Quote of the Day: Yushin Okami

by Nick Thomas on Jun 1, 2009 9:23 AM EDT Comment 32 comments

Promoted to the front page from the FanPosts by Luke Thomas.

"I'd torn my ligament around the end of April," Okami said. "I really wanted to fight (against Miller), but the doctor had stopped me. He told me I would recover by June if I sit still. Currently I'm focused on upper-body training, and by July I will be back to my usual regimen. I want to get back into the Octagon, if possible, to fight in September."

....

"The records say I won but I really lost the (Anderson Silva) match," said Okami. "But I believe because of this fight I've grown stronger. The next time I fight him things will be different. I am confident of that."

-- Okami eager for his return and a rematch against Silva.

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The records say I won but I really lost the (Anderson Silva) match

Thank god, we can finally put this argument to rest.

"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."

by AJB on Jun 1, 2009 9:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I will never drop it

by szucconi on Jun 1, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was being at least semi-sarcastic.

"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."

by AJB on Jun 1, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My comment was a reply to you, but aimed at the person I argue with about it. That is, if he reads it. Its an ongoing thing. Started about two years ago when he had Okami outside his top ten.

by szucconi on Jun 1, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s a surprising amount of modesty. I wouldn’t expect most fighters to say something like that.

Man I love Okami.

"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 Jun 1, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Whats the argument. Silva got DQ for an illegal kick. Technically a W for Okami, but Silva wasnt beaten. Just like Fedor v TK1. TK technically got the W, but Fedor wasnt beaten either.

hehehehe, although, I guess there are people who disagree with my view here……thus the argument I guess!!! hehe Just seems so straight forward to me though.

by GeeDub on Jun 1, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Frankly, that "illegal kick" should be cause to relook the at the rules for "illegal kicks"

If you can KO a guy, who is in your guard, with a kick…then he deserves to be KO’d.

by Razreshat on Jun 1, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dont get me started on what rules I’d like looked at too…….we’ll be here a while!!! :)

by GeeDub on Jun 1, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A short thought on rules and I won’t reply to any responses to make sure this stays brief.

Rules exist for a reason. What ever that reason is doesn’t matter, but once the rule is in place it alters the game. This is especially true in MMA. Pulling guard becomes much less effective if you have groin shots allowed. I mean the basis of the guard is to control the opponent on the ground and not let them get in an offensive range. By not allowing them to get leverage on the strikes, keeping them tight and controlled with the legs (that can’t really be damaged effectively with strikes), and presenting a target that is illegal to strike (the junk area) guard is a useful tool. Even the most dominate position in MMA, back mount, becomes exceedingly more dominate if you allow strikes to the back of the head. How many times have you seen a fighter turtle and basically present the back of there head knowing it was illegal for them to be struck there? That’s basically the definition of turtleing.

To add something I learned at a rules meeting before a show, Mario Yamasaki going over the rules with the fighters explained it like this. If you are throwing a strike at someone and they move and you hit them in the back of the head, no foul. If you throw another strike to that spot where you just hit them in the back of the head and you come down on the back of the head again, foul. This was an effort to prevent a down fighter from using the back of the head as a shield and to use the rule to prevent fighters from attacking the back of the head specifically. A good way to enforce a rule as long as it can be done uniformly.

So, in summary rules drastically effect fights. Potential rule changes like Knees to the head on the ground would limit takedowns. Outlawing headbutts had a negative effect on wrestlers. A book I read about JKD had a whole section on groin striking and how it was likely the most effective fighting strategy. Rules govern how a lot of the fight goes down and if you change the rules, you change the fight. Its why the unified rules were and are such a great idea. Now changing the rules is a whole other topic. I am not talking about what should and should be legal, I am just saying they have a HUGE effect on fights.

by szucconi on Jun 1, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you, but nobody is talking about groin strikes, strikes to the back of the head or headbutts.Those are defining rules that will never be changed in the US, not a more questionable guard-kick.

by CliChe Guevara on Jun 1, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Since this is more on topic, I will respond. The way you play you GnP might depend on that strike being legal or illegal. This kind of strike doesn’t come up a lot, but maybe because its illegal. Guys don’t defend it or need to defend it because the rules defend them from it. When you are on your knees you are defending Omaplata or triangle when the guy throws a leg up like that. Maybe even arm bar, but not so much a head kick.

by szucconi on Jun 1, 2009 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

good insight szucconi

by fuzzy wuzzy on Jun 1, 2009 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So, in summary rules drastically effect fights.

Thats the idea!! :)

by GeeDub on Jun 2, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where were you when Gegard Mousasi Upkicked Ronaldo Jacare?

http://i33.tinypic.com/2r2oy2o.jpg

umm, so how do i actually insert the gif? and since i’m asking questions, how do you get gifs from avi’s? ok thanks.

by fuzzy wuzzy on Jun 1, 2009 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cote wants to return in September

and has mentioned that he wants to fight a top-ten middleweight in his first fight back. I wouldn’t mind seeing Cote vs. Okami at UFC 103.

Sonnen vs. Okami would be good as well.

by Scott Haber on Jun 1, 2009 9:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I like Sonnen vs. Okami. Nice little battle between top controlling fighters.

Follow my analysis of all things MMA on BloodyElbow.com

by Leland Roling on Jun 1, 2009 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Okami would be able to overpower him, but I think Sonnen has better control from a pure wrestling standpoint. Could turn into a borring standing bout also, but I like the match up.

by szucconi on Jun 1, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Either of those would be really good.

"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 Jun 1, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol I’m glad he admitted that the Silva fight was bullshit but wouldn’t that be the last thing you would want to do if you wanted to secure yourself a title shot. He just went and removed any animosity between them.

by SamCupitt on Jun 1, 2009 10:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How many of you bitching have seen the fight? It last like 2 and a half minutes he then takes Anderson down and works gnp and then gets kicked. It’s funny how it’s only bullshit because Anderson did it. He cheated

by gunranger on Jun 1, 2009 11:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How would Okami know if he lost, he was knocked silly by an illegal kick. He was doing pretty well for himself until then. Now that doesn’t mean he would have won, but he did look good. I talked to Rudeboy (the ref for the match) and he though that if it was a fight, like a real fight, then Okami lost. But it was a sport and Silva broke the rules.

by szucconi on Jun 1, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Okami might have checked out the fight since then

"Japan is half-Machida" - iiowyn

by Day Man on Jun 1, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was kidding about that, but I have the DVD if he wants to see it again. One of my favorite events to watch. Really all the ROTRs are great.

by szucconi on Jun 1, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anderson knocked out a guy, with his heal...WHO HAS IN HIS GUARD!

Do you really understand how hard that is?

by Razreshat on Jun 1, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not just any guy but a guy like Okami who has a pretty solid chin

"Japan is half-Machida" - iiowyn

by Day Man on Jun 1, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Even better.

I agree with the rule against kicking a down opponent…but I don’t necessarily think it should apply to someone who is in an even more “down” position…like a guy on his back.

by Razreshat on Jun 1, 2009 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's not the point.

Kicks to the head of a grounded opponent are illegal.

Regardless of what Okami said, Silva fucked up.

Anderson has even basically siad that he kicked Yushin in the face because he was frustrated from being taken down, and launched the upkick in a “Get the fuck off of me!” kind of way.

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Jun 4, 2009 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Okami vs Silva if Silva loses to Forrest?

The UFC is reluctant to give Okami a title shot for obvious PPV reasons, but perhaps Okami vs Silva would be reasonable if Silva loses to Forrest. At that point, Silva would still be middleweight champ but he’d be coming off a high-profile fight at 205; so a title defense against a lesser-known fighter would seem palatable to the casual MMA fan and if the card is stacked enough it may work. Okami truly deserves a title shot and maybe this situation makes it somewhat reasonable to the UFC.

by Fooshnickens on Jun 1, 2009 7:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

will it happen?

i hope so. what impresses me is that okami thinks he can perform much better than he did last time. he essentially predicted victory and he’s not one to brag. who can get in his way?

1) Winner Hendo vs Bisping
We’ve already seen Hendo get dominated once. Bisping is good but he’s not spiderman good.
OK, hopefully this won’t happen.

2) Winner Marquardt VS Maia
While Marquardt might deserve another title shot, it sure as hell shouldn’t be now. And Maia, while amazing to watch, is too one dimensional to be champion.
UFC, pass up on this please.

3) Wildcard.
What if Wand dominates Ace? I mean, he did declare war right? A Wand V Silva storyline would be awesome, and you know the fight will be exciting. But I’m just worried about Wand being picked apart.

so my conclusion is unless wand beats Ace down to a Queen, Okami should get his title shot.

by fuzzy wuzzy on Jun 1, 2009 9:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t care if Wand knocks Rich’s head into the third row. You don’t get a title shot at 185 when you are 0-0 at 185. Period.

by subo on Jun 2, 2009 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Wand knocks Rich’s head into the third row, I’d want to see a title shot…but if it just bounces around in the Octagon, I’ll go with a contender fight.

by Dabashire on Jun 4, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But getting a title shot at 1-1 at Heavyweight is ok?

This falls into the same category as Lesnar vs Couture….. Wanderlei Silva vs Anderson Silva would be a sellout event and a huge PPV turnout. Records don’t mean shit when it comes to how the UFC makes fights…. its whatever matchup that makes them money.

What the fuck is a "robster craw"?

by Gunslinger20 on Jun 6, 2009 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs