MMAmania! Nan desu ka?!?!
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is headed back to Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, this Saturday evening (Sat., Sept. 26, 2015) with some of the "Land of the Rising Sun" favorite fighters in tow. In the main event, former Pride FC star Josh Barnett returns to the cage after nearly two years away, taking on Roy Nelson in a clash of finishers.
Elsewhere on the FOX Sports 1-televised main card, Gegard Mousasi faces Uriah Hall at Middleweight, while Kyoji Horiguchi looks to restart his climb up the Flyweight ladder against Chico Camus.
There are just five "Prelims" undercard matches to set the table this time around, one on "Fight Pass" and the remaining balance on FOX Sports 2.
Let's preview and predict the first batch:
155 lbs.: Nick Hein vs. Yusuke Kasuya
Germany’s Nick Hein (12-2) made his debut in Berlin, pleasing the hometown crowd with a decision over Drew Dober. Though he lost his subsequent fight to James Vick, he returned to Berlin in June to defeat Lukasz Sajewski.
He has now won six of his last seven bouts; however, just one via finish.
The 25-year-old Yusuke Kasuya (9-1-2) has cut his teeth in some of Asia’s top promotions, including Shooto, Legend FC and most recently PXC. He’s unbeaten in his last four and was last seen taking out The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 16 hopeful Frank Camacho in March.
He’s earned the finish in all nine of his wins, eight via submission.
Kasuya has the sort of single-minded devotion to the finish that I love to see in a young fighter, which is the reason it kinda sucks that he has to deal with Hein in his Octagon debut. "Sergeant Hein" has the conservative style and powerful base to frustrate the hell out of him.
If Kasuya does manage to get on top, he’s more than capable of exploiting any opening Hein gives him. Unfortunately, Hein’s Judo makes him difficult to take down and I expect the German to be the better striker of the two. Kasuya will give him some scares, but Hein should be able to stop enough takedowns and do enough work on the feet to take the decision.
Prediction: Hein via unanimous decision
155 lbs.: Naoyuki Kotani vs. Kajan Johnson
Naoyuki Kotani (33-12-7) went two-and-out during his first UFC tenure back in 2007, but made his way back last year on the heels of 13 straight wins. He has still yet to earn his first UFC victory, suffering stoppage losses to Norman Parke and Yan Cabral in consecutive bouts.
Just three of his 33 victories have come by decision, 25 of the rest coming by submission.
Kajan Johnson (20-11-1) represented his native Canada on TUF: "Nations," ultimately suffering a knockout loss to teammate Chad Laprise in the semifinals. "Ragin’" has since split his two UFC bouts, falling to Tae Hyun Bang in his debut and taking a decision over TUF: "China" winner Lipeng Zhang this past May.
At 5’11," he stands three inches taller than Kotani.
I’m honestly having a significantly tougher time picking this fight than I expected. For all his faults, Kotani is still a capable grappler and Johnson has a habit of being finished in spectacular fashion. At the same time, Kotani doesn’t have the power to exploit Johnson’s cardboard chin and, I’m told, basically quit against Parke.
I have not actually seen the fight because I believe I was out of the country at the time and there’s no way I’m watching a Norman Parke fight I already know the outcome of.
I had most of a breakdown written up about how Johnson would win, but I lost confidence in the pick and had a feeling in my gut that was either intuition or a byproduct of the frankly irresponsible amount of Cajun food I ate earlier. Whatever the case, I think Kotani gets a UFC win 15 years into his career, submitting the gritty Canadian sometime in the first.
Prediction: Kotani via first-round submission
170 lbs.: Shinsho Anzai vs. Roger Zapata
Shinsho Anzai (8-2) answered the call when UFC gave it, stepping in on short notice to face Alberto Mina in Macau last year. The two engaged in a terrific slugfest, one which ultimately ended in Anzai’s first career stoppage loss.
"The Animal" had previously won six straight, four by first-round knockout.
Competing as a Middleweight, Roger Zapata (4-1) reached the semifinals of TUF 19 before falling to Dhiego Lima. Though he was not signed immediately, "Viva" was slated to debut against Li Jingliang until an injury scrapped the bout.
Three of his four professional wins are by form of knockout.
I’ll admit to not being familiar with Zapata’s capabilities because I think I can live a long and fruitful life without ever watching more of TUF 19, so let’s just lean on my classic analytical techniques of "intangibles" and blind devotion to Japanese mixed martial arts (MMA).
Zapata’s been out of the professional cage for more than two years, has half of Anzai’s experience, and three of the four guys he’s beaten have losing records. Anzai will be a sizable step up for him and probably the biggest puncher he’s ever faced.
In other words, the wrestling and power of "The Animal" carry him to a technical knockout stoppage late in the first.
Prediction: Anzai by first-round technical
Two more UFC Fight Night 75 matches to preview and predict tomorrow, including Keita Nakamura's return to UFC after seven years away.
So come by tomorrow, same bat-time, same bat-website.
Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Fight Night 75 fight card, starting with the UFC Fight Pass "Prelims" match online, which is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET, right on through the FOX Sports 2 undercard bouts at 8 p.m. ET, before moving on to the FOX Sports 1 main card at 10 p.m. ET.