Yoshihiro Akiyama – Coming to America (and Canada)

UFC Ultimate 100 Greatest Fights 8 DVD Set Related Products Death Clutch Brock Lesnar UFC 100 Walkout T-shirt UFC Ultimate 100 Greatest Fight Moments UFC Ultimate 100 Greatest Fights 8 DVD Set - Blu Ray Death Clutch Brock Lesnar UFC 100 Fight Shorts Related News Official UFC 106 Weigh-In Results Tito Ortiz’ New Beginning Forrest Griffin – The Quest to Get That Winning Feeling Back Parisyan is out of UFC 106; Bout with Hazelett Off ‘Kos’ and Effect Headlines Official UFC 106 Weigh-In Results Tito Ortiz’ New Beginning Forrest Griffin – The Quest to Get That Winning Feeling Back UFC 106: Fantasy Preview Parisyan is out of UFC 106; Bout with Hazelett Off

By Thomas Gerbasi

Picture this. You are one of the biggest mixed martial arts stars in Asia, unable to walk down the street without someone recognizing you and asking you for a picture or autograph. There are book stores packed with fans hoping to catch a glimpse of you as you sign your autobiography.

Frankly, there’s no reason for you to leave your home shores, as your mere presence on a fight poster means big money and even bigger exposure. But when you’re an athlete, a real athlete, it’s not all about the money or the fame. When you’re Yoshihiro Akiyama, what matters at the end of the day is that you fought the best in the world. So when it came down to putting his name on a contract, there was no question where he was going. He was coming to America.

“To me, it’s the best organization that’s out there in fighting, so I chose the UFC,” Akiyama told UFC.com through translator Ryo Ishibashi during his trip to Montreal last week for UFC 97. “The comparison to me is that this is like Major League Baseball.”

Good comparison, especially since there is a host of heavy hitters waiting to welcome him to the Octagon, including 185-pound boss Anderson Silva, who Akiyama describes as “the perfect MMA fighter.” But first things first, and Akiyama’s journey begins with Alan “The Talent” Belcher at UFC 100 on July 11th. The two met for the first time last Friday, and Akiyama is expecting a tough fight from Belcher, who could be nicknamed “The Welcoming Committee” if he treats Akiyama the way he treated Denis Kang in his UFC debut earlier this year.

“He’s young, his striking is good, and he’s got more experience in the UFC than I do, so I think he’s an excellent fighter,” said Akiyama of Belcher.

Currently on a two fight winning streak that has seen him submit Katsuyori Shibata and Masanori Tonooka, the 33-year old Akiyama has less than three months left to prepare not only for Belcher, but for his first fight in the Octagon, and for a fighting culture that is significantly different from that in Japan. Akiyama is attempting to cover all his bases though, first by training with Yushin Okami – yes, the same fighter who is currently in the upper reaches of the UFC’s middleweight division. It’s an odd pairing, especially considering that the two could cross paths with each other in the future.

“I’m aware of it,” said Akiyama, “but to me it’s more important that he holds information on fighting in the Octagon.”

As for the move from fighting in a ring to fighting in the Octagon, he says he has no worries about the transition, and if he does, he’s certainly not revealing them.

“To me, the transition from the ring to the cage isn’t too big, but I try not to think of it as much as possible, because that will get to my head,” he said.

As for the switch from fighting in Japan to fighting in the United States, that may take some getting used to, even though last week’s event was his second trip to a UFC show, the first coming last November when Brock Lesnar took the heavyweight title from Randy Couture in Las Vegas.

“I came and saw Couture and Lesnar at UFC 91 in Vegas,” he said. “It helped me draw an image of the UFC and better understand it.”

Following that first UFC event, Akiyama signed with the UFC in February, garnering a fevered response from the diehard MMA community in the process. It was a pleasant surprise for the Osaka native.

“I’m not sure how much the American fans know about me,” he said. “I was not expecting huge excitement from the fans, but to be told that, I’m very grateful.”

Canadian fans certainly welcomed Akiyama with open arms during his stay in Montreal, with scores of autographs and pictures being taken around the host hotel and at the Bell Centre. And though it was a great response, it’s only a fraction of what he receives in Japan. When asked to describe the level of popularity he has back home, he simply smiled and said, “Like Chuck Liddell in the US.”

So you would think that being a “regular guy” in North America would be a good thing. But while Akiyama is getting used to that, he’s also using it as motivation.

“It’s fresh and it motivates me to think that I have to do better in the UFC,” he said.

He’ll have more than ample opportunity to do that come July 11th as a participant on the biggest card in the UFC’s history, and he admits that right now, he’s got a few butterflies in his stomach about his debut.

“Right now I’m nervous, but sooner or later it will turn into excitement,” he said, and at UFC 100, Akiyama is looking to make a statement – not only for himself, but for Asia.

“The Asian fighters aren’t doing too well in the UFC, so as someone that represents the Asian fighters, I want to do my best.”

For a video diary of Akiyama's visit to Canada, click HERE

Share |