Yoshihiro Akiyama: I'm fighting Wanderlei Silva in early 2010
by Jesse Holland on Oct 13, 2009 3:40 PM EDT
77 comments
Yoshihiro Akiyama, a fourth-generation Japanese-born Korean who made his Zuffa debut at UFC 100, will bring a lethal dose of sexiness to the Octagon in early 2010 in hopes of dulling the blade of Brazilian "Axe Murderer" Wanderlei Silva.
"Sexyama" made the announcement earlier today during a news conference for the UFC’s "Undisputed" video game release in the far east and comes courtesy of Sherdog.com.
While no date or event is official, the former DREAM and K-1 star hinted at UFC 110 in Las Vegas and UFC 111 in Australia as probable front-runners for the proposed throwdown.
A world class Judoka, Akiyama made his name in K-1 Hero’s, compiling an undefeated record (11-0, 1 NC). After FEG pulled the plug on Hero’s, he fought twice in the newly formed DREAM in 2008 before signing with UFC. He made his Octagon debut a successful one, narrowly edging out Alan Belcher via split decision on July 11.
Will he be sexy enough for one of the sport's most ruthless aggressors?
On the heels of his recent facial surgery, Wandy could return with a level of sexiness all his own. Even though Silva has lost five of his last six fights, he’s an extremely aggressive and dangerous fighter who is capable of ending things early.
In fact, "The Axe Murderer" has a technical knockout percentage of more than 70 in his 43 professional mixed martial arts bouts -- and even when he loses -- he always comes to fight.
Expect fireworks in this one.
Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more information on the reported contest as it becomes available.
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Seriously, this whole “WAR!!!!” thing is getting so played out and used…..
by Jay on Oct 13, 2009 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
not that it ever made any sense to begin with!!!
by shonuff on Oct 14, 2009 1:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks John for telling us about this fight a month ago! Just kidding, no need to flame.
i think its an amazing match up. Both fighters are very capable of winning this fight and I really hate to see either lose. Tough fight for me to analyze. I would prefer an easier match up for wanderlie in his first cut down to 185 lbs because I would like to see Wand take a run at the title, but this fight is still very much appealing to me.
FYI: stopp kidding yourselves. Belcher in no way shape or form beat Akiyama.
by john G on Oct 13, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I never figured out Rogan’s announcing in that one. I watched that fight twice, and it was pretty obvious Sexyama easily took two rounds.
by PW on Oct 13, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Think his comments were more about the fact that one judge had sexyama winning every round 30-27 which imo I didn’t see. I seen him win but not all 3.
by Steve on Oct 13, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
John – what do you think about your boy the Cannibal fighting Santiago? I think he smashes his glass chin into the top 10 MW rankings.
by NameNotRequired on Oct 13, 2009 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I had the same thoughts as joe when i was watching ufc 100 live but the next day when i was sober and watched the replay i didnt think he got screwed as bad as the night before
by JG on Oct 13, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yup, and it really does matter what the commentator says ‘cause every viewer at home won’t put the energy into analyzing everything that happens and what scores in a fight. Rashad was there at 97 and said things about Quinton’s fighting style and even today ppl b!tch about Quinton being predictable, so annoying!
I say Wanderlei’s style works for him in this one and he takes a well needed win.
by RoBerto on Oct 13, 2009 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Almost any fight Wandy has been is exciting even if he loses his opponent knows he has been in a war. I think Wandy will take this one his power and aggression will be to much for Yoshi.
by Puck Head on Oct 13, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, Wandy is WAY underrated these days. I know he’s 1-3 since returning to UFC but those fights were all WARS with top-tier champions. He’s finally gonna be fighting guys his own size and I think he’ll destroy 99% of the Middlewight division, including Bisping, Marquardt, and Maia, and will have epic rematches with Vitor and Hendo that will be fight of the night regardless of who wins.
by shonuff on Oct 13, 2009 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The trouble with Wanderlei is that he has to evolve into a “mixed” stand-up artist.
It’s not berserker barrage everytime. He has to learn to counter too!
by Syd on Oct 13, 2009 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nah, I think the berzerker barrage works pretty well for him. The only time he loses is when he’s cautious and hesitant. He and Vitor are a lot alike in that, or were. The counter striking didn’t work out to well against Chuck and I think if he’d come straight on, he’d have KO’d chuck in the first round.
by shonuff on Oct 14, 2009 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
john don’t act like a god a sherdog forum had that story up 2 days before you posted it, if anyone gets credit for that its sherdog
by Jared on Oct 13, 2009 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
John has his sources other than sherdog jared.
They’re legit sources too, like say an insider from XTreme Couture[just an example]…
by Syd on Oct 13, 2009 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good call John, you announced this a while ago. I don’t think it’s a good fight for Sexyama, he looked tiny compared to Belcher and the size difference almost cost him the fight. Wandi is bigger and a much more vicious striker than Belcher so Sexyama is going to struggle in this one, really he should try to cut to 170 as he’s never going to beat huge talented MWs like Wandi. I’ll be surprised if Wandi doesn’t win this one with a brutal KO.
by David W-S on Oct 13, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I really wanted to see Wandy vs Marquardt! Marquardt needs a win against a big name and Wandy needs a win against a top contender.
by shonuff on Oct 13, 2009 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would like to see that myself or even against Belfort so we can see Henderson vs. Silva like it should be and have a top contender fight in the mix but a marquardt Henderson fight will do. I would also like to see Wandy take it to Bisping.
by Puck Head on Oct 13, 2009 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
After Vitor loses to Anderson, I think a Vitor/Wanderlei rematch would be in order and a great way for the UFC to break back into the Brazillian market.
Speaking of which, Akiyama vs Wanderlei would be an insanely huge draw in Japan. Does the UFC have any plans of trying to re-open in Japan, cause this would be the fight to do it with? Akiyama and Wandy are both absolute gods there.
by shonuff on Oct 13, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
why does everyone want to see wand vs belfort 2. wand got demo’d when he actually had a chin, now what do you expect to see? wand knock the new vitor out it would be a james irvin – houston alexander type fight
by Jared on Oct 13, 2009 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t know jared yes Wandy has taken two or three KO his last ten fights but he still brings it and you never know what kind of damage he’s going to do himself thats what makes him exciting he goes toe to toe guns a blazing maybe not the smartest thing to do but thats Wandy and whenm is the last time Belfort fought someone as strong and aggressive as Wandy?
by Puck Head on Oct 13, 2009 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Did anyone else think Belcher won that fight at ufc 100? when i saw it i wasnt sure but thought he was more of the aggressor. Akiyamas only chance is by submission but im going with silva by murder!
by bobby o'shea on Oct 13, 2009 3:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i thought belcher did enogh to eek out the split decision. but if you factor in the eye poke, sexiyama did well enough to win.
by COR on Oct 13, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah, Belcher definitely won that fight.
by Josh H. on Oct 13, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Belcher was the aggressor, however Sexyama landed more clean and effective striking.
Belcher just threw more in general.
It was very close, but I still think it was a definitive a Sexyama win.
I think Alan Belcher gained more from that loss then he did from his previous 3 wins.
PS: Superman punch off the cage was amazing.
by ShaiZ on Oct 13, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think akiyama won with the takedowns, but it was close, I think wand is gonna win this
by phenomenal angel on Oct 13, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
suprised to think this, but this should be a pretty evenly matched fight . . .
by COR on Oct 13, 2009 3:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
this is just so sexiyama gets to fight a name i’m a huge silva fan but he has no chance in the ufc other to make money the game evolved he did not
by tapsnapornapbjj on Oct 13, 2009 3:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What part of his game did not evolve? He is simply getting older. Still just as skilled as anyone else. He’s just not as fast as he used to be and he can’t take as much punishment. Maybe he’ll be fresh after his time off and his surgery.
I’ll agree he has no chance of ruling UFC like he did Pride. But he still has a place. Only one guy in each division can hold the belt. Just because that guy is not Silva doesn’t mean he has no chance.
by wAyNe on Oct 13, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with your post not bashing wand just mean like is he going to have a shot with a Marquardt or even Henderson back at his natural weight? I want him to be great in the middle weight division just don’t want him to turn into the iceman and be a punching bag for the up and comers. I just hate to see such an icon go down to the pasture on a losing record. But you are correct I’d like to see a Leben/Wand fight everyone would go nuts for that slugfest or even Wand vs. winner of bisping/kang so I see your point.
by tapsnapornapbjj on Oct 13, 2009 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with everything in your second post. It still hurts to see Iceman laying on the canvas. I understand these guys get in denial because they used to be the
$#!*. I just wish some of them would accept their place and just give us exciting fights that don’t necessarily have jack squat to do with the title picture. Leben/Wand is a great example. I think a lot of people would pay to see Silva smash Bisbing.
by wAyNe on Oct 14, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wanderlei is a finisher. He can never let fights go to decision anymore. If any of his fights go to a decision, that means he is going to lose. Wanderlei should be able to win this fight. If Wanderlei wins his next two fights at 185, I think the UFC will rush Wanderlei to a title fight. Question is after he beats Akiyama, who should he fight for the number one contendership at 185?
by Red on Oct 13, 2009 4:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
maybe fight the loser of nate/hendo if that ever materializes.
by Egads on Oct 13, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was watching silvas old fights and he was a decent sized lhw. For him to be able 185 comfortably, he’s going to need to lose some muscle I think. His lack of cardio can also possibly be from that. When you have allot of muscle on your frame you need more oxygen to get to them. He’s probably be advised to not lift as much and focus more on his cardio going forward. He’s gotta ditch that snorkel training too, that might work for younger guys but he’s an older fighter now.
by bobby o'shea on Oct 13, 2009 4:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Silva is very small compared to almost anybody in UFC’s LHW division, most of whom are cutting down from 215-225. He looked less small in PRIDE’s division, where very few fighters cut weight. And I think there was a weight difference between PRIDE and UFC because PRIDE used kilo’s. If I remember right, what they called Middleweight (the next step down from Heavyweight and closest equivalent of UFC LHW was 90 kg, which is around 199 lbs, which is about Wandy’s natural weight.
by shonuff on Oct 13, 2009 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
OFF TOPIC – GREAT VIDEO
Had to share this with Maniacs…
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Has-Georges-Laraque-s-sexy-drink-ad-really-offen?urn=nhl,195721
If anyone watches the NHL – George Laraque is the toughest guy in the league. This is a new sportsdrink add that has been getting a ton of flack.
Enjoy all.
by Big Zino on Oct 13, 2009 4:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That’s a great ad! Got my attention.
BTW, my memory might be failing, but didn’t Akiyama look small for 185 in his fight? Wandi will be a HUGE 185, so I’d say the size differnce alone should put Sexyamma down on the odds. Also, he took some on the chin from Belcher, he won’t be able to do that with Wandi. Well, he can take ONE on the chin, but after that it’s “GOOD NIGHT IRENE!!”.
by Freddy on Oct 13, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Montreal has the sexiest women in the world!
by torresisawarrior on Oct 13, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Frank Trigg vs Matt Serra will be on this card as well
UFC 110 Feb. 6th
by CanadianSensation on Oct 13, 2009 4:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wanderlei has never lost to an asian
by CanadianSensation on Oct 13, 2009 4:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
LOL!! Well then I guess he’s gonna win. BTW- any guy who calls Akiyama, Sexyama, is gay!
by LJ on Oct 13, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He also never lost a fight to a Woman, an Eskimo, an Accountant, or a Tennesee Fainting Goat. (if you don’t know what those are, look them up on YouTube).
What’s your point?
by shonuff on Oct 13, 2009 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would say Mark Hunt is prety close to an eskimo..
by CanadianSensation on Oct 13, 2009 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This fight is definitely sexy to me.
by subwayy2sallyy on Oct 13, 2009 4:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Now we know why Wanderlei got the facial surgery, thinks he can compete with Sexyama. I think Sexy’s sexiness will be too much and Wanderlei will fight with a paper bag over his head.
Akiyama went 10-1 with 1 NC in K-1 HERO’s, he lost to the much larger and very dangerous striker, Jerome Le Banner, at K-1 HERO’s 1.
by Belisarius on Oct 13, 2009 5:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wandy should always fight with a bag over his head. It should be required. Showing his face should be considered form of eye-gouging. Dude looks like the love child of Judi Dench and Clyde the Orangutan.
by shonuff on Oct 13, 2009 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
akiyama wins this one and sends Wandy off packing…Wandy is a legend but his time has come…
by Robert(1) on Oct 13, 2009 6:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
C’mon Yoshi has not faced a man as aggressive as Wandy and Yoshi does not have the power of the fighters that Wandy has been KO by robert1.
by Puck Head on Oct 13, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Manhoef I would say is more aggressive than Wanderlei, that man is thoroughly violent.
by Belisarius on Oct 13, 2009 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
on paper yes ur right…..but like Chuck there comes a time when the best fighters don’t have it anymore…the Pride Wandy would’ve done what Vitor did to Franklin…that’s my point
by Robert(1) on Oct 14, 2009 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If anyone thinks that Wanderlei has a realistic chance of beating Anderson Silva, you are a fool.
Wanderlei is an open, aggresive striker. Who likes to move forward with looping punches. He is slower and far less effective than what he was in Pride. This type of style plays perfectly into the way Anderson likes to fight.
In my opinion Anderson’s ability to counter effectively has improved each time I have seen him fight in the UFC, its getting to the point where his counter punching is so devastating its scary.
This would be a brutal murder if these two ever fought, Wanderlei would get taken apart and hit to pieces.
by SiamMMA on Oct 13, 2009 8:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
agreed it would be far worse than the leben massacre if thats possible Anderson would win faster that Irvin beat Alexander Anderson Silva by 2 punch knee combo in 5 seconds new record.
by tapsnapornapbjj on Oct 13, 2009 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who said anything about Wandy beating Anderson? Are you talking to your invisible friends again, or to your Siamese twin???
by shonuff on Oct 14, 2009 1:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
sexyama is a scraper, its good to have him fighting in the UFC again
by steve on Oct 13, 2009 10:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wanderlei is the perfect choice for the Australian card – he has a huge name down here.
by DownUnder on Oct 13, 2009 10:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
fighting belcher was tough for akiyama, hence a split decision…and you can’t compare belcher to wanderlei,so Wanderlei is going to get this one imo
by bigGcastle on Oct 13, 2009 11:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wanderlei is going to Ko this Sexy Guy.. He is just too big and powerful for Sexyama.. Wanderlei would beat Nate the Great!
by zack on Oct 13, 2009 11:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’d like to see Wanderlei fight 2 or 3 guys he could beat. Not newbies or no names but guys like akiyama or kendel grove. Someone fans have heard of that wandy can beat. He won a round against Franklin. If he won 2 in a row he would get Anderson and sell 1 billion ppv’s.
by hatteras on Oct 14, 2009 1:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Not likely. Anderson can hardly convince his own mama to buy his PPVs. And watching Wanderlei makes women nauseous and gives little children permanent psychological scarring, so he loses the whole female and family viewer market.
by shonuff on Oct 14, 2009 1:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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