Yushin Okami
Yushin Okami is a Japanese mixed martial artist born on the 21st of juli 1981. He fight in the UFC light heavyweight division. He usually competes in the middleweight division. He has a black belt in Judo.
Yushin Okami’s career before the UFC
Yushin Okami made his amateur MMA debut at PRIDE FC – Pre-Pride 4 where he fought 3 fights in the same night. He won his first 2 fights by decision and won the finals by submission. He fought one more time as an amateur and won the fight by knockout.
He made his pro MMA debut at GCM – Demolition against Kyosuke Sasaki, whom he beat by decision. Okami won 5 more fights, all but two by decision. Yushin Okami’s first loss came to tough Armenian Amar Suloev by TKO in the 1st round.
Okami rebounded with 2 straight wins before he lost again to Falaniko Vitale at SB – Super Brawl 36, this time by split decision. Okami once again rebounded and posted 6 straight win over tough competition like Nick Thompson and Anderson “The Spider” Silva, the fight vs Silva was a win by DQ after Silva hit Okami with an illegal upkick that made him unable to continue.
Okami lost his very next fight in a close contest against American Jiu Jitsu specialist Jake Shields. Okami won 2 straight fights after the loss and got the chance to fight in the UFC.
Yushin Okami’s career in the UFC
Yushin Okami made his UFC debut at UFC 62 and faced Alan Belcher, whom he defeated by decision. He won three more fights against Kalib Starnes, Rory Singer and Mike Swick before he got a chance to fight in a title eliminator bout against Rich “Ace” Franklin.
Franklin won by unanimous decision to get a shot at Silva’s belt. Okami went on to defeat former UFC champion Evan Tanner and BJJ specialist Dean Lister before he lost again to Chael “The American Gangster” Sonnen. Okami returned to the cage with a vengeance and won 3 straight fights, beating Mark Munoz and Nate Marquardt.
Yushin Okami vs. Anderson Silva 2
After winning 3 straight fight, Okami got the chance to fight for UFC gold against former foe Anderson Silva. Silva kept himself within the rules and dominated Okami en route to a TKO in the 2nd round. After the loss Okami faced Tim Boetsch and lost again.
He once again rebounded with 3 straight wins, notably against Alan Belcher and Hector Lombard, in a fight dubbed “Lightning vs. Thunder” (Lombard’s nickname is Lightning).
Okami lost to Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and was cut by the UFC.
Yushin Okami’s next fight in the UFC
Okami fought 7 times outside the UFC, going 5-2. Okami took a short notice fight, replacing Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in the main event of UFC Fight Night 117: Okami vs. Saint Preux. In the main event he faces Ovince Saint Preux at home in Japan.