Beaver on Mar 3, 2009 9:59 PM EST up reply actions

His backstory is the important part of his signing. The japanese hate him and the korean love him. Anyways, he’s the gatekeeper to Asia for the UFC.

by NameNotRequired on Mar 3, 2009 10:17 PM EST up reply actions

that is so true NNR its because he beat the japanese hero sakuraba…it marks the start of grease gate here in asia because after that he had been accused of greasing…

sour japanese fans i think…because a korean born in japan defeated their hometown hero in kazushi sakuraba

by gaara on Mar 3, 2009 10:27 PM EST up reply actions

I will never forget when Misaki beat Akiyama, MIsaki took the micro phone in front of all the Japanese corwd and started scolding Akiyama about not showing Respect….Akiyama just stood there and took all the verbal abuse! Craziest thing I have ever seen happen between 2 fighters. Misaki has that mean, grunting, Japanese voice….It was like straight out of a movie.

Akiyama is the TRUTH!!!

Wanderlei vs. Akiyama is a fight that needs to happen, and it needs to take place in Japan!

NNR: Is dead right, he is the UFC gatekeeper to Asia. He is like the UFC’s trojan horse. ASia is about to be taken over!

by john on Mar 4, 2009 8:44 AM EST up reply actions

lol, so u knew akiyama just now? that explains why ur posts are senseless…nah! im not surprised basing on the way you comment here…total failure

by gaara on Mar 3, 2009 10:21 PM EST up reply actions

are you refering to me?!

by NM on Mar 3, 2009 10:49 PM EST up reply actions

He’s got great judo and descent stand up and is always in great shape.
He looked terrible against Jerome Le Banner in his stand up though.
Overall a great addition to UFC middle weight roster.
Wanderlei would probably crush him at this point.

by scissorfight on Mar 3, 2009 9:27 PM EST reply actions

whoa whoa whoa…be very careful who you wish for. wanderlei is no joke…first try your hands on much smaller name; dollaway, belcher or dare i say leben.

by tonydanza on Mar 3, 2009 9:28 PM EST reply actions

i cant say belcher because i honestly don’t think belcher is better than heinz which is about to be exposed by legionarius..as for leben, trust me akiyama will be the worst opponent for leben for his comeback fight…

okami will be a great fight for akiyama but yoshin is the no. 1 contender and i really dunno if the ufc would allow stirring from a new guy to the ladder so most likely maia/nate vs okami for the title…maybe the loser of these matches

by gaara on Mar 3, 2009 9:49 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t think Okami would be a good choice to start Akiyama out with. He needs to fight someone that will help make fireworks. Okami is really good, he is just horrifically boring. Akiyama needs to have an exciting first fight in the UFC… not some Okami snooze-fest.

by ScissorSweep on Mar 3, 2009 10:10 PM EST up reply actions

I’m with you – they need to build akiyama up in the UFC. If they give him someone recognizable (Leben, Dollaway, Chael Sonnen etc.)then they can build him up to bigger fights. The UFC can’t treat all of their foreign acquisitions the same way they treated Kazuhiro Nakamura or Sokoudjou. They need to build this guy up so he can be a star. He is the Sexyama…. someday he will be the middleweight champion.

by ScissorSweep on Mar 3, 2009 10:07 PM EST up reply actions

Fuck yeah Akiyama gonna fucken take care of people at MW they need to give him Maia or seomeone good to start!

by Khaos_Warrior on Mar 3, 2009 9:32 PM EST reply actions

no way! i dont want akiyama to fight wandy just yet but if he wins these matches…maybe its inevitable considering wandy would win against ace

akiyama coming to the ufc certainly add more depth in the MW he is an instant threat to dethrone spider…i wana see these matches

akiyama vs nate
akiyama vs maia
akiyama vs wilson
akiyama vs sonnen
akiyama vs silva

endless matches for this guy actually

by gaara on Mar 3, 2009 9:42 PM EST reply actions

Akiyama, prepare to get VANDERLEI’D!!

by Syd[a.k.a."The Negation"] on Mar 3, 2009 10:03 PM EST reply actions

Akiyama has never fought in a cage before. He needs some cage warm ups before he will be ready for the likes of Okami or Wanderlei Silva.

by ScissorSweep on Mar 3, 2009 10:12 PM EST reply actions

I love Wandelei but look at his last couple of fights. I might get struck by lighting but he is a shot figter. He wis now a stepping stone in the UFC. He will be a good stepping stone for any new UFC prospect. We can still love and respect the warrior but his best days are definitely behind him. I would like to see Dan Miller and Akiyama. Miller is making some noise and this would be a test for both fighters.

by Jamey on Mar 7, 2009 8:58 AM EST up reply actions

did anyone hear about the real reason why he came to the UFC… its pretty interesting try to look it up it involves his own version of greasegate….

by JR on Mar 3, 2009 10:12 PM EST reply actions

i know i looked it up it was with sakuraba right?

by NM on Mar 3, 2009 10:50 PM EST up reply actions

Yup this guy is HATED in Japan i mean really really HATED in japan… the article should be on Junkie but though i should say…

WAR MANIA!!!

by JR on Mar 3, 2009 11:20 PM EST up reply actions

i think a fight with okami would be good but he needs to start out slowly it would be cool if he is on the ufc 100 card

by bryant on Mar 3, 2009 10:14 PM EST reply actions

Just announced he’s on the UFC 98 card.

by Beaver on Mar 3, 2009 10:16 PM EST up reply actions

OOPs wrong guy LOL sorry guy’s Okami is fighting in 98.

by Beaver on Mar 3, 2009 10:27 PM EST up reply actions

What he really ment was " I want to fight the champion Micheal Bisping" .

by Bigmcmac on Mar 3, 2009 11:01 PM EST reply actions

Akiyama is a great middleweight, his KO of Kang was awesome, as was his submission victory over Manhoef. I’m not sure if Akiyama could bring more fans to the UFC in Japan as he is either well-liked or really hated Japanese MMA fans, hated mostly due greasing up against Saku. I wonder how he’d fare against Wanderlei, as he did pretty well absorbing Manhoef’s striking and out-grappled him and eventually submitting the monster that is Manhoef.

by Belisarius on Mar 4, 2009 12:19 AM EST reply actions

He looked terrible against LeBanner sure because he is giving up more than 40 pounds. I mean LeBanner is a heavyweight and a K1 star, if Akiyama looked better than him standing up then he better removed his name from the K1 roster.Akiyama is a decent fighter and an exciting one. Okami and Wanderlei are not good opponents to start with though, because he will get owned. He needs to be accustomed to the Octagon first. If the UFC wanted to build him up, let him fight the likes of Ed Herman, Jorge Rivera, Jason Day, Kendall Grove, or even Ross Pointon.

by Phasebook on Mar 4, 2009 12:24 AM EST reply actions