Props: MMAFighting.com
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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