UFC Signs Yoshihiro Akiyama
by Luke Thomas on Feb 25, 2009 8:43 AM EST
in News
142 comments
Dear Japanese promoters and fans: Dana White is coming for you. Thomas Gerbasi drops the bomb:
The Ultimate Fighting Championship today announced that it has signed top-ten middleweight contender Yoshihiro Akiyama to an exclusive promotional contract that will see him step into the UFC Octagon for the first time this summer.
"I’m excited to bring Akiyama into the UFC and I can see him making an immediate impact in the middleweight division," said UFC President Dana White. "Besides his great judo and submission game, he’s a finisher, and UFC fans are going to love watching him because he always shows up to fight."
...
Over the next three years, the 5 foot 10 Akiyama built a stellar reputation as one of the best fighters in the world, submitting highly-touted knockout artist Melvin Manhoef, knocking out UFC middleweight Denis Kang, and engaging in battles with the likes of Kazushi Sakuraba and Kazuo Misaki. In 2008, the 33-year old continued his run of excellence, submitting Katsuyori Shibata and Masanori Tonooka to up his stellar MMA record to 12-1 with two no-contests, with none of his bouts going the distance.
Press conferences in Japan and Korea will take place in the coming days; details to be announced shortly.
No opponent or date has been determined for Akiyama’s UFC debut.
Make no mistake: the UFC is headed to Japan, South Korea and beyond. Akiyama is a talented and valuable middleweight, but his real appeal as an acquisition for Zuffa is the Trojan Horse effect: he helps Zuffa penetrate the guarded and perilous Japanese MMA market as the quintessential heel who fans flock to see in order to shower him with hate. The Japanese have a relationship based on Hathos and the Koreans revere the hometown son. That he straddles these identities with ease only makes him more appealing from a promoter's perspective.
And this appears to be just the beginning. If Zuffa can sign other revered top Japanese MMA talent like Norifumi Yamamoto, fully employ Satoshi Ishii/Caol Uno and utilize PRIDE-era heroes like Mirko CroCop and Wanderlei Silva, the UFC can at least lay claim to the fact that they have the star power that would make a Japanese MMA promoter swoon. Whether there is lingering bitterness over the collapse of PRIDE among Japanese fans and industry apparati or the resistance to a foreign company or a continued kakutogi slump is open for debate. But what is not is the UFC's ambition. The signing of Akiyama can be seen as no other way than the intent to penetrate East Asian MMA markets and to do so relatively soon.
Stay tuned. This one is going to get interesting.
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Well... this confirms it
The UFC is definitely heading into the Land of the Rising Sun, and Akiyama makes for some interesting matchups as well.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Feb 24, 2009 5:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Except people in Japan HATE Akiyama.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Feb 24, 2009 5:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
He has somewhat of a Tito following in that people somewhat love to hate him, and he makes for unbelievable rivalry matchups.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Feb 24, 2009 5:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Absolutely, but Japan wanted Cro Cop vs Akiyama because they want to see him suffer.
I am not sure if the UFC will be willing to do that. :)
by MMASuPreMaCy on Feb 24, 2009 5:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If they put him in there against Silva, suffering will be the only option :D
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Feb 24, 2009 5:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Wanderlei just dropped to 185…that would be a hell of a match for a Japanese UFC.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Feb 24, 2009 8:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
They love to hate him! He’s been the biggest heel in Japanese MMA for years.
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Feb 24, 2009 5:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly...
The lotion debate was so overwhelmingly hateful to Akiyama, but it ultimately secured him as a drawing fighter.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Feb 24, 2009 5:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Akiyama is going to get murdered in the 185 division.
I said it.
by Bigperm on Feb 24, 2009 5:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I’m more inclined he’ll be a moderately upper-echelon fighter.
Who’s going to murder him in the division? Somebody like Maia is already at the top. He can still pummel most of the low to mid-echelon talent pretty easily in my mind.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Feb 24, 2009 5:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I was kidding. I think he;s going to be a title cotender by early 2010
by Bigperm on Feb 24, 2009 5:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I was hoping you were.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Feb 24, 2009 5:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
one small step forward to global domination. if they can conquer japan, and i know that’s is not a given and will take some time, the other countries will fall right into place. i can’t wait to see where the ufc stands in 5-10 years from now.
by bdw on Feb 24, 2009 5:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
in 5-10 years Zuffa will be worth 5-10 times what it’s worth now…
by mmalogic on Feb 24, 2009 6:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I would have invested every dime I could into them a few years back. Still would.
Damn privately-held companies.
by Michaelthebox on Feb 24, 2009 6:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
No more gi for you, Michael Jackson. It’s been nice knowing you.
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Feb 24, 2009 5:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
The real question is:
Can American fans handle the 115% increase in sexy on UFC broadcasts?
by a tommy point on Feb 24, 2009 5:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Seriously...
Can they? I don’t know.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Feb 24, 2009 5:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Doubt it. Americans will just claim that his sexyness was overrated and that he must have been on something because his level of Sexy wasn’t even tested.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Feb 24, 2009 5:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
No no no ...
… Its because he’ll be a MW who should drop to 170 but won’t. He’ll have a few lackluster matches before dropping, but by then it’ll be too late and the fans will write him off as another PRIDE failure while he floats in a Vera-esque limbo waiting for international expansion to justify his salary.
Personally, I want to see him versus GSP. That’s some international Sexpeal right there.
by asa on Feb 24, 2009 8:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Feb 24, 2009 5:25 PM EST up reply actions 6 recs
Haha...
I was looking for it… damn you Nelson!
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Feb 24, 2009 5:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That’s way more than 115% increase in sexy. I don’t think it can be quantified.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Feb 24, 2009 5:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Rec'd for Sexyama!
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Feb 24, 2009 5:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Like they say in Japan “So Sessy”
by BruceLeeroy on Feb 24, 2009 8:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Fanboy Disclaimer:
OMG! Awesome!
Okay, with that out of the way…
This is a huge deal and is much bigger than Akiyama himself. You’re exactly right about this being a clear and undeniable sign that Zuffa is going big into Japan and South Korea. The fact that they are having press conferences in Japan and Korea is also very interesting.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Feb 24, 2009 5:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Akiyama Will Do Well In The UFC
Silva vs Akiyama is probably one of the best matchup’s the UFC can make.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Feb 24, 2009 5:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
agreed. Would be Silva’s first true test in years.
by Bigperm on Feb 24, 2009 5:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
What? I think that’s a stretch by far until I see him in the cage against venerable talent.
While Akiyama possesses the judo and powerful submissions, my only concern is that he sometimes get into slugfests.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Feb 24, 2009 5:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
He also has good power in his hands, ask Misaki and Kang.
He is as well rounded as any other MW out there. Someone like Marquardt will probably give him problems though. It would be a good fight either way.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Feb 24, 2009 5:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Of course he does, and his power is pretty great. The only problem is that he isn’t exactly the quickest striker, and he’s been caught quite a few times in some of his fights. He definitely has a recovery factor. He’s very well rounded, but I’d definitely say some of the upper Middleweight could give him massive problems.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Feb 25, 2009 9:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think Wanderlei Silva v. Akiyama in Japan would be a big deal just to see Wand return to beat the hell out of him.
by Michael Rome on Feb 24, 2009 5:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
The return of Wanderlei against the ultimate heel over there? They would lap it up like okonimyaki.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Feb 24, 2009 8:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It’s a great matchup since it is Japan vs. Korea, and people generally hate Akiyama in Japan, but I defintely wonder if Wanderlei would be able to beat him, especially nowadays with how much of a beating his head has taken.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Feb 25, 2009 9:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Has he ever fought without the gi? I have only seen a few of his fights and only remember him in a gi.
by dualdiagnosis on Feb 24, 2009 5:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, he used to fight in regular fight shorts. The gi just came back recently.
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Feb 24, 2009 5:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yup. He fights without a Gi all the time.
He has been using it lately to practive his Gi submissions as of late due to being bored.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Feb 24, 2009 5:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I knew it!
The UFC just got a whole lot more sexy… and “greasy”.
by Ch-DK on Feb 24, 2009 5:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I think the real question is if they are going to do regular shows in Japan, a la the UK, i.e. 3-4 per year. That is the only way to really justify signing these names.
by Michael Rome on Feb 24, 2009 5:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
“The signing of Akiyama can be seen as no other way than the intent to penetrade East Asian MMA markets and to do relatively soon.”
They’ve already penetrated the South Korean market with their TV product; they have a deal in Japan too, it just sucks.
I would take the signing of Akiyama (and Uno) as a sign that they are preparing a big pitch to one of the important Japanese networks.
In simple terms, the UFC can’t regularly run live events in Japan without the sponsorships and reach of a major network, and they can’t entice those major networks without a group of bankable stars for that region.
So, think of it like the UFC is putting together a sitcom pilot; right now they are filling out their cast with some big names to impress the network bigwigs, but nothing is guaranteed. The whole project could be cancelled if they don’t get picked up.
by smoogy on Feb 24, 2009 5:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
The old Japanese TV deal sucks big time…
Getting these fighters is cheap – Putting on shows in Japan that bomb is EXPENSIVE.
So yeah you hit it with the “pilot” analogy – but its more of a “pit one network against another” at this point.
There’s no chance of the endeavor as a whole being canceled though. Chinese water torture for now… embargo to air assaults then the ground invasion can take place with a higher probability of success.
by mmalogic on Feb 24, 2009 6:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I guess the cancellation part of the analogy doesn’t apply. But they could put together this amazing roster of Japanese stars and still not crack the network TV landscape, in theory. In that case, they’d be left with a bunch of expensive contracts and no proper audience to put them in front of.
As far as the acquisitions being cheap… that is all relative. They are cheap in the sense that UFC can afford to pay them market value and not think twice about it from a financial standpoint, but at what cost does this come to their fragile pay structure? Paying guys like Akiyama double what some of the UFC’s most recognizable names make in purse money is liable to create more uncomfortable questions for Zuffa at the negotiating table.
Since you seem to know so much about the Japan situation, tell us which of these networks are considered in play:
TV Tokyo
TV Asahi
TBS
Fuji TV
Nippon TV
And is UFC considering the possibility of DREAM on Fuji TV and Sengoku on TBS?
by smoogy on Feb 24, 2009 7:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The riskiest variable is what the new market price for these fighters will be…
Yeah Zuffa is paying around Market price now… but Zuffa isnt the one who will be setting the new Market Price for these fighters. The Japanese orgs will be.
Id like to see what new “market prices” these orgs will be willing to set and bear as a result of this aggression.
Every Model for Japan penetration is set with the assumption that Zuffa will not be able to generate close to the same revenue directly from Japan in the japanese shows – with comparable fighters – as say a “dream” can.
Actually when I say there is no chance of the “endevour” being canceled I don’t mean there is no chance this will fail…
We can only deal with probabilities… and the more Dream or Sengoku, etc. Increase their revenue the more it will effect the probabilities.
So I agree if Dream or Sengoku get better TV money, sponsors, etc… It will have an effect.
The thing is Zuffa is increasing its revenue sources every day…
So every minute an “akiyamas” pay rate is becoming more and more reasonable for Zuffa even without the upside of penetrating the japanese market.
As far as other fighters getting greedy because of the pay of the “akiyamas” of the world… other fighters contracts dosnt affect pay as much as “what can YOU get outside of Zuffa” if Nate Marguart can get 400k from other orgs that means he can reasonably ask for 400k… not because some guy from korea who happens to represent a whole country gets 400k.
(the figure is an example only and does not reflect anything else)
Worst case scenario Zuffa becomes the catalyst to the re-emergence of japanese MMA where these guys Innovate or invent new revenue sources which Zuffa cant replicate creating a force that can challenge Zuffa for fighters globally.
Even though this is not probable these are the Japanese we’re talking about… the guys who happened to crush the US car industry.
by mmalogic on Feb 24, 2009 9:42 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
Isn’t there also a serious threat that they’ll respond to things like UFC taking Kid by offering guys like Nogueira or Wand a ton of money to come back to their orgs when his contract runs up?
by Michael Rome on Feb 24, 2009 9:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Good question
I’d be more worried about them offering guys like Jon Jones and Demian Maia wads of cash to jump ship though. In theory, there are lots of ways for FEG to hit the UFC back.
by smoogy on Feb 24, 2009 9:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah...
I love me some Wandy but honestly if Franklin beats him he is worth next to nothing for the UFC and they probably wouldn’t even bother getting into a bidding war for a guy like him. Going after the young, future superstars is what could/would hurt badly.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 24, 2009 10:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
They could hurt the UFC somewhat, but their ability to poach is somewhat limited. They’ll be able to take some in theory, but there is a ceiling on how effective that will be for reasons more than ethnicity and economics. The incentives for staying within or signing with the UFC – particularly for an American fighter – are substantial at this point and there are but a handful of former PRIDE fighter now in the UFC that are still valuable in Japan. We aren’t talking about an era like 2002-2006 where PRIDE and UFC were rival organizations in Japan anymore.
Also: the incentives to go to Japan will be strong for some, but any analogy to lesser tier basketball players going to Greece are misplaced.
by Luke Thomas on Feb 24, 2009 10:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
All of this seems so senseless to me. If it happens it is great for fighters and fans, but what is the best case scenario for UFC? The worst case seems more possible and worse.
by Michael Rome on Feb 24, 2009 10:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The upside is big… and the dowside can be potentially as bad if nothing is done.
There is really only one place on earth where MMA is not regarded as “Ultimate Fighting” or the “UFC” and that’s Japan (actually 2 places, but Brazil has yet to be remotely financially threatening).
If the MMA orgs in Japan are left unchecked they can potentially become very dangerous in the path to world domination :)
The probable worst outcome here is keeping these guys at bay while everything else is being tended to… and the kill shot comes a decade from now.
The ideal outcome is the UFC becoming the consensus “Major League” of MMA in Japan and the other guys fight to become the “strikeforce” of Japan.
The probability is good.
by mmalogic on Feb 25, 2009 12:43 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
That would be the one of the best case scenarios… right behind trying to come to the US market. They will die quicker.
The worst case scenario is what I described above… where they invent or innovate Revenue Streams which Zuffa cannot replicate… thereby creating a legitimate force that can challenge for fighters globally and being in a position to then make inroads into the US market.
The biggest risk are things we dont know that we dont know.
by mmalogic on Feb 25, 2009 12:26 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
To further elaborate…
their ability to monetize on non japanese fighters is very limited, so this move would be welcomed.
by mmalogic on Feb 25, 2009 12:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, technically the UFC isn’t absent from the market, but they are hardly a meaningful player or embraced there…yet. Penetrate the market to me means to be involved: running shows, legitimate television deals, major stars. Some of the pieces to that puzzle are in place, the rest we shall se..
by Luke Thomas on Feb 24, 2009 6:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
This is exactly...
What I thought was going to happen as well. Putting together a solid cast is the first step, and it’s going to be tough if they sign Yamamoto for Japanese networks to not want to put that product on network TV. Yamamoto is almost a huge guaranteed draw in Japan. Add in all the other fighters they’ve already signed. It’s gonna be a hard bargain to not get interest from networks.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Feb 25, 2009 9:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
A Gay Man's Fantasy
Two pretty boys get all aggressive with one another in a a cage while oiled up. Who will establish dominance? UFC gets kinky in this donation to the Gay Pride movement.
by natyong on Feb 24, 2009 5:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Michael Goldberg: This fight brought to you by Vaseline. When an Ultimate Fighter needs that extra edge, he turns to the only grease you can trust!
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Feb 24, 2009 8:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Fighters fighting
It will be great to see the UFC in Japan for 3-4+ shows a year. This will give all fighters more chances to fight and earn a living. Now if they can just figure out that pesky PPV percentage thing in the upper level contracts they could get some top level talent to travel.
by Reciprocity on Feb 24, 2009 5:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
FUCK YEAH BABY!!!!!
I’m excited about this on two separate levels.
1) Akiyama fucking rocks
2) This is the first huge sign that without a doubt some major shit is gonna hit the fan over the next few months. Fucking exciting.
by Michaelthebox on Feb 24, 2009 5:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
That reminds me....
….when is this UFC Phillipines (sp?) supposed to happen?
by Reciprocity on Feb 24, 2009 5:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
It will all depend on how good Vera and Munoz perform.
:)
by MMASuPreMaCy on Feb 24, 2009 5:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+Nover
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
by Blackout612 on Feb 24, 2009 5:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Make no mistake: the UFC is headed to Japan, South Korea and beyond.
they originally planned it to be Philippines, Japan then S.Korea (or Phil,s.korea,Japan), They said spring, then summer, then now there’s no news.. I guess vera’s disappointing performances kinda derailed the plans..
vera and munoz better win big in 96 for it to continue..
http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/
by Anton Tabuena on Feb 24, 2009 8:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Let’s be clear: to some extent overseas operations take up so much time and manpower that they take away from other efforts, but in Zuffa’s mind as the company assesses long term goals I doubt going to Japan and the Philippines is mutually exclusive.
by Luke Thomas on Feb 24, 2009 9:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It was supposed to be in May right? If they could get Vera, Munoz, Nover and Buchholz to fight here then it will surely do well.
by skeed on Feb 24, 2009 9:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
they said may, then they said summer or after summer (in the US).. Now i dont know what their planning..
i blame vera! HAHA. a jardine win wouldve made him a contender, then he could’ve headlined a card here.. but now, he’s burried on the undercard..
is Buchholz filipino? i didnt know that..
http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/
by Anton Tabuena on Feb 24, 2009 9:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Buchholz is Half-Filipino. He and Nover used to post in the defunct PinoyMMA boards.
by skeed on Feb 24, 2009 10:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
really? i didnt know that. cool.. So he’s as filipino as the other guys, and not like an asi taulava who somehow found traces of filipino blood from his greatgreatgreatgrandmother’sthirdcousin or whoever? haha.
http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/
by Anton Tabuena on Feb 25, 2009 12:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Zuffa doesnt need vera or any of those guys for the Philippines… UFC has bigger and better penetration there than in Japan and in most other places.
Nobody said A japanese show will happen first. The seeds are being sown for Japan to get penetration and to get the tools to better that penetration.
Philippines is a gimme – its already in the bag. Sometimes Live shows are scheduled around and used in renewing TV contracts or renegotiating old ones (hint)
by mmalogic on Feb 24, 2009 9:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i know they didnt say japan was first. I just found it weird how it kept on getting pushed back.. And now i dont even hear any news, even here in the philippines..
http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/
by Anton Tabuena on Feb 24, 2009 9:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I need a change of pantaloons.
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
by Blackout612 on Feb 24, 2009 5:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
For the fun of it, lets play "Guess Akiyama's per-fight salary"
I’ll go with $400,000.
by smoogy on Feb 24, 2009 5:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Sounds about right. With lockerroom bonus factored in or share of Japan revenue.
I would guess more like $250K though based on what they gave Crocop
by Bigperm on Feb 24, 2009 5:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It’ll be low disclosed and a lot on the back end. You are probably right on salary.
by Michael Rome on Feb 24, 2009 5:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
More like he’ll never compete in a jurisdiction that even requires the UFC to disclose anything.
But if you have details on the Akiyama situation you aren’t telling us… you’re no better than Iole. Ok, maybe a bit better, but I’m still not impressed.
by smoogy on Feb 24, 2009 6:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Do you know if CroCop’s deal involved any back-end stuff?
The impression I get is that fighters like him and Akiyama get most of their dough up-front and guaranteed, like your typical professional athlete.
by smoogy on Feb 24, 2009 6:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
crocop wasnt on a back end deal but got a significant signing bonus
by mmalogic on Feb 24, 2009 6:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
150,000 to 250,000. Depending on how many fights he signed for. I think he gets “compensated” to about 3/4 of a million per fight in other ways such as PPV percentage. I bet he also gets a pretty substantial endorsement deal like Randy got in the works if he can win a couple of fights.
by natyong on Feb 24, 2009 5:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’ve got 200-250.
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
by Blackout612 on Feb 24, 2009 5:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Just for reference, Jeff Monson was offered 200 + 50 to fight Roger Gracie at Sengoku VII.
by smoogy on Feb 24, 2009 6:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That's what I heard
Any idea if they’re actually going to fight next month?
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
by Blackout612 on Feb 24, 2009 6:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m pretty sure its a no-go because of Monson’s legal problems. What a dumbass.
by smoogy on Feb 24, 2009 6:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Figured as much
But hadn’t heard so definitively.
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
by Blackout612 on Feb 24, 2009 7:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
This is prolly breaking the rules, but ...
No matter Monson’s legal woes, Roger had to cancel due to injury. He was bitten by the dog that ate his homework.
by asa on Feb 24, 2009 8:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Akiyama versus Marquardt (or Maia). Make it happen!
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill
by FlyByKnight on Feb 24, 2009 6:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
At this point, Akiyama vs. Sonnen would probably be a better start; maybe let Kang rematch with him if he gets a win under his belt. The top challengers at 185 are finally starting to separate out, so let’s not screw that up just yet…
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
by AJB on Feb 24, 2009 6:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I love Aki. This is wicked. I hope they start him out a little slow just to get rid of the Octagon jitters, let him get used to the new rules/round times, and compensate for the fact that he hasn’t been facing top competition in quite some time now. I couldn’t pick out a specific fighter to feed him, but I think lower mid-tier would be good. Something along the lines of the ‘Welcome to the UFC’ fight that Silva got in Chris Leben.
by ilostmydog on Feb 24, 2009 7:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
No word yet on whether or not UFC will market him using his Japanese nickname “Greasy Nurunuru”
by smoogy on Feb 24, 2009 7:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I hope he keeps his entrance music.
Akiyama has the best entrance of all time. It’s so dramatic and pretentious: it’s awesome, and I hope he keeps this up coming into the UFC. Damn good news to end the day with!
by pud333 on Feb 24, 2009 7:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
It was actually written as the theme for the Bellagio hotel in Vegas. It’s the background music for the best fountain show they do.
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
by Mike Fagan on Feb 24, 2009 11:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Really? It’s a pretty famous Andrea Bocelli song…
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Feb 24, 2009 11:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry, but… Fail.
You’ll rebound just fine, though.
by a tommy point on Feb 25, 2009 11:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
With the way Dream has been doing on Japanese TV, do you think any of the networks would be willing to even attempt to bring in the UFC? Or does UFC’s success precede them, making it more feasible for them to be given a chance?
by Gogo Platter on Feb 24, 2009 7:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Now if only the UFC can lock up Bob Sapp…
But on a serious note, very interesting development indeed.
If they can sign Kid Yamamoto, who was very buddy buddy with Dana White at a recent WEC (I think) event, Zuffa/UFC will have pulled off a trifecta most wouldn’t have dared predict: not one, not two but three of Japan’s biggest names and most beloved (and in the case of Akiyama, also simultaneously most jeered) fighters.
They already have Nogueira and Wanderlei, as the article points out, if they can lock up Cro Cop and if they were in some way to pull Fedor out of their hat, it would mean all but game over.
by Numbers on Feb 24, 2009 8:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Lets not forget….GONO!
"Japan is half-Machida" - iiowyn
by Day Man on Feb 24, 2009 9:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Anyone else have a raging hard on right now?
by Zack Gobie on Feb 24, 2009 9:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Akiyama has been followed by controversy, and he has been a fighter the Japanese fans loved to hate. His fight with Sakuraba did not help matters, when it was discovered that he had applied lotion to his body before the fight. [Despite] him being an unpopular fighter, he is one fighter that the fans ALWAYS want to see and he is one of the most marketable fighters in the world.
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Feb 24, 2009 10:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
aoki pls. thanks.
strikeforce then ufc! haha.
http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/
by Anton Tabuena on Feb 25, 2009 12:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Everybody here seems to understand that the UFC is making a play at the japanese...
but exactly how the play is being made has yet to be articulated properly.
The japanese fans love/want to see Akiyama get his ass kicked. The japanese promotion has been building such an ass kicking up for just over a year now (since the last time he got knocked out). The UFC swoops in, picks him up, and is now going to deliver what the Japanese fans want to see. The only question is how is the UFC gonna do it: Are they gonna build him up a bit, or are they just gonna throw him to the wolves? I suspect the later, given that he is just a stepping stone into the Japanese media.
Anyone Maia or higher, would do it fairly easily. Marquardt would seriously fuck him up, but any of the contenders would have little difficulty. He belongs at welter weight, and he’s gonna learn that pretty quick — but more importantly, the Japanese fans are gonna learn that pretty quick. The UFC must be paying him a bundle… money well spent in my book.
I'm just a dude who's trying to put it together.
by mma_dude on Feb 25, 2009 12:29 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Wanderlei Silva. And if Wanderlei loses, then people want to see Akiyama lose even more.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Feb 25, 2009 1:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Feb 25, 2009 1:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Story behind this?
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Feb 25, 2009 1:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
This image is the story.
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
by Blackout612 on Feb 25, 2009 1:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Apparently Akiyama does modeling for some high class wedding fashion shows.
Here’s a link – they refer to him by his real name, Choo Sung Hoon.
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Feb 25, 2009 1:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Too.... much........... awesome
I am so tempted to make this my profile photo.
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
by Blackout612 on Feb 25, 2009 2:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
This is a pic from famous korean fashion designer...
Andre Kim’s collection and he always hire famous actress, singers, and anyone famous could do this walk….
btw his clothing line is just horrible in my opinion, although Andre Kim was offered to be the personal designer for Michael Jackson, but he declined…
*this is great news for Asian MMA fans!!!
i could just imagine man!!
bring Yoshihiro Akiyama who is famous both KOREA and JAPAN, Wanderlei Silva, Dennis Kang, Akihiro Gono, Big Nog, Lyoto Machida, Dong Hyung “StunGun” Kim, Rampage Jackson and BJ Penn
maybe even Hammer house Mark Coleman!!!
UFC could do very well if they market the event right and put some events equivalent to Pride FC Shockwave.
You have to beat the legend, in order to become the LEGEND
-Melvin Manhoef (after his destruction of Sakuraba)
by chopstickthugz on Feb 25, 2009 2:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If Machida was sparring with Akiyama in those outfits then there would be no force on earth that would prevent me from using it as my photo.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Feb 25, 2009 11:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
For a moment I was sure that was Akiyama’s walk-out wardrobe.
Another victim to Anderson Silva.
by lhasafi on Feb 25, 2009 2:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Judoka coming from the East to finish the SPIDER!
*Yoshihiro has a chance once the fight goes to ground, most likely Akiyama on top. Anderson Silva doesnt have great takedown defense and especially against unfamiliar judo throws.
You have to beat the legend, in order to become the LEGEND
-Melvin Manhoef (after his destruction of Sakuraba)
by chopstickthugz on Feb 25, 2009 2:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Anderson Silva’s weakness is Japanese submission artists.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Feb 25, 2009 11:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Anderson Silva's weakness is Big Mac's
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
by Blackout612 on Feb 25, 2009 1:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Feb 25, 2009 1:20 PM EST up reply actions 5 recs
Rec’d for awesomeness.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Feb 25, 2009 1:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ha! Anderson Silva = Hamburglar
This might be my favorite gif ever.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Feb 25, 2009 1:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Rec’d cause I yoink all your gifs from the underground. You provide an extremely valuable service and I assume all unmarked gifs are from you.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Feb 25, 2009 5:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Lets just not call it a “service” so I don’t “get my ass sued”
by smoogy on Feb 25, 2009 8:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ha! That alone deserves a rec.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Feb 25, 2009 5:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
haha, sorry smoogy, rec’d
i thought it was mine
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Feb 25, 2009 6:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Disagree, Silva has yet to meet a Big Mac he could not defeat.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Feb 25, 2009 1:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Even with a baseball bat, my money is on Silva.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Feb 25, 2009 3:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
..in the last two years.
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
by Blackout612 on Feb 25, 2009 3:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Are you saying that the secret to Takase and Chonan was Big Macs?
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Feb 25, 2009 5:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm saying..
..he used to have problems with both. Now he has no problems.
"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry
by Blackout612 on Feb 25, 2009 7:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Let's make an English nickname for Akiyama
Mr. Goodbye, because his entrance song that goes “Time to say Goodbye…” and he comes in a ring with the strong intention to finish the FIGHT.
Anyone got any ideas?
You have to beat the legend, in order to become the LEGEND
-Melvin Manhoef (after his destruction of Sakuraba)
by chopstickthugz on Feb 26, 2009 3:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Okay... the last one!
You have to beat the legend, in order to become the LEGEND
-Melvin Manhoef (after his destruction of Sakuraba)
by chopstickthugz on Feb 26, 2009 4:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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