It took 14 years and and 41 professional fights but Tatsuya Kawajiri finally made it to the Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) famed Octagon when he took on Sean Soriano in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 34: "Saffiedine vs. Lim" yesterday (Sat., Jan. 4, 2014) at the Marina Bay Sands in Marina Bay, Singapore.
He won by submission 50 seconds into the second round.
It was an impressive performance from "Crusher", who has now won five consecutive fights since dropping down to the 145-pounds to compete in the featherweight division. With the considerable lack of depth within the weight class, why not call out the champion of said division, Jose Aldo?
From the post-fight press conference:
"I'm looking at this fight as just the beginning. I'm looking to go into the main land of America, and fighting in bigger pay-per-view shows. ... If it's possible I'd love to fight the champion Jose Aldo immediately, but I'm sure there's orders I have to follow. So I want to fight some top-ten fighters."
Fortune favors the bold but Kawajiri isn't currently ranked in the UFC and even after his victory over Soriano is accounted for, it's unlikely he'll end up anywhere in the top 10.
There may not be many worthy challengers to Aldo's throne at this moment but that doesn't mean there aren't fighters who are legitimate threats to become that within a fight or two. Those are the combatants Kawajiri will have to worry about first.
Time to play matchmaker, Maniacs. Tatsuya Kawajiri's second UFC fight should be against ...