Japan’s chance at MMA champs

   For years, Pride Fighting Championships was a dominant organization in professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), keeping up with the notable Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). This was until the controlling Zuffa Organization, an American sports promotion company, absorbed Pride and its star athletes as the UFC continued its unmatched dominance in professional MMA. The transition to the U.S. has been a difficult one with repeated disappointment among Japanese fighters, the bottom line being that American MMA is a step up from Japan's. Although an exciting lightweight title bout will headline UFC 144 in Japan, I think Japanese natives are returning to their homeland with the opportunity to revive their dying reputation.

   The quiet and keenly observant Japanese MMA crowd will fill the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan Feb. 25, presenting the UFC cast a new feel to their job, something with which the Japanese fighters are pleasantly familiar. The Japanese MMA fan base brings a different vibe to events, intently observing the intricacies of each match. This is very different than the traditional loud and boisterous American fanatic's manner of watching a fight.

   Eight Japanese fighters are slated to compete on UFC 144's lineup. Although fighting in the U.S. has stumped Japanese fighters for years, UFC 144 gives them a shot at a number of momentous victories in an American promotion in their homeland. Several of these fighters aren't considered top tier, but I see a win at UFC 144 carrying extra weight for Japanese MMA.

   Japanese native Takanori Gomi has achieved a 31-5 overall record with two of his five losses occurring in the U.S. In the UFC, Gomi has struggled, going 1-3 with his only victory over an aged Tyson Griffin. Yoshihiro Akiyama was considered among the best in the world at 185 pounds with a 12-1-2 record fighting out of Japan, yet he hasn't brought his dominance to the UFC, as he now holds a 1-3 Zuffa record. 

   Akiyama is one of my favorite fighters. He leaves everything inside the cage in every fight. Although he rarely comes out with his hand raised, this brawler knows how to put on a show. 

   While fighting on home turf will be an advantage for the Japanese UFC fighters, an amplified window of opportunity lies within their grasp.

   It is crucial for the Japanese fighters to perform well at this event. Pulling off submissions, exploding with knockouts, putting on exciting back-and-forth fights and, most importantly, walking away with some wins will do wonders for MMA's view of Japanese talent.

   With an exciting night of fights put on by Akiyama, Okami, Yamamoto and supporting cast, Japanese fighters may be seeing a light at the end of this dark tunnel that has overshadowed their image for years. UFC 144 in Japan may just spark the resurgence so desperately needed for Japanese fighters with this rare home field advantage in the UFC. And it's entirely in their hands.