#2
Yushin Okami
Record: 27-5-0
Summary: Ground and pound, strength
Fighter Info
Nickname:Thunder
From:Kanagawa Japan
Fights Out Of:Kanagawa Japan
Age:29
Height:6' 2" ( 187 cm )
Weight:185 lb ( 84 kg )
As an amateur, Okami fought in the pre-Pride 4 tournament, defeating two opponents before submitting Yuuki Tsutsui in the finals via triangle choke to win the tournament. He began his professional career in 2002, fighting in the GCM promotion and Pancrase as well as making an appearance at Pride The Best Vol.3, amassing a professional record of 6–0. In 2003 he competed in the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, but was defeated by Matt Lindland. Also in 2003, he suffered his first professional MMA loss to Amar Suloev.[3]
Okami continued fighting in multiple promotions before arriving at Rumble on the Rock, where he entered a 175 lb tournament. Anderson Silva, Frank Trigg, Renato Verissimo, and Jake Shields also competed in the tournament. In the opening round, Okami fought the future UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. Silva controlled the fight on the feet before Okami secured a takedown. Okami landed a few blows from top position before Silva landed an illegal upkick to Okami's chin while both fighters were grounded, and Silva was in the guard position. Okami's knees were on the ground at the time, making the attack an illegal strike to the head of a downed opponent. Silva later said that the rule had not been properly explained to him before the bout. "When I fought Okami the rules really weren't explained to me properly in the event I was fighting in," said Silva. "You could kick a downed opponent to the groin or to the head when your back's on the ground. So the rules weren't explained to me properly."[4] Referee Troy Mandaloniz separated the fighters immediately and gave Okami a chance to recover, but Okami opted for the disqualification victory. Okami was controlling Silva on the ground in which many believed was winning Okami the round til the kick that lead to the disqualification.[5] Silva responded by saying he "felt it was a cheap, cowardly way of winning," and that "people that were there saw that he was in the condition to come back and keep fighting, and he didn't."[6] Moving on to the next round, he faced the future EliteXC welterweight and Strikeforce Middleweight champion Jake Shields, a tournament favorite. Okami lost a hard-fought majority decision to Shields, who went on to win the tournament.
By 2006, Okami had amassed a record of 16–3 and was the third-ranked Pancrase middleweight fighter. He signed with the UFC and made his debut in the organization on the undercard of UFC 62, defeating Alan Belcher by unanimous decision. He followed up less than two months later with a bout against Kalib Starnes at UFC 64. He defeated Starnes by TKO due to strikes in the third round. Okami then signed on to make his third appearance in four months at UFC 66. He original opponent was to be David Terrell, but Terrell withdrew due to an elbow injury and was replaced by Rory Singer.[7] Okami defeated Singer due to submission from strikes.
After three victories in the UFC, Okami made his main card and broadcast debut at UFC 69 against Mike Swick, who was riding a five-fight win streak in the UFC at the time. Okami won the bout by unanimous decision. Okami then participated in the 2007 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship in the 87 kg (191 lb) division, but lost to eventual division winner Demian Maia. In the UFC, however, Okami was riding a four-fight win streak. In his next bout, he faced former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin at UFC 72 for the position of #1 title contender. Franklin controlled the first two rounds, but Okami nearly sunk in a kimura in the third. Ultimately all three judges scored the bout 29–28 in Franklin's favor.
Okami next faced Jason MacDonald at UFC 77. MacDonald had also defeated Singer and lost to Franklin in his two previous bouts. Though Dana White said that the winner might earn a title shot, the fight was placed on the undercard, possibly due to the fighters' lack of fan support.[8] Okami dominated the fight with superior stand-up, takedown defense, and ground control,[9] en route to unanimous decision victory.
Okami was scheduled for a rematch with Anderson Silva for the middleweight title at UFC 90, but he was forced to drop out of the bout due to a broken hand. Patrick Côté was chosen to replace him.[10] After his recovery, Okami faced 2003 ADCC Absolute Division gold medalist Dean Lister at UFC 92. Despite previously being scheduled for a main event, Okami fought on the undercard and earned a Unanimous Decision. Lister made frequent attempts to pull guard and take Okami down to the ground, but was not able to secure any submissions. The bout was considered tedious by spectators, but Okami was victorious.[11]
Okami was next scheduled to return at UFC 98 against Dan Miller, but suffered a torn ligament and was not able to compete.[12]
He was scheduled to return at UFC 104 against Chael Sonnen.[13] Okami lost to Sonnen via Unanimous Decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27). After the fight, Okami trained at Team Quest with Sonnen for one month before returning to Japan.[14] Sonnen stated in an interview that he was honored to fight and train with Okami, and he sees Okami as a brother and after watching the learning potential in Okami, he says he'd be careful to fight him again.
Okami defeated Lucio Linhares via TKO doctor stoppage at UFC Fight Night 21.[15] In Okami's fight with Linhares, many spectators praised Okami for his improved striking.
On August 1, Okami defeated Mark Munoz via split decision in the co-main event at UFC Live on Versus: 2. Okami was able to stuff most of Munoz's takedowns and kept the fight standing where he showed superior striking, stunning Munoz in the third round with a straight right counter.
Okami was expected to face Vitor Belfort on November 13, 2010 at UFC 122, with the winner facing Anderson Silva for the UFC Middleweight Championship.[16] Belfort was then pulled from the fight, and Nate Marquardt was tapped to make a quick return to the Octagon to face Okami at UFC 122.[17] Okami won the fight by unanimous decision and will eventually receive a title fight.[18]
At the UFC 126 post-fight press conference, Dana White stated that Okami would have to wait for his title shot as the UFC were working on trying to get a superfight between Silva and current UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre together. Depending on how soon this fight takes place, Okami could have had to wait until 2012 for his title shot. However in a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, White stated there's a chance Okami may receive his title shot sooner.
Okami is expected to face Anderson Silva on August 27, 2011 at UFC 134 for the UFC Middleweight Championship.
