Middleweight Yoshihiro Akiyama Signs With The UFC
Posted by Kris Karkoski on Feb 24, 2009 at 5:12 pm ET14 Comments
Yoshihiro Akiyama
The UFC today announced the signing of Japanese middleweight Yoshihiro Akiyama.
“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 to UFC.com. “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.”
Akiyama (12-1 2NC) has not been defeated since his first-and-only career loss to Jerome LeBanner in 2005 and holds recent victories over Denis Kang, Katsuyori Shibata, and Masanori Tonooka.
According to the announcement, no opponent or date has been determined for Akiyama’s UFC debut.
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Very very nice signing
Stronger contender for the MW title, but will see how he handles the cage instead of ropes.
They are really starting to get serious about this run at Japan…. first picking up the fighters, then putting on the fights I guess. Could be interesting. I wonder if Aoki would finally sign with the UFC if they started holding events in Japan again, or if he would remain anti-UFC.
Another signature which creates fantastic fight possibilities. Unbeaten in almost 4 years is some achievement in any environment especially MMA, still dont see him a threat to Anderson Silva, Marquardt, Demian Maia or Hollywood Hendo however. Predicted debut maybe Palhares or even Jeremy Horn. Akiyama I consider to be a MW competitor rather than a contender
They can sign all the japanese guys they want but I don’t see any of these guys becoming champs soon. I don’t think any of them would be that marketable. Did anyone see the last TUF when the guy came out in a dress and had a choreographed dance?? His cornermen were all dressed as women! What the hell was that??!!
Woo! john dont diss Akihiro GONO!…..Even dana said this guy is the only guy who can pull off entrances like that and still be awesome….gono is a warrior anyways….gono will live forever!
What some of Gono’s entrances over the years.. Com’on just because you don’t get the entertainment value doesn’t mean that some people don’t find it rather entertaing..
Akiyama, is famous and is a rather good fighter, does this mean that he is spearheading another trip to Japan for UFC I personally hope so.. Can he be a contender for the MW title given time and a few high profile wins ofcourse he can be, does he have the talent to do so YES, imo. I’m rather pleased by this signing and I truly wonder who his first oppenent will be.. Time ofcourse will tell.
I love Akihiro’s entrances, freaking awesome; just like Mayhem Miller and King Mo.
Seems like a good signing, only time will tell how good he is. 185 is decent, and this guy makes it better, however we will see how he fares against Nate the great, Maia and the spider. Maia and the spider will beat him as they are the top 2, not to mention Wanderlei is dropping to 185, Hendo is there as well, Cote when he comes back from his knee injury, he is a tough match for anyone. It is a good division… finally. The Spider had been dominating for a long time.
Potential match~ups I would like to see him in, Okami,McDonald v Quarry winner other than that I’m not too sure because I would like to see Nate v Maia personally or perhaps he could face either Hendo or Bis after they’re done with their little thing they have goin on
He has also beat manhoef
this guy is a serious threat really good fighter
Hey Kris…I read some excerpts from your post on my podcast this morning. Thanks! Come listen if you get a chance.
Thanks! Will do.
I am also real happy with this signing. Cheers UFC