Fronted by Kid Nate.

A new post on the personal blog of top-tier UFC middleweight Yushin "Thunder" Okami gives a brief account of how the Japanese fighter came to train and spar with 6'8", 500+ lb. former yokozuna Akebono Tarō.

I had an interview with Akebono, who used to be a sumo wrestler and had a title of Yokozuna, yesterday. This opportunity was arranged by a Japanese MMA magazine, Kamipro. I haven't seen him for a while; although, he was still big.

I wonder how I could have a sparring with such a big guy. Since I started training with him, I gained weight and had an effective weight training by sparring with him. I had a good experience. Thank you very much, Yokozuna and Kamipro!

The sumo (gov't name: Chad Rowan) hasn't found the same success in the ring that he did in the dohyō, sporting an 0-4 MMA record with his most recent losses coming at the hands of Giant Silva and Don Frye in 2006. But if the rumors are true regarding Okami's October rematch with middleweight champ Anderson Silva, it's only sensible that he'd put in some work trying to move an immovable object.

Thanks to the always excellent Suki MMA for the translation. She's also got Shinya Aoki's recent column for Kamipro, in which he praises the academies of BJJ masters Ralph and Cesar Gracie and intimates that he may look for competition outside Japan if all goes well in the remainder of the DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix.

The top fighters I consider are all in the U.S. now. I want to defeat them and I believe I can do it. I have confidence becoming a No.1 fighter. I will be a top fighter with my techniques and in my way.