Yoshihiro Akiyama draws Jake Shields for welterweight debut at UFC 144
Japanese fans are in for a treat, as the UFC has announced Yoshihiro Akiyama will make his long-awaited welterweight debut as part of the organization’s February 26 stop in Saitama Japan for UFC 144. Better yet, continuing the trend of apt adversaries for Akiyama, the 13-4 Judoka will face former Strikeforce champion Jake Shields for what should be a co-headliner alongside Frankie Edgar’s title-defense... [Read More...]
Yoshihiro Akiyama dropping to welterweight for next fight
After urging from UFC President Dana White and the MMA community at large, it appears popular Japanese fighter Yoshihiro Akiyama will move to the 170-pound division for his next fight. Akiyama is coming off a brutal knockout at the hands of Vitor Belfort last month and has lost three fights in a row, also likely a factor in the 13-4 competitor’s decision to make the move down from middleweight. News... [Read More...]
Vitor Belfort draws Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 133
VITOR BELFORT IS BACK! “The Phenom” will return to action at UFC 133, taking on the very tough Yoshihiro Akiyama in a middleweight showdown that is sure to bring fireworks to the City of Brotherly Love. The story was first reported by ESPN UK. Belfort was last seen in the Octagon at UFC 126, failing to capture the UFC Middleweight Title from current champion Anderson Silva. Prior to the... [Read More...]
Dan Miller replaces Yoshihiro Akiyama against Nate Marquardt at UFC 128
Due to the recent tragedy in Japan, Yoshihiro Akiyama has bowed out of his UFC 128: Shogun vs. Jones fight against Nate Marquardt. Stepping in to replace him is Dan Miller, who was originally scheduled to fight Nick Catone in a preliminary fight on the card. UFC President Dana White made the announcement late Friday night. White ensured fans that Akiyama was safe but it is unknown when he will return... [Read More...]
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Nate Marquardt penciled in for UFC 128
An exciting middleweight match-up between Yoshihiro Akiyama and Nate Marquardt appears to be set for a spot on the card at UFC 128 this March in Newark, New Jersey. Though both men are coming off losing performances in their previous bouts there is little doubt the pairing should provide fans with a good deal of entertainment based on the experience and well-rounded skills both will enter the Octagon... [Read More...]
UFC 120 headliner named “Fight of the Night”
Michael Bisping entered the Octagon Saturday to the echoes of Blur’s “Song 2 (Woo Hoo)” and may have ended up exiting London’s O2 Arena singing along to the infamous two-word refrain as well due to both his win over respected competitor Yoshihiro Akiyama at the event and a $60,000 check earned for his respective role in their joint “Fight of the Night” effort. Likewise, Akiyama was also... [Read More...]
Wanderlei Silva vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama set for Australia
Wanderlei Silva will be making his middleweight debut against Yoshihiro Akiyama in the land down under during the latter portion of February, 2010. While nothing has been made official at this time, the two are expected to face off in Sydney at either UFC 110 or UFC 111, marking the first time the UFC has made the trip to Australia in the promotion’s history. Akiyama was the one to spill the... [Read More...]
Yoshihiro Akiyama: Heart and spirit for the game
Top ranked middleweight and highly regarded Judoka Yoshihiro Akiyama is set to wage his first battle on American soil this Saturday evening at UFC 100 as he faces off with the always dangerous Alan Belcher. A 2002 Gold Medalist in Judo at the Asian Games, Akiyama will be looking to throw his way to the top of the UFC’s stacked 185 pound weight class. “What I would like to do is show everyone... [Read More...]
Report: Akiyama vs. Belcher could be added to UFC 100
The UFC’s newest middleweight acquisition could be making his debut under the brightest of lights. According to a Monday report by MMAjunkie.com, talks are ongoing for Yoshihiro Akiyama to face off against Alan Belcher at UFC 100, scheduled for July 11 in Las Vegas. According to Junkie, a source close to the negotiations said that while the fight isn’t signed bout agreements could be finalized... [Read More...]
UFC signs former DREAM star Yoshihiro Akiyama
The UFC has signed Korean middleweight Yoshihiro Akiyama to an exclusive contract, according to the company’s official web site. The former K-1 HERO’s and DREAM fighter has no official debut set but he will be a welcome addition to the UFC’s weakest division. Akiyama whose main discipline is judoka began his MMA career in December of 2007. He is 12-1 with two no contests and has victories... [Read More...]
Cro Cop vs. Akiyama or Cro Cop vs. Overeem?
Buried at the end of Dave Meltzer’s latest column at Yahoo! Sports regarding the health of the MMA business is this little tidbit about DREAM’s possible plans to put a fight together between Japan’s most hated fighter, Yoshihiro Akiyama, and their most beloved foreign fighter, Mirko Cro Cop: Under the gun to draw ratings, the company is attempting to put together middleweight Akiyama against... [Read More...]
UFC and Spike TV at odds again
Steve Sievert from the Houston Chronicle caught up with UFC president Dana White and asked him about the recent announcement by Spike TV that Noah Thomas would be fighting Marlon Sims on the live season finale of TUF 5 on June 3. White said the following: They’re not fighting on the finale. Not only are they not fighting in the finale, they’ll never fight in the UFC. Spike wanted that fight.... [Read More...]
