In one week the UFC will return to Brazil for the first time in 13 years to host UFC 134. The main card will feature a pair of rematches between Anderson Silva and Yushin Okami, as well as Forrest Griffin versus Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. The eve…
In one week the UFC will return to Brazil for the first time in 13 years to host UFC 134.
The main card will feature a pair of rematches between Anderson Silva and Yushin Okami, as well as Forrest Griffin versus Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
The event will also mark the return of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, who is prepared to face heavyweight prospect Brendan Schaub.
UFC president Dana White and UFC color commentator Joe Rogan preview the main card with in-depth interviews, analysis and opinion. The event, dubbed “UFC Rio,” is expected to draw a lot of attraction and media coverage throughout Brazil prior to next weekend.
UFC 134 is scheduled for August 27, live from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro.
Filed under: UFCUFC President Dana White is fond of saying that the only way to prove you’re the best fighter in the world is to do it in the UFC. It’s not that there aren’t any good fighters in other promotions, White believes, it’s just that the only…
UFC President Dana White is fond of saying that the only way to prove you’re the best fighter in the world is to do it in the UFC. It’s not that there aren’t any good fighters in other promotions, White believes, it’s just that the only fighters who consistently test themselves against the best in the world are the ones who do it inside the Octagon.
By that rationale, White says Yushin Okami — who will fight Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight title at UFC 134 — is the greatest Japanese fighter in MMA history.
“In my opinion, Yushin Okami is the best fighter ever to come out of Japan,” White said. “This guy didn’t fight cans and get this built-up, mythological record.”
Fighters who fight “cans” and build up a “mythological record” are a constant thorn in the side of White, who regularly complains about fans and members of the media who proclaim Fedor Emelianenko — whose best moments came in Japan, and who never fought in the UFC — as the greatest fighter in history. White always insists that Silva is the best ever, and now that he’s promoting Silva against Okami, he’s talking up Okami as the best ever to come out of Japan.
A lot of longtime fans of Japanese MMA — especially the fans from the Pride days — would disagree. Kazushi Sakuraba, Takanori Gomi, Kid Yamamoto, Hayoto Sakurai, Caol Uno and Shinya Aoki could all make a case that they’ve accomplished more in mixed martial arts than Okami has.
White is right, however, that none of those fighters have proven it in the Octagon. Aoki has never fought in the UFC. Sakuraba and Sakurai each fought in the UFC just once, with Sakuraba fighting on the UFC’s Japan card in 1997, and Sakurai losing to Matt Hughes in 2002. Gomi and Yamamoto are both currently under contract to the UFC, but both were past their prime before they ever appeared inside the Octagon. Uno had some success in the UFC and fought twice for the UFC lightweight title, but his overall record in the UFC was just 3-5-2.
And White is surely right that if Okami beats Silva — a very big “if” — he would have an excellent case that he’s the best fighter ever to come out of Japan. Okami has already beaten Silva once, although that was a controversial disqualification. If Okami were to beat Silva convincingly, that would become the signature win of his career and completely transform his reputation, while simultaneously knocking Silva from the top of the pound-for-pound rankings.
“Anderson Silva is fighting for his legacy,” White said. “Yushin Okami is fighting for respect.”
For Okami, White believes, a win over Silva would make it impossible for anyone to deny that he’s the greatest fighter ever to come out of Japan.
“If he wins this fight,” White said, “he’ll get the credit he finally deserves.”
Gather around, fight fans, as UFC 134: Rio is almost upon us. Featured in this spectacular card is a title rematch between Anderson Silva and Yushin Okami, another rematch between Forrest Griffin and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, and a generationa…
Gather around, fight fans, as UFC 134: Rio is almost upon us.
Featured in this spectacular card is a title rematch between Anderson Silva and Yushin Okami, another rematch between Forrest Griffin and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, and a generational battle between MMA legend Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira and rising superstar Brendan Schaub.
So how will this card event play out? Let’s take a look at all the main card bouts and pick out some winners, shall we?
Anderson Silva and Yushin Okami are set to meet in the main event at UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The fight will be a rematch of their January 2006 bout at Rumble on the Rock 8. That fight ended with Okami walking away with a victory after Silva …
Anderson Silva and Yushin Okami are set to meet in the main event at UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The fight will be a rematch of their January 2006 bout at Rumble on the Rock 8.
That fight ended with Okami walking away with a victory after Silva delivered an illegal upkick that left Okami unable to continue.
That disqualification loss to Okami is the last loss on Silva’s 30-4 overall mixed martial arts record. Since that bout, he has put together a run of 14 straight wins. Thirteen of those wins have come in the UFC, a record for the Las Vegas based fight promotion.
Silva also holds the record for most consecutive UFC title defenses, defending his middlewight crown eight straight times.
Even after five years, the Okami loss does not sit well with the fighter known as “The Spider.” In April of this year, Silva spoke to the LA Times about his first fight with Okami: “I was a little surprised with his reaction to that. Do I think he could have continued? I do think he could have continued. But he had the rules in his favor. I did an illegal kick and he chose that it was better not to continue.”
Silva is a heavy favorite going into the August 27 bout, which will take place at the HSBC arena in Rio. BetOnFighting.com has the odds listed as Silva (-415), Okami (+315).
Well, it’s safe to say the UFC better have an ambulance running outside the venue for Mike Swick at UFC 134.
According to this training video posted by Tatame, his opponent for the August 27 Silva vs. Okami event in Rio de Janeiro, Erick Silva has been working diligently at perfecting the purported Steven Seagal-created kick Silva used to nearly decapitate Vitor Belfort at UFC 126 in February. Although you can barely make it out, especially if you don’t understand Portuguese, the UFC newcomer can be heard on the video telling his pad-holders, “If do right, no can defend.”
Well, it’s safe to say the UFC better have an ambulance running outside the venue for Mike Swick at UFC 134.
According to this training video posted by Tatame, his opponent for the August 27 Silva vs. Okami event in Rio de Janeiro, Erick Silva has been working diligently at perfecting the purported Steven Seagal-created kick Silva used to nearly decapitate Vitor Belfort at UFC 126 in February. Although you can barely make it out, especially if you don’t understand Portuguese, the UFC newcomer can be heard on the video telling his pad-holders, “If do right, no can defend.”
All eyes will be on UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva as he looks to defend his title for a ninth time inside the Octagon when he takes on Yushin Okami at UFC 134. This will be the second meeting between the two middleweights, as their previous …
All eyes will be on UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva as he looks to defend his title for a ninth time inside the Octagon when he takes on Yushin Okami at UFC 134. This will be the second meeting between the two middleweights, as their previous bout ended in controversy.
Okami will look to defeat Silva in front of a crowd which will be heavily cheering for “The Spider.” As he has mentioned in past interviews, Silva has said to be prepared and motivated for his upcoming title bout against Okami and doesn’t intend to let their rematch end in controversy.
In an exclusive video on TATAME.com, Silva is shown training on his boxing skills with boxing coach Cesario Bezerra at X-Gym in Brazil.
UFC 134 takes place on Aug. 27, live from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
In one week the UFC will return to Brazil for the first time in 13 years to host UFC 134. 
UFC President Dana White is fond of saying that the only way to prove you’re the best fighter in the world is to do it in the