UFC 104 Preview: Yushin Okami Continues Quest for Contention Against Chael Sonnen
by Leland Roling on Oct 20, 2009 3:09 PM EDT
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In a move that doesn't shock even the hardest of hardcore fans these days, Yushin Okami (23-4, 7-1 UFC) has once again been relegated to a major UFC event's undercard despite only losing once in his UFC career. He'll battle former two-time NCAA wrestling champion and Olympic alternate Chael Sonnen (23-10-1, 2-3 UFC) in what could essentially be a wrestling match in the Octagon.
Okami is currently on a three-fight win streak with victories over Dean Lister, the late Evan Tanner, and Jason MacDonald. The streak comes after being defeated by Rich Franklin at UFC 72 for a contendership spot. Sonnen enters this bout after a stifling performance at UFC 98 in which he completely dominated Dan Miller by using superior wrestling and ground and pound tactics. He previously lost in his return to the UFC to Demian Maia via triangle choke at UFC 95.
In terms of appeal, this fight doesn't have much of it. Okami is a powerful Judoka/wrestler who likes to gain top control on opponents and blast away. Sonnen is much of the same type of fighter as Okami, and that makes for two very similar styles being mashed into a recipe for boredom. It doesn't bode well for excitement, but it does give Okami a chance to possibly show some improvement in his finishing ability. Sonnen hasn't been TKO'd since TKO 4 in 2004 by Terry Martin, so a finish by Okami here could go a long way for him with Joe Silva and Dana White.
That outcome is probably wishful thinking though. Sonnen has enough grit and determination to wrestle his way out of bad positions, and Okami is equally knowledgeable in that aspect of the ground game. Improvements from Okami in terms of submission ability would be ideal, and fighters like Caol Uno, Yoshihiro Akiyama, and the rest of the cast at Wajyutsu Keisyukai could certainly help him. One thing is constant however, Okami will show up in tremendous shape, and he'll have equal or possibly more power than Chael Sonnen. Okami is notorious for being a frantic trainer at the gym, and it usually translates to why he's such a load in top control.
Sonnen will look to his Olympic-level wrestling to do the work for him, and I'm pretty confident he'll want to implement the same blanket tactics he worked against Dan Miller so effectively. The major difference is Okami's power, and he can be equally tough in the wrestling department in his takedown defense and top control. I imagine Sonnen will find it a challenge in controlling Okami if he manages to take him down, but I don't see Okami losing this battle in the trenches. I think Okami will ultimately be the more controlling fighter and use his power to damage Sonnen on his way to a decision win.
It isn't the most ideal outcome, but the UFC isn't exactly lining Okami up with fighters that are easy to finish. It's also apparent that the style match-up for this fight doesn't bode well for casual viewing, so I'm not in complete disagreement with the decision to keep it off the SpikeTV or PPV card. Hopefully, we'll get a surprise from Okami in this fight, but I'll take him via decision.
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They should have just did Silva/Okami at UFC 97 instead of Silva/Leites and then it could have shut everybody up. Did they really believe Leites would sell better than Okami?
The problem now is more becoming Silva. Even if you give Okami the title shot can you convince Silva to take it. I mean who exactly does Silva want to face at MW I have heard him bitch about Belfort, Henderson, and Marquardt so if he doesnt want to face any of those 3 who does he want to face.
by bigdmmafan on Oct 20, 2009 3:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Well, he bitches about Belfort because he got an insta-shot after beating Franklin. Soares said he wanted Marquardt vs.Henderson for a legitimate contendership. In this case, Okami has done all he can to get a title shot. He’s beaten everyone except Franklin.
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"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Oct 20, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ok but realistically Belfort is his better option
Belfort may not be as big of name as Griffin but could you imagine what an Silva/Okami PPV would do unless they had a great card and a great co-main event.
Plus Belfort is gonna be a guy who will stand and trade with Silva. Does he want another Leites match-up?
So the UFC is gonna give him the end of the year card which is usually the biggest ( probably not this year because of UFC 100) and an opponent who will keep the fight standing which is where Silva wants it and yet he’s gonna bitch?
If he’s so upset with the prospects at middleweight drop the title and move to lhw exclusively.
by bigdmmafan on Oct 20, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Soares now wants legitimate contendership?
How did Anderson get his title shot? That’s right after Anderson’s 1 fight they posted a poll on UFC.com and asked who should get the next title shot and the fans selected Anderson. Was that legit?
Didnt hear Soares saying his client “wasnt worthy” but now when the UFC wants to give another guy a title shot after 1 fight all of a sudden it’s “wrong”.
by bigdmmafan on Oct 20, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know what you mean, and Soares’ only counter argument to that is that Anderson fought Leben at 185 while Belfort fought Franklin at 195. That ten pounds is the big difference maker according to Soares even though Belfort has fought at 185 many times before.
by chrisbboy82 on Oct 20, 2009 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I believe Okami had first crack at Anderson Silva at UFC 90
but came up injured. The middleweight division has gone downhilll from there.
You can say what you want about Okami but he would’ve kept moving forward against Anderson AND he would have had a way to win.
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by Kid Nate on Oct 20, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree wholeheartedly with this. Okami could have given Silva some legitimate trouble.
I love me some Sexyama!
by pud333 on Oct 20, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
wrestler vs wrestler
actually usually ends up being a great style match, it’s JJ vs JJ that can get lame.
remember: Griffin vs Edgar, Griffin vs Guida, Beebe vs Wineland all featured 2 wrestlers and were great fights.
The key is as long as it doesn’t turn into a bad kickboxing match (Sherk vs Griffin, Sherk vs Edgar).
Two guys who can wrestle generally means it won’t be a lay and pray match because both guys are fighting for top control and can escape from bottom so we could see a lot of sweeps and scrambles from this fight.
Sometimes one guy is so much better as a wrestler that it gets ugly (see Pierce vs Larson) and it may be that Sonnen is that much better as a wrestler than Okami.
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by Kid Nate on Oct 20, 2009 3:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yep
Wrestlers neutralizing one another=stand up battle a lot of the time.
I STILL poop rainbows.
by Blackout612 on Oct 20, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's only if they refuse to engage on the ground
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by Kid Nate on Oct 20, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s how I mean; they often train extensively to bang, knowing their takedowns and top control may not be effective, and end up abandoning their wrestling come fight time.
I STILL poop rainbows.
by Blackout612 on Oct 20, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Griffin and Edgar can both bang though. Sonnen has pretty bad punching, and Okami tends to wrestlebox a lot. Okami’s power could ultimately help in his stand-up, but I’m not overly inclined to believe in a tremendous fight here.
Griffin vs. Edgar = Both guys can strike.
Griffin vs. Guida = Griffin can punch, Guida just goes crazy
Beebe vs. Wineland = not bad at all I suppose.
Sonnen is a much better wrestler, agreed… but I think Okami’s power and cardio could become a factor in that department.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Oct 20, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Something you may be neglecting
Is that Sonnen thinks he’s an exceptional boxer.
I STILL poop rainbows.
by Blackout612 on Oct 20, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, that would go into the questionable IQ part of the equation like his submission defense.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Oct 20, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just don’t understand why Okami can’t do something to excite people. He has all the tools of a great fighter, it just seems like he lacks something in the intensity department. Even the knee KO against Tanner was sort of “meh”, and it was freaking KNEE KO.
He should through all morals at the window, and pound Sonnens head in with elbows until brain fluid starts to leak out. That will get people talking and is probably the only way he gets a title shot.
We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.
by Robert Downey Sr. on Oct 20, 2009 3:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
but that's no easy task, with Sonnen's wrestling, I should have added
We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.
by Robert Downey Sr. on Oct 20, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I might have to bet on this fight
Okami is going to have his hands full with Sonnen.
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by Kid Nate on Oct 20, 2009 3:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Sonnen might have the better wrestling pedigree, but don’t you think Okami has a distinct advantage in standup?
We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.
by Robert Downey Sr. on Oct 20, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I really like Sonnen, but Okami is the better striker and an exceptional wrestler. I don’t see many ways Sonnen can win this fight.
I STILL poop rainbows.
by Blackout612 on Oct 20, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sonnen is the far better wrestler
at least going by amateur credentials. Sonnen is elite.
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by Kid Nate on Oct 20, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sonnen is far better on paper, but he’s also quite… dumb sometimes.
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"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Oct 20, 2009 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes
Like repeatedly jumping into Philo’s guard when he was EASILY winning the standup war.
Maybe I’m being too harsh, it’s not like that ever went badly for him before…
by Shaun32887 on Oct 20, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That and putting your arm on someone’s chest who has huge power on the ground. Why don’t you just give him your arm without a fight while you’re at it?
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Oct 20, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
As a card carrying member of the “Okami is getting screwed club” I am disheartened by this fight. 1) Putting Okami on the undercard tell me that even if he beats Sonnen convincingly he still won’t get a title shot anytime soon. 2) Putting Okami against Sonnen tells me they’re are matching him with someone who can negate his strength (wrestling) and has a good shot of scoring an upset.
by nottheface on Oct 20, 2009 3:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
My feeling is that in beating Sonnen, Okami will be placed in a serious future-contendership fight (so yes, he’s unfortunately still at least two fights away) with a guy like Toquinho (should he beat Linhares) or Marquardt (should Hendo still be in limbo or elsewhere).
I STILL poop rainbows.
by Blackout612 on Oct 20, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How do you go 7-1 (8-1 if he beats Sonnen), with the one loss being a decision, in the UFC – the supposed major league of mma – and you have to wait while the new guy gets a title shot after one match? I’m not saying Okami is better than Vitor or Nate or Hendo (I actually don’t think he is), but what does it take to get a title shot? If he came out in a ninja outfit and blew flames out his mouth I’m sure he’d move to the top of the list.
What I’m saying is Okami represents what, in my opinion, is keeping mma from being a true “sport” – how marketability is a greater factor than accomplishment in determining rank.
by nottheface on Oct 20, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't disagree
My scenario is what I think is likely, not what I think is just. I do feel that, in a way, Okami’s window passed him by when he was hurt during his last potential opportunity (same thing happened to Karo a few years back and people were waving his flag all the same). I love Okami, but the top of 185 is a cloudy mess between 4-6 guys, which is not helped at all by Silva’s sliding up and down, not defending often enough, and the insulting Leites matchup.
I think the greater travesty is that Okami isn’t able to make a televised card. Like Fagan mentioned a few days back, titles only have as much value as we place on them. Okami no doubt wants exposure and some nice pay days (which being on TV helps with, as a result of sponsorships). The best thing for him would be to finish Sonnen on Saturday and scoot himself onto the broadcast.
I STILL poop rainbows.
by Blackout612 on Oct 20, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like your analysis. I just used it to give myself a chance to vent bout one of my personal pet peeves.
by nottheface on Oct 20, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jon Fitch got the same treatment as Okami is getting now as well. It took Fitch a LONG time, and he needed a very long string of victories to get a Title shot. Okami just has to keep winning and eventually they’ll just HAVE TO give him a Title shot.
by chrisbboy82 on Oct 20, 2009 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah but they’re giving him guys who make it impossible for someone to get a title shot off. Chael Sonnen/Dan Miller——→ Anderson Silva just doesn’t work. I sincerely hope they give him a top 5 guy if he beats Sonnen so he can finally get a shot
by StevenGiles on Oct 20, 2009 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who wins this fight? Certainly not the viewers..
by oasis77 on Oct 20, 2009 4:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
In all fairness
..that remains to be seen.
I STILL poop rainbows.
by Blackout612 on Oct 20, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We certainly don’t win with such witty comments.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Oct 20, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Unless you are going to the fight you probably won’t see it anyway. If you do see the fight it means that it was entertaining.
"Japan is half-Machida" - iiowyn
by Day Man on Oct 20, 2009 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Okami's most impressive win was vs a current WW.....
…so, other than beating Swick, what has Okami done? Not much.
He’s a lower top 10 guy, but not #2 by any means.
by Dexerion on Oct 20, 2009 6:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I have him at #3 myself. Who would you have above him?
by JRN on Oct 20, 2009 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rankings....
1. Anderson
2. Nate
3. Hendo
4. Maia
5. Belfort
6. Okami
7. Santiago
8. Lawler
9. Sonnen
10. Whoever probably Akiyama
by Dexerion on Oct 20, 2009 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Watch Okami fall out of the rankings.....
….. if he loses to Sonnen. He’s not at the top of the rankings now because he’s beat good fighters, he’s there because he’s on a good run. Hendo, Nate, Maia have all lost lately but they are still on top because of the competition they have faced.
by Dexerion on Oct 20, 2009 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
- is “lower top 10”?
I think you’re way overranking Henderson and maybe Belfort. Henderson’s only wins at MW in over three years are Rousimar Palhares and Michael Bisping. 2007 Mike Swick is probably a better win than both of them combined.
The only way it makes sense to have Belfort in the top 10 is if you count his fight against Franklin at 195 as a middleweight fight. I wouldn’t do that—195 may as well be a separate weight class, as far as I’m concerned—but that’s your prerogative. (Or maybe you just have a really high opinion of Matt Lindland.)
by JRN on Oct 21, 2009 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Swick is not a better win than Toquinho and Bisping is arguable. He’s not a total bum because Hendo outclassed him— give Hendo some of the credit for doing so.
I STILL poop rainbows.
by Blackout612 on Oct 21, 2009 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not talking in terms of fighting ability, I’m talking terms of rankings. Of course Palahares isn’t a bum. But look at his wins at middleweight prior to fighting Henderson, and you won’t see much.
Same deal with Bisping: there was a lot of interest in him because he’d just moved down after a fairly successful stint at 205, but the only people he’d actually beaten at middleweight were Chris Leben, Jason Day, and Charles McCarthy.
At the time Swick fought Okami, Swick was on a five fight win streak capped off by a win over an definite top 10 guy in Loiseau. Swick was definitely a better win that Toquinho or Bisping.
by JRN on Oct 21, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
^^^I have no idea where that “1.” came from. It was supposed to read “number 6 is ‘lower top 10’?”
by JRN on Oct 21, 2009 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
To clarify my position: Mike Swick was, at that point, a really good MW win. He was on a 5-fight win streak, and fresh off a victory over David Loiseau, who at that point was still a top guy (Swick was his next fight after losing his title shot against Rich Franklin).
Add to that wins over Alan Belcher, Kalib Starnes, Rory Singer, Jason MacDonald, and Dean Lister, and you’ve got the makings of a top 5 middleweight. On second thought, I’d probably have him below Maia, so maybe #4.
by JRN on Oct 20, 2009 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Watch Out!
You just put yourself in a position for someone to utterly discredit Okami (and in turn, your opinion) by discrediting his past opponents. However, I like Okami, and I think he should be around #4 myself.
by chrisbboy82 on Oct 20, 2009 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haha. The last five guys I mentioned are all easily discreditable, I lumped them all together that way to give a sense of how those kinds of wins add up in a fighter’s favor.
I don’t think a reasonable case can be made for Swick not being a very good MW win, though (“he’s a welterweight now” doesn’t cut it).
by JRN on Oct 20, 2009 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maia took Sonnen down inside of ONE ROUND….more like inside of one minute if i remember……Okami will judo toss Sonnen quick-like.
Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei.
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by theworldsoldestsport on Oct 20, 2009 8:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
People are sleeping on Sonnen I think he’s got a great shot to take this fight i’ve never been sold on Okami and for his sake he better not lose.
by Raker on Oct 20, 2009 8:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
. . , ,
here you go. I wasn’t using those anyway.
by judonerd on Oct 21, 2009 3:54 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 2 recs
Did anybody notice Okami’s picture in UFC 104 Countdown? There was this part about Rothwell’s accident illustrated by a newspaper clipping with Okami’s image on it.
by dancingChicken on Oct 21, 2009 4:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I got bored just reading the article
And it’s 100% not your fault, Leland. I like Okami, but damn, he doesn’t help himself get title shots. Actually, forget title shots, he needs to work to get back on the main cards of shows.
by dv8shun on Oct 21, 2009 11:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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