Yoshihiro Akiyama is at a big point in his career right now. There are a number of huge, blockbuster fights in his horizon. This guy has more beef then a gangsta' rapper and drawing power like a pro wrestler. The Japanese fans love to hate him, and then Japanese chicks dig the "badass" with the silver hair.
Option 1: NYE 2006, marked the biggest scandal in Japanese MMA history. Korean judoka Yoshihiro Akiyama faced Japanese Icon Kazushi Sakuraba. The fight was the main event of the evening on a seemingly lackluster NYE Card, in comparison to the one that rival PRIDE FC was offering(Fedor/Hunt, Nog/Barnett II). But the fight left a bigger mark on the MMA world then anything else that big night. Akiyama crushed the Japanese superhero in the first round. However, controversy erupted as Sakuraba complained in the middle of the fight, that Akiyama was greased up. It was later revealed that Akiyama did indeed lube up before the fight and a massive scandal erupted. This made Akiyama the biggest heel in Japan and has fans starving for a rematch. While the fight will probably be a slaughter in the favor of Akiyama, it will be a big pay day for him, as well as an incredibly hyped up fight. Here is a video for you to see a glimpse of what happened. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6q_wVodzFU
Option 2: Last NYE, during the much anticipated Yarennoka! show(aka The Return of Fedor), Akiyama battled Japanese superstar and Pride MWGP Winner Kazuo Misaki. The FOTY candidate ended in controversy, as Misaki ended the fight with a borderline soccer kick. The fight was initially ruled a win for Misaki, and lead to an insulting and really tense post fight speech by Misaki, ripping Akiyama to shreds and embarrassing him. He insulted his manhood and his integrity. The fight was later overturned to a NC and this is a fight that MMA Fans are waiting for. Here is a clip of the entertainingly technical fight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD7XZX_9kKM
Here is the best clip of the post fight I could get. I will try and get it in English soon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCnMh_U64Zc&feature=related
Edit: Special shout out to my boy Plazz for watching the fight live with me last NYE. Yareenoka baby!
Option 3: Being an active competitor in DREAM, it is highly rumored that he will take on the winner of the DREAM MWGP. Originally slated to take part in the tournament, Akiyama had to pull out due to injuries. Any of Moussaaa!, Galesic, Jacare or Manhoef would be entertaining and good fights for him.
Option 4: Akiyama's biggest win(atleast IMO) was his stoppage of Denis Kang in Seoul. The two Korean fighters(Kang is half) would make for an incredible rematch, especially in front of the Korean audience. Kang is coming off a loss to Moussaaa! but we all know the Jap orgs don't give a crap about records.
Option 5: And finally, Yoshi has been heavily rumored to go up against one of the most popular non Asian fighters in Japan, Mirko Cro Cop. Akiyama is heavily out sized in this match up and is a big underdog. Akiyama's only loss in his career was to Jerome Le Banner, a large Heavyweight Kickboxer. Things wouldn't look good for Aki in this fight, but it would be another big fight for him.
I purposely made this a non poll thread, so we can get more responses and less poll votes to bump up the activity in the DREAM section.
No matter what fight is next for Yoshi, he is one of the biggest stars in Japan, and his future is bright.
So what fight do you want to see? Vids and other fights aside from what I mentioned are welcome.
Option 1: NYE 2006, marked the biggest scandal in Japanese MMA history. Korean judoka Yoshihiro Akiyama faced Japanese Icon Kazushi Sakuraba. The fight was the main event of the evening on a seemingly lackluster NYE Card, in comparison to the one that rival PRIDE FC was offering(Fedor/Hunt, Nog/Barnett II). But the fight left a bigger mark on the MMA world then anything else that big night. Akiyama crushed the Japanese superhero in the first round. However, controversy erupted as Sakuraba complained in the middle of the fight, that Akiyama was greased up. It was later revealed that Akiyama did indeed lube up before the fight and a massive scandal erupted. This made Akiyama the biggest heel in Japan and has fans starving for a rematch. While the fight will probably be a slaughter in the favor of Akiyama, it will be a big pay day for him, as well as an incredibly hyped up fight. Here is a video for you to see a glimpse of what happened. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6q_wVodzFU
Option 2: Last NYE, during the much anticipated Yarennoka! show(aka The Return of Fedor), Akiyama battled Japanese superstar and Pride MWGP Winner Kazuo Misaki. The FOTY candidate ended in controversy, as Misaki ended the fight with a borderline soccer kick. The fight was initially ruled a win for Misaki, and lead to an insulting and really tense post fight speech by Misaki, ripping Akiyama to shreds and embarrassing him. He insulted his manhood and his integrity. The fight was later overturned to a NC and this is a fight that MMA Fans are waiting for. Here is a clip of the entertainingly technical fight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD7XZX_9kKM
Here is the best clip of the post fight I could get. I will try and get it in English soon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCnMh_U64Zc&feature=related
Edit: Special shout out to my boy Plazz for watching the fight live with me last NYE. Yareenoka baby!
Option 3: Being an active competitor in DREAM, it is highly rumored that he will take on the winner of the DREAM MWGP. Originally slated to take part in the tournament, Akiyama had to pull out due to injuries. Any of Moussaaa!, Galesic, Jacare or Manhoef would be entertaining and good fights for him.
Option 4: Akiyama's biggest win(atleast IMO) was his stoppage of Denis Kang in Seoul. The two Korean fighters(Kang is half) would make for an incredible rematch, especially in front of the Korean audience. Kang is coming off a loss to Moussaaa! but we all know the Jap orgs don't give a crap about records.
Option 5: And finally, Yoshi has been heavily rumored to go up against one of the most popular non Asian fighters in Japan, Mirko Cro Cop. Akiyama is heavily out sized in this match up and is a big underdog. Akiyama's only loss in his career was to Jerome Le Banner, a large Heavyweight Kickboxer. Things wouldn't look good for Aki in this fight, but it would be another big fight for him.
I purposely made this a non poll thread, so we can get more responses and less poll votes to bump up the activity in the DREAM section.
No matter what fight is next for Yoshi, he is one of the biggest stars in Japan, and his future is bright.
So what fight do you want to see? Vids and other fights aside from what I mentioned are welcome.