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Akiyama is happy to be sexy ( USATODAY article )

1K views 18 replies 17 participants last post by  osmium 
#1 ·
this may have been posted under another title but i couldnt find it and i dont care.

Sexyama likes the moniker.

"Personally, it makes me happy that people are complimenting me like this, and I think it means that I’m becoming well-known and respected by the fans abroad," Japanese middleweight Yoshihiro Akiyama tells Sherdog.com. "I think that regardless of whether it's men or women saying so, to be called sexy by anyone is high praise."

For hardcore fans, Akiyama might be the Ultimate Fighting Championship's most high-profile signing in years. He's scheduled to make his debut for the promotion in July at UFC 100 against Alan Belcher.

In an interview with MMAWeekly.com, Belcher accused Akiyama of using performance-enhancers in Japan and vowed to knock him out.

Belcher's "juice" allegation also makes him happy, Akiyama said.

"In a way, it feels like Belcher is showing me respect as a fighter, and I find it very flattering," Akiyama told Sherdog's Tony Loiseleur. "If I had to say something in response, it'd be, 'Thank you for your compliments and respect.'"

After an acclaimed judo career that included gold medals in multiple international tournaments, Akiyama has won 12 of 15 bouts for Fighting and Entertainment Group's K-1 Hero's and Dream organizations. His victories include wins over Denis Kang, Melvin Manhoef, Taiei Kin and Kestutis Smirnovas, each of whom has an impressive win-loss record.

Despite his success, Akiyama became the country's top MMA villain because he cheated against beloved Japanese legend Kazushi Sakuraba. Forget BJ Penn's Vaseline tiff with Georges St. Pierre — Akiyama-Sakuraba remains the sport's real Greasegate:



Yet he's also become the subject of a popular MMA meme — the Sexyama phenomenon — stemming from his personal flamboyance. He wears flashy suits and takes the occasional saunter down a fashion runway — he even won a "Style Icon Award" last year in South Korea, where he's known as Chu Seung-Hoon. He has a melodramatic, polarizing arena entrance. He even performs romance songs.

Whether Akiyama can navigate UFC's waters remains an open question. He hasn't had a quality win in years, and some industry watchers wonder if his psyche has fully recovered from having his face split open by Kazuo Misaki's kick on New Year's Eve 2007. The blow was later ruled illegal and the match result converted to a no-contest, but the fact remains that ever since Misaki humbled Akiyama that night before a live audience and forced him to apologize for his behavior, Akiyama has only faced relatively easy opponents.

The Pro Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer spoke for many when he expressed his doubts a few months ago in a column for Yahoo Sports:

But after that knockout, the question is whether UFC has spent a lot of money purchasing damaged goods.

Maybe. He's already 33 and even before the knockout, Akiyama had gaping holes in his game, particularly as a striker. If he truly has become gunshy, he'll find himself in over his head among the world's deepest talent pool of fighters.

But if he lives up to his nickname, at least he'll look good doing it.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/mma/post/2009/05/66789093/1
 
#11 ·
I enjoy his response to Blecher's allegations. I think it has a lot to do with his culture, but it can be said that a lot of fighters who think in this way seem to have success in the Octagon. GSP, Silva, and Fedor are all very respectful fighters. I'm not saying Akiyama is the next either one of these fighters, but just noting how disciplined his frame of mind is. I could see him taking his discipline far in UFC.
 
#12 ·
What is the deal with this guy? He seems legit but who has he beat recently that is on the same level of competition as the ufc guys? Seems like his most notable win was against dennis kang and sakurabi (however you spell it, and that was after he greased himself down)

oh wait...i already know the type of response ill get from all the gay nuthuggers around here, *puts flame-suit on*
 
#18 ·
Well I was just pointing out that he bumped a month-old thread to say something pointless. I wasn't referring to Akiyama.
 
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