- Yushin Okami
MMAstatsbox
name=Yushin Okami
|nick=Thunder, Phoenix
height=6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
weight=181 lb (82 kg)
nationality=Japanese
birthdate=Birth date and age|1981|7|21|mf=y
died=
fightingfrom=Kanagawa, Japan
hometown=Kanagawa,Japan
fightteam=Wajyutsu Keisyukai
fightstyle=Wrestling ,Kickboxing
wins=22
ko=7
submissions=4
nocontest=0
losses=4
draws=0|nihongo|Yushin Okami|岡見 勇信|Okami Yūshin|bornJuly 21 1981 is a Japanesemixed martial arts fighter. He currently fights at middleweight for theUltimate Fighting Championship .Sherdog and MMAWeekly rank Okami as one of the top ten middleweights in the world. [ [http://www.sherdog.com/news/rankings.asp?n_id=8577&my_page=4 Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings ] ] [ [http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=5395&zoneid=13 MMA WEEKLY - Your #1 Source for Daily MMA News, Interviews, Multimedia, and More: - MMAWEEKLY WORLD MMA RANKINGS UPDATED ] ]Mixed martial arts career
A relative newcomer to the sport, Okami has only been competing on the professional level since
2002 . Okami started his career fighting in several different organizations, such asPancrase andPRIDE Fighting Championships , amassing a record of 6-0 before being defeated byAmar Suloev . He continued fighting in multiple promotions before arriving atRumble on the Rock , one of Hawaii's most well-known organizations, where he competed in their 175 lbtournament . This particular tournament was held in high regard by the mixed martial arts community, as well-known fighters such asAnderson Silva ,Frank Trigg ,Renato Verissimo , andJake Shields were competing.In the opening round of the tournament, Okami fought current
UFC middleweight championAnderson Silva ; the bout resulted in a disqualification victory for Okami, as Silva executed an illegal up-kick to the head while both of Okami's knees were grounded. The referee intervened immediately, calling a stop to the fight. In the next round of the tournament, Okami faced currentEliteXC welterweight championJake Shields , a tournament favorite. Okami used his takedown defense and striking range to hold Shields to a majority decision; however, the decision did not lean in Okami's favor. Shields went on to win the tournament and becameRumble on the Rock 's first 175 lb Grand Prix champion. Afterwards, Okami amassed two victories inJapan , including one over Pancrase veteranIzuru Takeuchi , before signing a contract with theUFC .Okami made his
UFC debut at "UFC 62 ", defeatingAlan Belcher byunanimous decision . He then defeatedKalib Starnes viaTKO at "UFC 64 ", and made his thirdUFC appearance at "UFC 66 ", defeatingRory Singer bysubmission from strikes. Singer was a replacement for Okami's original opponent, David Terrell, who had withdrawn from the card due to an elbow injury.cite web
url=http://www.mmaontap.com/mma/entry/singer-replaces-terrell
title=Singer Replaces Terrell
last=White
first=Scott
date=November 23 ,2006
publisher=MMA On Tap]After winning three consecutive fights in the
UFC , Okami was matched up against "The Ultimate Fighter 1's"Mike Swick at "UFC 69 " in Houston,Texas . Okami won the bout byunanimous decision .Okami also competed in the
ADCC , a prestigious grappling tournament consisting only of top 16 grapplers in the world of each weight class in2007 under 87 kg (191 lb) onMay 5 ,2007 and lost to renownBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu black beltDemian Maia in the elimination round. Maia went on to defeat Rafael Lovato, Tarsis Humphres, and Flavio Almeida that day, winning the tournament.Okami lost a close
unanimous decision to former UFC middleweight championRich Franklin atUFC 72 . His next fight was onOctober 20 ,2007 againstJason MacDonald atUFC 77 , where he won byunanimous decision . Okami then rebounded with win in his last fight against formerUFC middleweight championEvan Tanner atUFC 82 onMarch 1 ,2008 byKO .Okami was set to fight current
UFC middleweight championAnderson Silva for the second time, this time for theUFC middleweight championship atUFC 90 but was forced to drop out of the bout due to a broken hand.Patrick Côté was chosen to replace Okami.cite web
url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4917&zoneid=13
title=UFC 77 Results
last=
first=
date=October 20 ,2007
publisher=MMA Weekly]Okami is now scheduled to face former
ADCC absolute division championDean Lister onDecember 27 ,2008 atUFC 92 . [http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=7189&zoneid=13]Mixed martial arts record
MMArecordbox
wins=22
losses=4
ko-wins=8
sub-wins=4
sub-losses=1
dec-wins=9
dec-losses=3References
External links
* [http://blog.olga.to/okami/ Official blog (Japanese)]
* [http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=fighter.detail&pid=471 UFC profile]
*sherdog|id=5569|name=Yushin Okami
* [http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=9951&my_page=4]
* [http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/topten.asp?articleid=14&zoneid=15]
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