MMA-URLS

Former Contender Yushin Okami To Face Luiz Cane At UFC 150

After a devastating loss to Tim Boetsch in his native country of Japan, Yushin Okami will look to rebound at UFC 150 against Luiz Cane. UFC officially announced UFC 150 as taking place on August 11 from Denver’s Pepsi Center. Along with Okami-Cane, Thiago Tavares vs. Dennis Hallman was also made official. Okami (26-7) has [...]

Posted in: ufc, tim boetsch, cane, luiz, okami

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Anderson Silva Vs. Yushin Okami 2 Fight Video - UFC Clip Of the Day

Fuel TV has been releasing a bunch of interesting clips on their youtube channel recently, and this recent one being dominant UFC champion, Anderson Silva's last title defense, a rematch Yushin Okami, who technically, is the last man who beat him. The fight happened at UFC 134, in front of his home country of Brazil. Watch the second round of their fight, which had Anderson Silva dropping his hands and landing laser accurate strikes that led to the finish: Related: UFC 134: Rio Judo Chop - Anderson Silva, Muhammad Ali, and the Anchor Punch | UFC 148: Anderson Silva Vs. Chael Sonnen 2 Official Poster Silva's next bout will be this July on UFC 148, and it will be a rematch against his rival Chael Sonnen. After the jump, check out how the first round of the fight went. Since the clip didn't show the first round, here's what happened, as detailed bout our live blog of the event: Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami - Round 1 - Leg kick by Silva early. Okami throws three punches and hits a lot of air. Okami lands a few short punches while Silva looks to lock up a muay thai clinch and they go back to distance. Nice right hand by Silva. Okami pushes Silva into the cage and Silva tries to lock up the clinch again. The struggle against the cage continues and Silva lands a sharp knee forcing Okami to shoot for the takedown and then back off. Silva starting to jab and now use head movement to avoid the punches from Okami. Head kick lands for Silva right before the round ends and that's enough to take the round on my card. 10-9 Silva. Round 2 - Silva comes out hard with leg kicks and punches and he stands in front of Okami with his hands down, avoids a punch and drops Okami with a right hand. He tells Okami to stand up and starts again with the hands down and countering. Now Okami is afraid to throw punches at a guy standing in front of him with his hands down. Silva does it again and drops him with a punch. Silva follows up with some ground and pound to get the stoppage. Anderson Silva is so far above the rest of the middleweights in the world, it's not even funny. Right hand dropped Okami for that finishing flurry. Anderson Silva wins by TKO (punches), round 2.

Posted in: round, silva, punch, anderson, okami

After Comeback Against Yushin Okami, Tim Boetsch Prefers Quick Win Next Time

Tim Boetsch’s comeback against Yushin Okami at UFC 144 was one of the most rewarding victories of his career.

Posted in: yushin okami, boetsch, tim, okami, yushin

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Future Matchups to Make: Post-UFC 144

With a seven fight main card, a full post on future matchups to make just had to be made. Check in on what possible matchups will come from UFC 144 for guys like Benson Henderson, Frankie Edgar, “Rampage” Jackson, and more. Benson Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar II: As discussed in Reaction from the Action, Edgar is deserving of a rematch after the close decision loss. While the lightweight division continues to remain stuck over the last few years, it is only right for Edgar to be given the same treatment that was given to BJ Penn and Gray Maynard. Ryan Bader vs. Dan Henderson: Henderson has turned down a few fights since his win in November against “Shogun” Rua, and he likely still has his eye on April 21st in case Rashad Evans is to withdraw from his scheduled fight with Jon Jones. However, he will need to step in the cage again sooner or later, and Bader is a prime opponent for him and likely someone that would interest Henderson. Coming off of the biggest win of his career, Bader has moved back into title contention after a less than stellar first half of 2011. “Rampage” Jackson vs. “Shogun” Rua II: This was a fight that Jackson asked for after his loss at UFC 135 in September, but he was not aware that Rua already had a fight scheduled. Now with both coming off of losses, they now can step into the Octagon for the rematch of their first matchup in Pride in April 2005. Anthony Pettis vs. Sean Sherk: Also discussed in “Reaction from the Action” was Pettis’ title hopes, as he very well might be given a title shot after just two consecutive wins following a loss to Clay Guida in June. For Pettis, one more impressive win would almost certainly guarantee his chances. While Sherk has not been in action since September 2010 at UFC 119, he still remains a top name in the lightweight division and a tough matchup for Pettis. Mark Hunt vs. Fabricio Werdum: After Werdum’s win at UFC 143, I mentioned the winner of Hunt vs. Kongo could be the next possible opponent for Werdum. After Hunt’s impressive win over Cheick Kongo over the weekend, that matchup looks even better. Werdum was one of the few top heavyweights in Pride that Hunt never fought, and now that can be remedied with a matchup in the Octagon later this year. Jake Shields vs. Jon Fitch With Jake Ellenberger possibly facing the winner of Josh Koscheck/Johny Hendricks, the tier right below them with guys like Shields, Thiago Alves, Martin Kampmann, and Jon Fitch is filling up. For Shields, a matchup with Fitch has been discussed for years. Now with Fitch coming off his loss to Hendricks in December and taking him out of the immediate title picture, the long-discussed matchup can come to fruition. Hatsu Hioki vs. Jose Aldo Hioki mentioned after his win over the weekend that he feels he would be best served with fighting a few more times before a title fight against Aldo. Unfortunately for Hioki, he is not the one that decides that. It seems most fighters are stating that they want a few more fights before facing Aldo, and that is thinning out the competition for the featherweight champion even more. Regardless, Hioki seems like the top contender that is available for Aldo to fight, and a matchup is still possible even against Hioki’s wishes. Chieck Kongo vs. Antonio Silva: Kongo came into the matchup with Mark Hunt with the wrong gameplan. If he does the same against Silva, he very well could be on his back for 15 minutes while the self-anointed “Bigfoot” slams those rather large fists into his face. With both coming off of first round losses, a matchup between the two is intriguing and could be the last chance for both to make a name in the heavyweight division. Tim Boetsch vs. Ed Herman: At first glance, this does not seem fair, as Boetsch is coming off the biggest win of his career in the comeback win over Yushin Okami. But with the middleweight division’s depth, things do not always play out fairly. The top contenders are likely set to face each other, names like Munoz, Weidman, Bisping, and Palhares. While a matchup with Bisping is possible, the UFC will likely give Bisping a better matchup in his next fight after losing to Chael Sonnen. Herman is not to be disregarded, as he has won three straight fights since returning from a nearly two year layoff. Yushin Okami vs. Nick Ring: For Okami, it had to be awfully hard to leave the arena after losing to Tim Boetsch in that fashion. Coming off of his loss to Anderson Silva in August, Okami was outmatched against the champion. But this loss could be even tougher to comprehend, as Okami was beating Boetsch at will. Then the third came and it was a completely different story. Now Okami finds himself stuck in the division with two straight losses, as many as he had the five years before combined. Setting Okami up with an opponent that can help him get back to his winning ways, something they tried to do with Boetsch, is not as easy as it sounds. But with Nick Ring, Okami would feel confident he can get over the current slide. Takanori Gomi vs. Sam Stout: There might not have been a better image on Saturday than “The Fireball Kid” with his hand raised in Saitama Super Arena. After a difficult first round, Gomi was able to overcome Eiji Mitsuoka’s early assault and defeat the fellow Japanese fighter in the second round. Now it is unlikely Gomi will ever challenge for the lightweight belt, but he remains an intriguing name in the division and deserves stellar matchups. A matchup with Stout would be just that, as the striking displayed between the two could not be more different, yet both are effective. Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Mike Pyle: For “Sexyama” it likely will be ‘four strikes and you’re…still in’ as the Japanese superstar is a fan favorite wherever he fights. Well…except Japan. Akiyama looked good at 170, only slightly gassing out near the end of the third round against Shields. In five fights, he has never had an easy matchup. That very well may continue in a matchup with Pyle, who has been very solid in the last two years, posting a 4-1 record. Joe Lauzon vs. Terry Etim: Both coming off of head kick knockout losses, Lauzon and Etim would provide an exciting matchup that would likely provide a round of the year candidate with the way these two start off in the first round. With 12 event bonuses between them, chances are this would also provide some extra cash for at least one of them following the fight.

Posted in: fight, loss, vs, matchup, okami

UFC 144 Results Recap: Tim Boetsch Vs. Yushin Okami

In the third fight of the pay per view broadcast of UFC 144, Tim Boetsch came from behind to finish Yushin Okami in the third round. The time of the stoppage was :54 in the third. Tim Boetsch was down on all score cards before landing several devastating uppercuts that knocked Yushin Okami out. The bout was the eighth of the evening. Yushin Okami spent the first ten minutes of his bout at UFC 144 dominating all aspects of the game. He dictated the first round with quick footwork and a snapping jab. Okami decided to impose his formidable grappling in the second round. Boetsch was able to defend against several choke attempts but ate big punches after Okami postured up from mount. With a clear deficit on the scorecards, Boetsch knew he needed a stoppage to get the victory in the third round. He connected on Okami with a powerful head kick that set off a flurry of uppercuts leading to a knockout victory. What was the high spot of the fight? Tim Boetsch's come from behind win over Yushin Okami. The finishing sequence was amazing and cements the fight as one of the top comeback victories in UFC history. Where do these guys go from here? The upset will propel Tim Boetsch into the top 10 of the division, whether he is deserving of such status or not. He'll likely have to face fighters such as Mark Munoz, Michael Bisping, or Chris Weidman. He's talented but I think most could agree that he didn't really have anything for Okami until the knockout. Having knockout power will keep things competitive but there's just too much talent at the top. Yushin Okami is in a completely different situation. He wasn't supposed to lose to Tim Boetsch. The fight was viewed as one to rebuild him. Now he's lost to the #23 middleweight in the world in shocking fashion and is on the first two fight losing streak of his career. He'll obviously bounce back but this one will be tough for him to come to terms with. Watch it now, later, or never? Are you kidding? Right now. Like immediately. Besides the main event there was no other moment as exciting as Tim Boetsch's knockout of Yushin Okami. SBN coverage of UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson More Bloody Elbow coverage after the jump... UFC 144 Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts - Matthew Roth UFC 144 Results: Frankie Edgar Doesn't 'Need' To Drop To Featherweight - Brent Brookhouse UFC 144 Results: Rampage Jackson Goes Out Like A Lamb In Loss To Ryan Bader - Nate Wilcox UFC 144 Results: Ben Henderson And Anthony Pettis Ready For Rematch - Nate Wilcox UFC 144: Edgar Vs. Henderson Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse UFC 144 Results: Dana White Says Anthony Pettis Will 'Likely' Get Next UFC Lightweight Title Shot - Bloody Elbow UFC 144 Post-Fight Press Conference Video UFC Japan Video: Georges St. Pierre Gets Attacked By A Mob Of Kids With Samurai Foam Swords - Bloody Elbow Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 139: UFC 144 Results Review UFC 144 Results: Ryan Bader Dominates Rampage Jackson To Decision - Matthew Roth UFC 144 Results: Mark Hunt Knocks Out Cheick Kongo In The First Round - Matthew Roth UFC 144 Results: Jake Shields Wins Hard Fought Decision Over Yoshihiro Akiyama - Matthew Roth UFC 144 Results: Tim Boetsch Upsets Yushin Okami In The Third Round - Matthew Roth UFC 144 Post-Fight Press Conference Video UFC 144 Results: Hatsu Hioki Defeats Bart Palaszewski By Unanimous Decision - Matthew Roth UFC 144 Results: Anthony Pettis Knocks Out Joe Lauzon In The First Round - Matthew Roth UFC 144 Results: Takanori Gomi Stops Eiji Mitsuoka In The Second - Matthew Roth UFC 144 Results: Vaughan Lee Submits Kid Yamamoto With An Armbar - Matthew Roth UFC 144 Results: Riki Fukuda Dominates Steve Cantwell To Decision - Matthew Roth UFC 144 Results: Chris Cariaso Defeats Takeya Mizugaki By Unanimous Decision - Matthew Roth UFC 144 Results: Issei Tamura Knocks Out Tiequan Zhang - Matthew Roth

Posted in: ufc, result, matthew, roth, okami

GIF of Boetsch's Crazy Uppercuts on Okami!

submitted by LittleHoss [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: boetsch, gif, littlehos, uppercut, okami

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Tim Boetsch and the Jack Johnson Uppercut

Last night, Tim Boetsch came back from being significant outstruck by the rangey jab of the taller, bulkier Yushin Okami. Okami had been utilizing a southpaw jab all night, something which only typically only works for truly great strikers or against pretty mediocre ones. Okami occasionally ate a heavy right hook counter to his continuous jabbing efforts, but things looked grim for Boetsch as Okami started mixing in heavy body kicks. Then, once the Japanese middleweight had stunned Boetsch on the feet and was failing to land through Boetsch's covering up, Okami threw some beautiful hooks to the body. The sign of an intelligent fighter is to take all the free body shots your opponent lets you while he is covering his head (something Kid Yamamoto failed to do when he had Vaughn Lee hurt earlier in the night. Out of seemingly nowhere however, Boetsch stunned the bigger, sharper Okami and proceeded to provide a terrific finish, laying the Japanese fighter out against the fence. While for the most part Boetsch was significantly outstruck, he did show a brilliant infighting technique in finishing the fight. Okami is an amazing fighter when he turns to blanket mode - he can smother his opponents without allowing them to get anything off, and it was this ability to smother an opponent which Boetsch had to navigate his way around while he had Okami wobbling. While Okami tried - like a smart fighter should - to tie his foe up, Boetsch cross-faced Okami and utilized a technique which hasn't been seen much in boxing for many years; the infighting uppercut made famous by Jack Johnson. Jack Johnson was the first black heavyweight champion of the world and an incredibly controversial figure both inside and outside of the ring. He was known as a defensive genius and this was largely due to his ability to tie his opponents up at will and do damage there. As much a wrestler as a pure boxer, he used underhooks, headfighting and bicep control to destroy Jim Jeffries - undefeated heavyweight champion of the world and a man who enlisted Frank Gotch and Farmer Burns as wrestling sparring partners in his camps. Both Johnson and Jeffries understood the value of wrestling to a fighter. Johnson's money punch was an uppercut from infighting range while holding his opponent just as Boetsch did. Notice how Boetsch turns his hips so far that it looks as it he is going to throw it perpendicular to Okami. Now see this nicely posed photograph of Johnson demonstrating his technique for the San Francisco Call during the build up to his fight with Stanley Ketchel. The author feels that this technique, once it is fully recognized will be a powerful weapon for sprawl and brawlers. By turning the hips all the way through as if to throw the punch to someone standing on the opposite side of ones body it is possible to get an incredibly powerful uppercut in a much tighter space than if one were throwing it square on to the opponent. Mark Hunt knocked out Chris Tuchscherer with this same technique in a very short space while Chris was shooting in on him last year. Johnson was an absolute master at these short range, full body uppercuts and it is highly recommended that you watch his videos - the man was dirty boxing in an era of swingers. Johnson was so powerful in the clinch that he often literally held his opponents up when they were about to fall simply so that they didn't get away with an 8 count break from his assault. Here is a video of his destruction of Tommy Burns, Johnson really hits his stride against the Canadian at around the 1:55 mark. Brutal uppercuts from then on. Jack Johnson vs Tommy Burns (1908) (via JKDTaoist) Jack Slack breaks down striking strategy and technique at his websitewww.fightsgoneby.com He can also be found on Twitter @JackSlackMMA

Posted in: technique, johnson, opponent, boetsch, okami

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UFC 144 results: Tim Boetsch now a contender at middleweight after Yushin Okami comeback knockout

Sometimes it's as much a case of where you do it as much as what you're doing in the first place. And for Tim Boetsch, the hard-charging middleweight made a huge statement last night (Sat., Feb. 25, 2012) at UFC 144 against Yushin Okami that will go a long way in a relatively thin division. The UFC's 185-pound class is a weird one. The champion, Anderson Silva, is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, a man so wildly gifted and capable of doing anything that at times his aura itself paralyzes opponents. Witness Silva's hands-down, dare-you-to-swing-at-me visage moments before sending Okami to the showers, or his destructive pair of performances in the 205-pound division against Forrest Griffin and James Irvin. Last August, when I wrote that a Silva vs. Jon Jones showdown would be seriously discussed by the end of 2012, it was based on the mutual trajectories of two great fighters that will ultimately need each other, if for vastly different reasons. Silva will have to accept Jones, who seems poised to inherit the helm as the game's best fighter once "The Spider" retires. There's a lot of drop-off after the champ. The middleweights lack the depth of the lightweights, the scourge of rising young talent at welterweight, the veteran-heavy 205-pounders, and the excitement of the heavies. That's where Boetsch can take advantage. Top contender Chael Sonnen is expected to secure a rematch with Silva sometime this summer, but compared to other beltholders, betting-wise, Silva probably has more 7-1 mismatches at the sportsbook window than in any other champ's top 10. He's put a vast distance between himself and the rest of the weight class, and it doesn't help that three of the best, Luke Rockhold, Jacare Souza and Tim Kennedy, are currently mired in Strikeforce, a certifiable wasteland for the division. That's why Boetsch's comeback K.O. of Okami means a lot more than it would in any other division. It was equal parts inspiring and exciting. Personally, I'm fascinated with how they match Boetsch next. He's 3-0 at middleweight, and seems to have acclimated to the cut quite well since dropping from 205-pounds. A showdown against Mark Munoz would be a natural, because it's a win-win. Both are heavy-handed wrestlers. Boetsch probably has the better chin, Munoz the edge in takedowns, scrambles and ground-and-pound. But win or lose, Boetsch's performance Saturday night showed that with him, it isn't over until it's sure as hell over. That's the kind of guy that can generate some buzz, especially if Silva continues to steamroll title challengers. Jason Probst can be reached at Jason@jasonprobst.com or twitter.com/jasonprobst.

Posted in: silva, division, boetsch, middleweight, okami

UFC 144 results recap: Tim Boetsch vs Yushin Okami fight review and analysis

Of all the crazy fights that happened last night (Feb. 25, 2012) at UFC 144 in Saitama, Japan, only one of them had Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) commentator Joe Rogan marking out like a maniac, and that was the Middleweight match up between Tim Boetsch and Yushin Okami. Okami was coming off a failed attempt at the title and he looked sharp early on, crushing Boetsch over the course of the first two rounds as both Rogan and Goldberg were weaving a nice narrative of his brilliant response to the loss at the hands of Anderson Silva. But then Boetsch had to go and pull off by far the biggest comeback victory of 2012 thus far. So how did "The Barbarian" pull it off? And what happens next for both talented 185-pounders? Follow me after the jump for our Tim Boetsch vs. Yushin Okami UFC 144 post-fight review and analysis: Early on, it was the Yushin Okami show. "Thunder" danced around Boetsch, repeatedly scoring with jabs and straight punches which were not only landing, but they busted up the AMC Pankration fighter's face. Boetsch even admitted that one of the straight jabs even had him feeling woozy for a bit in his post-fight interview. If it wasn't bad enough that Boetsch was outstruck badly in the first round, the second round was even worse as Okami scored an early takedown and pummeled him with ground and pound for the majority of the five minute frame. He had now lost a round both via striking and grappling. While Boetsch did offer a few nice push kicks and front kicks, he wasn't really connecting with anything else and he knew it. Down two rounds to none, he knew he needed a finish, not just to stick to the gameplan and boy did he! "The Barbarian" came out a man possessed at the start of the third round, attacking Okami with a wide variety of strikes which included a beautiful head kick and a large volume of punches coming from different angles. Some of the strikes got through and stunned the former title challenger, and Boetsch poured it on, unloading with a flurry of blows along the fence and then putting a stamp on it by pinning Okami's head with his left hand while dishing out some of the most awkwardly brutal uppercuts of all time. The final uppercut sent Okami reeling to the canvas where Boetsch followed up with some ground and pound before the ref had seen enough. Seeing the first two rounds, you'd have never believed Tim Boetsch was capable of something like that, but thankfully his conditioning held up and he was able to catch Okami napping to score the improbable victory. For Yushin Okami, this loss has to be especially devastating. He was five minutes away from a dominant return performance to the Octagon and putting the loss to Anderson Silva behind him. His striking was better than ever, his grappling was on point and he looked terrific. He just couldn't finish the job. Hopefully, this loss isn't too discouraging as he was doing so many things right for the bout. Depending on how slowly the UFC wants to bring him back, I could see Okami facing anyone from Michael Bispoing, Demian Maia or Aaron Simpson next. For Tim Boetsch, that was exactly what someone needs to do when they're down on the cards. He was the paradigm of showcasing a sense of urgency and coming out with a mindset of "get the finish no matter what." Time and time again, we see fighters who are down on the cards just patiently follow the gameplan thinking things will magically turn around for them. It was refreshing to see someone throw caution to the wind because the gameplan wasn't working. Major props to Boetsch for stepping up when it mattered. With that huge victory, Boetsch has earned himself another top level opponent for his next fight. The timing could work out for him to battle Chris Weidman next. If that doesn't work out, perhaps Mark Munoz or the upcoming winner between Rousimar Palhares and Alan Belcher. It appears for now that "The Barbarian" is here to stay at 185 pounds. So what did you think, Maniacs? Did your jaws collectively hit the floor when Boetsch came out a man possessed in the third round? Where do you rank this fight in terms of best comebacks of all time? Sound off! For complete UFC 144 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.

Posted in: ufc, round, boetsch, okami, yushin

Tim Boetsch's Head Kick Set Comeback Over Yushin Okami in Motion

SAITAMA -- UFC middleweight contender Tim Boetsch spoke to MMA Fighting after his dramatic comeback win against Yushin Okami at UFC 144. Boetsch reveals he's never had to come back from that kind of deficit, what his corner told him before answering the bell for round 3,

Posted in: ufc, yushin okami, boetsch, tim, okami

Tim Boetsch Talks Comeback Win Over Okami at UFC 144

UFC middleweight Tim Boetsch talks with Megan Olivi about his unbelievable comeback win over Yushin Okami at UFC 144.

Posted in: ufc, yushin okami, megan olivi, tim, okami

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Tim Boetsch just won via dramatic 3rd round Shoryuken uppercuts

Everything Yushin Okami did for the first ten minutes of the fight worked perfectly. On the feet, on the ground, Okami had Tim Boetsch bleeding and going into the third round knowing he needed a finish or he was leaving Japan with a loss. As the bell rang to open the final round, Tim Boetsch marched forward, looked Yushin Okami straight in the eyes and uppercutted him to oblivion, Shoryuken style. We aren't sure if Tim picked up this ancient Japanese technique in his recent trip to Japan or if he's been pulling it off since back in the day when you had to put your quarter on the arcade cabinet to signify 'you're next'. Regardless of when he learned the technique, he employed it to perfection on Yushin Okami's face. Check out this unbelievable comeback in what is fast becoming a magical night in Tokyo, but aren't they all? [Source]

Posted in: round, tim boetsch, tim, okami, yushin

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UFC 144 results: Tim Boetsch knocks out Yushin Okami in comeback win for the ages

The UFC 144: "Edgar vs. Henderson" pay-per-view event going down tonight (Sat., Feb. 25, 2012) in Saitama, Japan, featured a middleweight contest pitting native son Yushin Okami against the always tough Tim Boetsch. "Thunder," of course, hadn't been seen since he was demoralized by Anderson Silva back at UFC 134 in Aug. 2011. Boetsch came in having settled in quite nicely at 185-pounds with a pair of solid decision victories. He'll never top this performance, though. That's because Boetsch got dominated for the first two rounds of the fight before saying screw it and going all "Barbarian" in the final frame. He landed roughly 25 shots to Okami's chin -- we're talking bombs, folks -- before "Thunder" dropped to the mat helpless. Unbelievable. It was clear from jump street that Okami's vaunted jab was back with a vengeance. It disappeared completely in the Silva fight but made a roaring comeback here, which is good because it gave him near complete control of the fight. Boetsch simply looked lost inside the Octagon with Okami, attempting to utilize head movement to avoid the "Thunder" but his efforts were futile. The first round clearly went to the Japanese superstar. The second saw Okami dominate in a different way. He shot in for a takedown that Boetsch attempted to combat with a guillotine choke. The problem, of course, is that the American expended all his energy going for it. It led to Okami getting out, gaining full mount and dropping bombs to end the round. Only a finish would save "The Barbarian." That's what his corner told him and that's exactly what he went out and did. Instead of laying back and staying patient, Boetsch came out and got his King Kong on with monster punches that landed hard and clean. He literally landed about 28 big shots until Okami dropped to the mat, knocked out. No doubt, this was one of the greatest comebacks in UFC history. Just awesome. Remember, too, to check out our ongoing live coverage of the UFC 144 main card action by clicking here.

Posted in: ufc, boetsch, middleweight contest, okami, bombs folks

UFC 144 Results: Tim Boetsch Stuns Yushin Okami in Dramatic Comeback

Yushin Okami dominated Tim Boetsch for two rounds at UFC 144 on Saturday night. Unfortunately for Okami, it was a three-round fight. In the third, Boetsch delivered a stunning turnaround and pummeled Okami with punches, finishing him on the ground for a dramatic third-round TKO. It was one of the great comeback performances in MMA history, as Boetsch had been completely destroyed for 10 minutes only to win the fight in the third round. It only took Boetsch 54 seconds in the third round to finish the fight. "I knew less than a knockout or finish would win that fight for me," Boetsch said afterward. "Yushin was beating me up for two rounds. But my heart was in it, I knew I could take him out if I just stuck with what I train to do. You see what happens if you do what you train to do." More Coverage: UFC 144 Results | Boetsch vs. Okami Live Blog Okami landed a hard jab in the early first round and as that continued to work, Okami continued to go back to it. The first round was all standing up, and it was all Okami: He landed repeated hard punches that Boetsch couldn't answer, and by the end of the round Boetsch had cuts on both cheeks. At the start of the second round Okami continued to batter Boetsch standing. Eventually Okami went in for a takedown and as they went to the ground Boetsch attempted a guillotine choke, but once Okami pulled his head free he was in a dominant position, and he transitioned to full mount, where he finished the round. It was another clear round for Okami. And then came the third round, in which Boetsch came out on the attack, landed hard punches that had Okami on the run, and then chased Okami down to land more punches, knock him down and finish him off on the ground. It was a brilliant comeback to cap off a great fight.

Posted in: fight, round, boetsch, punch, okami

UFC 144 Results: Tim Boetsch Upsets Yushin Okami In The Third Round

Tim Boetsch defeats Yushin Okami by TKO. The stoppage came at :54 in the third round. Tim Boetsch landed an early leg kick and straight right hand. Okami with a straight left that landed flush. Tim responded with a high left kick. A beautiful jab from Okami backed Boetsch up. Another and Boetsch put his back against the cage. One of the jabs opened a cut on Tim's cheek. Tim attempted to keep distance with teeps. Boetsch dropped for a takedown but Okami stepped out. Okami's boxing looked incredibly crisp early in the first. Two kicks to the body land for Tim Boetsch as does a leg kick. Okami with a head kick with may be the first time he's gone high with a kick in his UFC career. Boetsch countered with an overhand right but ate a heavy knee to the body as the first round ended. Tim Boetsch's cheeks were both cut as the second round began. Okami landed several straight punches before another heavy kick to the body. Boetsch clinched up but was muscled around the cage by the much stronger Okami. Okami dropped for the takedown but fell into a guillotine. Okami did well to survive allowing Boetsch to burn out his arms. Okami worked to pass to side control and set up a double wrist lock. Okami used the submission to pass to mount and threw punches to an arm triangle attempt. Dominant second round by Yushin Okami. The two fighters clinched to open the final round trading in the clinch. Tim Boetsch pushes forward with kicks and Okami is moving backwards. Boetsch kept the pressure and knocked Yushin Okami out with a ridiculous uppercut. Okami was OUT COLD! This was arguably one of the biggest comebacks in UFC history. It was also a huge upset. Tim Boetsch came back from adversity to steal the win in the final round. SBN coverage of UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson

Posted in: round, boetsch, tim, kick, okami

UFC 144 Live Blog: Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch Updates

SAITAMA -- This is the UFC 144 live blog for Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch, a middleweight bout on tonight's UFC pay-per-view from the Saitama Super Arena. Okami (26-6) is coming off a loss in a middleweight championship fight against Anderson Silva at UFC 134 last August. Boetsch (14-4) won both his fights last year, claiming decisions over Kendall Grove and Nick Ring. Follow the live blog below. More Coverage: UFC 144 Results | Latest UFC News Round 1: Boetsch paws forward with a jab and front kick. Okami comes back with a sharp left. Good right hand jab from Okami gives Boetsch something to think about. Boetsch tries to reset and Okami knocks him off with another right. Boetsch charges in with right hooks, but Okami avoids them well. Takedown attempt by Boetsch, and Okami shuts it down without much difficulty. Good one-two by Okami batters Boetsch. Okami seems to have a clear edge on the feet so far. Boetsch attacks the body with kicks. Short jab by Okami has Boetsch checking to see if his nose is still there. Boetsch is bleeding from his cheeks and clearly off-balance as the opening round ends. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Okami. Round 2: Round 3:

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UFC 144 fight card: Yushin Okami vs Tim Boetsch prediction, preview and breakdown

Two tough 185-pound fighters with similar styles, Yushin Okami, will tonight (Feb. 25, 2012) collide on the UFC 144 pay-per-view (PPV) main card, which is set to take place from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Don’t expect a standing match here because both are takedown and ground-and-pound specialists. Boetsch’s two wins since dropping to Middleweight have demonstrated that he is increasingly comfortable at the weight, and this is a step into the division’s elite class. Meanwhile, coming off a one-sided thrashing at the hands of division champion Anderson Silva, Okami will look to win the wrestling battle early and wear out "The Barbarian." Boetsch has bigger power and more variety in his strikes, but tends to be somewhat wild in his deliverly, almost as though he were a bar brawler. Okami depends on a very simple diet of one-two combinations – with mostly jabs as spacefinders and a low-risk counter – prior to forcing a clinch and takedown attempts. Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC 144 fight between Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch: The Breakdown Okami’s mental state after the Silva loss might be a consideration. Will he be gun-shy if nailed again? Will Boetsch, -- with a penchant for big bombs in crazy exchanges -- be able to capitalize on Okami’s limited stand up? Okami probably has a slight edge in mixed martial arts (MMA) grappling, and upper-body strength, but Boetsch has career upside in his favor. A fighter's third fight after dropping a weight class usually is when he really starts to put it together, and Boetsch has shown the kind of endurance and persistence to wear down foes in the third round in the two decisions he’s won at middle. That’s a compelling subplot, because grinding down opponents is precisely what Okami depends on to win fights. Fighting in front of his Japanese fans, will Okami feel pressured to be more exciting than normal, which can often backfire? The Pick Okami’s the Jon Fitch of the middleweight division -- a guy with a highly consistent style, not overly exciting, but exceptionally consistent (Johny Hendricks aside). He stuck around 185 and simply kept winning, for the most part, until getting his rematch with Silva, where he was dominated. However, he’s very composed and doesn’t make too many mistakes, and in a dogfight-style grappling match, unless you’re Chael Sonnen, you’re not going to outwrestle the guy. He’ll survive a few early wild exchanges with Boetsch, and get an early takedown to swing the momentum his way. Boetsch is tough and will survive, as Okami doesn’t do too much ground and pound, preferring to keep position and the top spot, but it will be enough to wear down Boetsch over the distance and take a comfortable if somewhat underwhelming decision. Okami via decision Be sure to join MMAmania.com this evening for LIVE, detailed UFC 144 results of all the "Edgar vs. Henderson" pay-per-view (PPV) action. It will include blow-by-blow coverage of the Facebook video stream, FX "Prelims" bouts, and of course, the PPV broadcast. We'll start RIGHT HERE at around 7:30 p.m. ET and carry straight on through early Sunday morning. See you later! Jason Probst can be reached at www.twitter.com/jasonprobst and at jason@jasonprobst.com.

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UFC 144 Fight Card Primer: Yushin Okami Vs. Tim Boetsch

If you were given the biggest opportunity of your life and came up short, how much motivation would you have the next time you had to go to work? Welcome to Yushin Okami's world. On one side you have an incredibly talented fighter who just can't climb that final hurdle, and on the other side you have...Redneck Judo! Yushin Okami (26-6, 10-3 UFC) meets Tim Boetsch (14-4, 5-3 UFC). Okami is currently ranked at number three at middleweight in the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, while Boetsch is currently holding down the number twenty three position. Okami isn't going anywhere with a win, but the Barbarian's stock could skyrocket if he's able to defeat Okami. This middleweight UFC 144 bout is the third fight of the main card, and will air live on pay per view. The PPV broadcast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. How do these two stack up? Okami: 30 years old | 6'2" | 72" reachBoetsch: 31 years old | 5'11" | 74" reach What have these two done recently? Okami: L - Anderson Silva (TKO) | W - Nate Marquardt (UD) | W - Mark Munoz (SD) Boetsch: W - Nick Ring (UD) | W - Kendall Grove (UD) | L - Phil Davis (SUB) How did these two get here? Yushin "Thunder" Okami is one of the few Japanese fighters that made the transition to North American MMA relatively early in his career. He entered the UFC in late 2006 and rattled off four straight wins before losing a number one contender's bout to former champion Rich Franklin. He then racked up three more wins, but lost to Chael Sonnen. Two more wins got him another number one contenders bout, this time against Nate Marquardt at UFC 122. He won this one though, which earned him a rematch with Anderson Silva at UFC 134 (he held a win over Silva via DQ long ago). Unfortunately he looked very tentative and Silva knocked him out in the second round. This is his first bout since that loss. Tim "The Barbarian" Boetsch won over the hearts of fans everywhere when he dumped David Heath on his head in his UFC debut at UFC 81. Unfortunately, losses to Matt Hamill and Jason Brilz ushered him out of the organization the next year. Three wins on the regional circuit earned him a second chance, and a win over Todd Brown had people interested, but uber-prospect Phil Davis shut him down in his next fight and submitted him. This led to the Barbarian dropping some pounds and going down to 185. Two solid wins quickly established him as a contender at 185, and he now gets the chance of a lifetime against a top five fighter. Why should you care? It'll be interesting to see how Okami rebounds from the Silva loss. Plus, Redneck Judo! You can catch more UFC 144 preview content from Bloody Elbow after the jump. SBN coverage of UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson UFC 144: Rampage Jackson Misses Weight By Five Pounds, Loses 20% Of Purse While Fight Goes On - Brent Brookhouse UFC 144 Weigh-In Video And Coverage - Tim Burke UFC 144: Anthony Pettis Vs. Joe Lauzon Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 144: The Bloody Elbow Judo Chops Of Frankie Edgar Vs. Ben Henderson - Fraser Coffeen UFC 144: Edgar Vs. Henderson Staff Predictions - Tim Burke UFC 144: Jake Shields Wants UFC To Make Sure Yoshihiro Akiyama Doesn't Cheat - Brent Brookhouse UFC 144: Yushin Okami Vs. Tim Boetsch Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 144 Video: Dana White Video Blog Episode 2 - Kid Nate UFC 144: Rampage Jackson On The Streets Of Tokyo - Kid Nate UFC 144: Dana White Wants You To Know The UFC Didn't Kill PRIDE - Brent Brookhouse UFC 144: The Epic Drama Of Yoshihiro Akiyama - Fraser Coffeen UFC 144: Is Frankie Edgar Being Underrated Against Ben Henderson? - Fraser Coffeen UFC 144: Hatsu Hioki Vs. Bart Palaszewski Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 144 Roundtable: Can The UFC Succeed In Japan? - Tim Burke UFC 144 Predictions: Pros Slightly Favor Frankie Edgar To Beat Ben Henderson - Brent Brookhouse UFC 144: Takanori Gomi Vs. Eiji Mitsuoka Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 144 Judo Chop: Benson Henderson And The Miracle of Survival Part 2 of 2 - Ben Thapa UFC 144 Video: Under PRIDE Rules, Rampage Jackson Dominates Fight Against Ryan Bader - Anton Tabuena UFC 144 Video: Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson Fight Simulation And Prediction - Anton Tabuena UFC 144 Pre-Fight Press Conference Video - Tim Burke UFC 144: Yoshihiro Akiyama Leads The UFC Back To Japan - Kid Nate UFC 144: Should The Winner Of Joe Lauzon Vs. Anthony Pettis Get The Next Title Shot? - Brent Brookhouse UFC 144: Norifumi 'Kid' Yamamoto Vs. Vaughan Lee Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 144: Riki Fukuda Vs. Steve Cantwell Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 144 Judo Chop: Benson Henderson And The Miracle Of Survival Part 1 of 2 - Ben Thapa UFC 144: Edgar Vs. Henderson Countdown Show Full Video - Anton Tabuena UFC 144: Edgar Vs. Henderson Betting Lines - Tim Burke UFC 144: Rampage Jackson Is A Death Sentence For Ryan Bader According To Michael Bisping - Brent Brookhouse UFC 144 Manga-Style Promo Video - Kid Nate UFC 144: Takeya Mizugaki Vs. Chris Cariaso Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 144: Tiequan Zhang Vs. Issei Tamura Dissection - Dallas Winston

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UFC 144: Yushin Okami Vs. Tim Boetsch Dissection

UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson will stage the return of the UFC's most successful Japanese competitor in middleweight Yushin Okami, who's paired with 205-pound crossover Tim Boetsch. The match up adorns Saturday night's main card offering from the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo. Yushin Okami (26-6) has slowly permeated into the upper echelon of the world rankings since he set up shop with the UFC back in 2006. Okami paraded in with a lustrous nineteen-fight record highlighted by sixteen wins and fresh off a memorable second-place finish in the Rumble on the Rock 175-pound tournament. Okami advanced in the opening round of the Hawaiian promotion's stacked Grand Prix with a controversial win over current middleweight monarch Anderson Silva. "The Spider" sliced an illegal up-kick from his back and was disqualified when Okami couldn't continue, and future dual-class juggernaut Jake Shields out-hustled Okami via decision to clench the tournament championship. At the time of his promotional debut at UFC 62, Okami's three career defeats were all dealt by reputable, UFC-caliber opposition: Shields, Hawaiian Falaniko Vitale and Red Devil Sport Club's Amar Suloev. Okami's tour of duty in the Octagon is thirteen deep with ten victories. His three UFC losses are of a highly respectable nature as well, as only former champ Rich Franklin and the best two middleweights in the world (Chael Sonnen and Silva in the rematch) have topped him. More UFC 144 Dissections Hioki vs. Palaszewski | Gomi vs. Mitsuoka | Yamamoto vs. Lee | Fukuda vs. Cantwell Mizugaki vs. Cariaso | Zhang vs. Tamura Tim Boetsch (14-4) debuted at UFC 81 as a light-heavyweight who'd only been beaten by Vladimir Matyushenko. "The Barbarian" suggested just another cliché, tough-guy nickname until the barrel-chested Boetsch snorted like an antagonized musk ox, flung David Heath airborne across the cage and bludgeoned him senseless with strikes. Then it made perfect sense. The tastefully uncivilized thrasing was a hit with fans and Boetsch emerged as an appreciated addition. The former Lock Haven University wrestler became a Matt Hume student at AMC Pankration and began his career with six straight stoppages (three subs and TKOs apiece, four in the first frame) before encountering Matyushenko in the IFL. He faced a steep challenge after dusting Heath in the form of a short-notice match with Matt Hamill. He would fall in the second and go on to win one (Michael Patt by first-round clubbing) but lose the following (Jason Brilz, unanimous decision) and receive his walking papers. Racking up two quick stoppages outside the UFC, Boetsch reappeared and split results again (decision win over Todd Browne, submission loss to Phil Davis) but this time declared that he would drop twenty and become a middleweight. Dominant decisions over Kendall Grove and Nick Ring in his last two proved the choice to be a wise one. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson The patient stalking we see from Okami to the right accounts for the bulk of his strategy. Throughout his half-decade in the Octagon, Okami has whittled his striking into a very simple but effective boxing onslaught. He rolled out a markedly improved set of hands against Lucio Linhares and has been increasingly confident on the feet ever since. This was a landmark evolution for Okami, who was previously defined as a strong Judoka and wrestler with weak-to-mediocre stand up. The end result was not just being a more diverse threat, but it gave Okami the ability to fluidly transition into takedowns and/or tie-ups, whereas he'd forced those initiatives in the past and opponents knew it was coming. In the gif above, Okami throws short, controlled bursts of laser-straight one-twos and uses them to steer Marquardt into the fence before dropping levels for a double. He's been flicking out his long jab regularly and effectively and, after plugging with straight punches, Okami switches it up to the left by leading with a beautiful uppercut. Though it's not the most pronounced variable, Okami is chillingly composed and methodical with his boxing. Drawing on the immovable base from his black belt in Judo, he never gets off-balance and measures his footwork carefully while striking so that he's always poised to defend an incoming takedown or shoot one of his own. If anything, Okami has been a little too calculative in the stand up; at times it seems he could benefit from amping up his aggression, but he's unshakably judicious in his output and strike selection. The following two Judo Chops are imperative reading material on Okami's two core competencies: striking and top-side grappling tactics. They're wonderfully in-depth with an endless amount of gifs but too much so to include here and will serve better as an secondary analysis. Judo Chop: Yushin Okami's Improved Striking Acumen by Kid Nate Judo Chop: Yushin Okami's Library of Guard Attacks by K.J. Gould If you put Tim Boetsch's four career defeats under the microscope, there is a glaring, common theme in each: they were all dealt by beefy wrestlers whom he could not take down. Matyushenko, Hamill, Brilz and Davis all staved off his takedown attempts and either dabbed him up on the feet or put him on his back. Okami is atop the division for excelling with that exact medley of attributes and, on paper, should have the superior level of striking and wrestling. Really, though you'd be hard-pressed to confuse the two in a lineup, Boetsch and Okami have an identical set of goals in a fight, which is to grease the rails for clinching or takedowns with their striking. Both are ridiculously powerful for the weight class and their strength plays a large role, with the salient differences being that Okami is taller (6'2" vs. 5'11") but Boetsch is beefier with a longer reach (74" vs. 72"). Additionally, Boetsch brings an unorthodox Jeet Kune Do base in striking, a traditional D1 wrestling background and the primitive savagery of an angry caveman. In his losses, Boetsch struggled to close distance because he lacked the icy composure and balance that Okami has. He typically barges forward with a wicked array of big punches and looks to maul in the clinch rather than methodically seek ideal openings from ideal positions with technical striking and footwork. Boetsch does have a substantial power advantage on the feet and could catch Okami, but "Thunder" has a strong beard and the more polished and accurate striking. Looking at Okami's defeats, he was finished via TKO by Anderson Silva and way back in 2003 against Suloev, a perilous striker, and out-muscled by athletic fighters (Vitale) or elite grapplers (Sonnen, Shields). Boetsch does fit the bill for the latter two categories. To summarize, it just seems like Okami has a better chance of imposing his will: his movement, footwork and striking are tighter and his clinch game and grappling are more technical and more proven against A-list competition. My Prediction: Yushin Okami by decision. http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/8/24/2379802/ufc-134-rio-judo-chop-yushin-okami-anderson-silva-attacking-guard http://campizonemma.blogspot.com/2010/11/nate-marquardt-vs-yushin-okami-ufc-122.html Poll Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch Okami Boetsch 34 votes | Results

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Fight Day: Yushin Okami UFC 144 Pre-Fight Video Interview

Former top middleweight contender Yushin Okami catches up with HeavyMMA's Megan Olivi in Tokyo to talk about his UFC 144 fight against Tim Boetsch in Japan.

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Yushin Okami Says He Learned 'So Much' From Loss to Anderson Silva

TOKYO -- Yushin Okami talks about his UFC 144 fight against Tim Boetsch, training with Chael Sonnen at Team Quest and bouncing back from a loss to middleweight champion Anderson Silva.Check out the one-on-one interview below.

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Okami UFC 144 Pre-Fight Interview

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UFC 144 Preview: Yoshihiro Akiyama/Jake Shields and Yushin Okami/Tim Boetsch

MMAFrenzy kicks off our main card coverage of UFC 144 with a pair of breakdowns of Saturday’s card. Each day we will breakdown a pair of fights leading up to our breakdown of the UFC lightweight title fight between Ben Henderson and champion Frankie Edgar. Today we take a look at a pair of fights with Yoshihiro Akiyama versus Jake Shields and Yushin Okami versus Tim Boetsch. MMAFrenzy’s coverage of UFC 144 will begin with the Facebook and FX broadcast preliminary fights. Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy for complete coverage of UFC 144. Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields Keys for Akyiama (Bryan Robison) - Akiyama has had quite a tough slate during his UFC career, facing four top middleweight contenders in the last two and a half years. While he did put on three “Fight of the Night” performances, he ended up on the losing end in two of those. The caliber of opponent gets no easier when facing Jake Shields. But fortunately for Akiyama, he does not have to worry about being punched in the face a thousand times like he faced when taking on Vitor Belfort. With Shields, the longer the fight stays standing, the better Akiyama is served. After years of winning outside of the UFC, and eventually fighting for the UFC welterweight title, Shields striking is still very rudimentary. Akiyama can take advantage of that, with a strong striking pedigree that includes 5 knockouts during his career. Plus, with a world-class Judo background, can take Shields to the ground and overpower the American. As long he stays off his back, Akiyama stands a strong chance in his welterweight debut. Keys for Shields (CL) – Shields is coming off one of the hardest losses of his career. Shields was knocked out cold for the first time in his career and lost two fights in a row for the first time in his career as well. Shields entered his fight with Jake Ellenberger with a heavy heart, due to his dad’s death, and no matter what he said it affected his training. Shields has taken some time to grieve now and is now looking to return to his winning ways, and improve on his 1-1-1 all-time record in Japan. The best way for Shields to do this is by drawing the fight out as long as possible. Akiyama has never been known for his endurance whereas Shields is known for being a workhorse. A big part of this fight will be the grappling game, and Akiyama is known as a particularly slick grappler. A judoka’s main grappling strength lies in the clinch, and generally, it’s a good idea to avoid all grappling with a good judoka. With that said, if you drop low on a low single, most judokas are generally out of their comfort zone. If Shields can set this up, he can use his impressive top game to control Akiyama and generally frustrate the Japanese fighter on his home turf. While Shields is not the best striker, he has been working on his striking game. Akiyama has a brawling style of striking that uses wild power strikes as its weapon of choice. A great answer to this style is a solid jab. Shields has to be careful however, since his usual jab is a pawing open-handed jab and eye pokes could end the fight in a bad way. That said, if Shields can stifle Akiyama’s wild strikes it will only improve his chances of winning. Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch Keys for Boetsch (CL) - For whatever reason, the weight cut to middleweight has seemed to make Boetsch a smarter fighter. Boetsch now uses his usual powerful striking to set up some powerful wrestling and ground control. Okami is better at the Boetsch’s strengths but Boetsch is very aggressive and that aggressiveness can pay huge dividends if he uses it the proper way. Boetsch has to resist making the mistakes that Mark Munoz made in his fight with Okami. Boetsch cannot just rush in and desparately shoot for takedown after takedown. Instead, he must use his striking to work inside of Okami’s range and set up the takedown attempts by standing in the pocket and then dropping to a shot. If he can do that, expect Boetsch to have his hand raised in Saitama. Keys for Okami (BR) - For Okami, who returns to the cage for the first time since losing to Anderson Silva last August, he could not be facing a more different opponent this time around than in Tim Boetsch. Okami, who is overpowering in the clinch and looks to take the fight to the ground. He fights Boetsch, who is…overpowering in the clinch and looks to take the fight to the ground. So for Okami, who holds an advantage in striking, he will be able to utilize his quick and forceful jab, along with setting up his takedowns. He certainly will not be able to take Boetsch down at will, but he has faced many opponents over the last few years that have strong wrestling, and he has come out on the winning side most of the time.

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Jovial Yushin Okami credits Anderson Silva loss for new focus ahead of UFC 144

TOKYO - There was something obviously different about Yushin Okami the moment he walked into Wednesday's UFC 144 pre-event press conference in Tokyo. From the ever-present smile on his face to the boxing-heavy workout session (complete with Anderson Silva-esque arm-hanging and slick shoulder rolls), Okami was in a completely different zone. And it's not just for show, Okami said. Following his UFC 134 loss to middleweight champ Silva, "Thunder" believes he's a completely new man.

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Yushin Okami - Reborn

When he stepped into the Octagon to face UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva last August, Yushin Okami was there in body, but in spirit, it simply wasn’t the same fighter who defeated Lucio Linhares, Mark Munoz, and Nate Marquardt in succession to earn a shot at a championship no Japanese fighter had ever secured.“In terms of the mental, my vision got very narrow,” said Okami through translator / jiu-jitsu coach Gen Isono. “I was confused and I lost what I should do there.”Silva can do that to any fighter, and he’s been doing it longer than anyone in UFC history, so for Okami to get stopped via strikes at 2:04 of the second round by “The Spider” was no reason for him to hang his head. That doesn’t mean he just dismissed the loss though; instead, he dusted himself off, and after a month’s rest to reflect, he began training again at Portland’s Team Quest gym.“About a month later, I started training at Team Quest, and then I could put things in perspective,” said Okami, who doesn’t look at the nearly ten month gap between his win over Marquardt and the fight with Silva as a factor in his defeat. That’s no surprise, as he’s not the kind of athlete who makes excuses. He’s one that takes his lessons and moves on. He did it after his first UFC loss to Rich Franklin in 2007, repeated the feat following a 2009 loss to future training partner Chael Sonnen, and now he begins the trek back to the top once again this Saturday, when he battles Tim Boetsch in UFC 144 action at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, Okami’s first bout on home shores since a TKO win over Izuru Takeuchi in June of 2006.“It will be the first time in five and a half years,” said Okami of fighting at home. “I always wanted the UFC to come to Japan and I always wanted Japanese fans to enjoy watching my fights. Sweeping away my last loss in Japan with a lot of cheering on my back, it will give me a sense of satisfaction.” It’s a special moment for the 30-year old Okami, who has basically been the out-of-towner for the last 13 fights of his 27-6 career. That’s a long time for anyone to not be at least the home country favorite, but in the last five-plus years, Okami has built himself a level of respect among non-Japanese fans that has also earned him kudos from UFC President Dana White as the best Japanese fighter to ever compete in the Octagon. That’s high praise.“If Dana says so, it is a great honor to me,” said Okami. “But I believe myself I am the best fighter in Japan and will be the best fighter in the world, so that kind of reputation never gives me any pressure.”2012 will be a pivotal year for him though, beginning with his match against Boetsch, the underdog going into this fight, but someone who certainly shouldn’t be underestimated.“I have seen some of his fights in the UFC,” said Okami of “The Barbarian.” “He is big and physically strong and he has a good wrestling pedigree. He looks like a typical American-style fighter. I think he has a big frame with great power since he fought in the light heavyweight division, and I should be aware of his strength. Training with Team Quest, there are some changes in my mind about fighting and I am going to try them when I fight Tim.”Hoping to get three fights in this year, Okami is well aware that if he gets his wish, the next two are likely to be outside of his home country, so it’s back to being a road warrior. That’s okay though; he’s embracing his time at home and the task ahead, which is not just to beat Boetsch, but to let Japanese fans know that MMA in the Land of the Rising Sun is alive and well.“Japanese MMA has lost its vigor now,” he said. “But by touching the real MMA live, I believe it will grow back again.”And who better to bring it back than a resilient and classy fighter who represents the best the sport has to offer?“I have grown up in Japan, so every part of me is truly Japanese,” Okami said when asked about the Japanese fighting spirit. “In that sense, I think I carry through the way of fighting which I believe represents a Japanese fighter’s spirit. And I hope the fans enjoy watching a reborn Yushin Okami walking to the top again."

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UFC 144 fight card: Yushin Okami vs Tim Boetsch preview

Two middleweights going in completely different directions will meet this Saturday night (Feb. 25, 2012) at the Saitama Super Arena when recent title challenger Yushin Okami takes on Tim Boetsch on the main card of UFC 144 in Saitama, Japan.Okami finally earned his long-awaited title shot last August, although he fell short in a big way against Anderson Silva. He's never lost two straight in his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) career and he's hoping to keep that tradition alive when he steps in against the very powerful Boetsch. Boetsch is undefeated in the UFC ever since dropping down to middleweight. The burly brawler possesses some of the most powerful throws in the middleweight division and he's really starting to come into his own. He's hoping to become a key player in the division if he can slip past "Thunder." Will Okami bring the heat in bouncing back from his recent championship defeat? Can "The Barbarian" enter hostile territory and conquer Okami on his home turf? How does each man win on Saturday night? Find out inside: Yushin Okami Record: 26-6 overall, 10-3 in the UFC Key Wins: Mark Munoz (UFC on Versus 2), Nate Marquardt (UFC 122), Alan Belcher (UFC 62) Key Losses: Anderson Silva (UFC 134), Chael Sonnen (UFC 104), Rich Franklin (UFC 72) How he got here: With a strong history in wrestling, Yushin Okami began his career competing primarily in Japan, where he made appearances with the Pride, Pancrase and GCM promotions. His most notable early career appearance was during the infamous Rumble on the Rock event where he was struck by Anderson Silva with an illegal blow to win via disqualification. He would lose in the next round to Jake Shields, but undeterred, he won his next two fights which earned him an invite to the UFC, where he defeated Alan Belcher via unanimous decision in his promotion debut. While in the UFC, Okami was always doing just enough to be in the talks for title contention, but never quite getting over the top of the hill and get his shot. He didn't exactly have the most fan-friendly fighting style with his wrestling, top control and more pressure-based striking attack in the stand-up. At UFC 72, he had a four fight promotional win streak snapped by Rich Franklin which would have given him a title shot. After another three fight winning streak, he would be derailed once more by Chael Sonnen at UFC 104. The Japanese grinder would move to Team Quest after the Sonnen defeat and put together another solid three fight winning streak, this time knocking off top middleweights Mark Munoz and Nate Marquardt to finally capture his title shot. Unfortunately, the rematch with Anderson Silva did not go very well as Okami was humiliated by "The Spider" via second round technical knockout in a bout he was not competitive in whatsoever. He'll be hoping to get back on track by taking on the upstart Tim Boetsch this Saturday night in his native Japan. How he gets it done: Okami has some crisp boxing and some terrific top control-based takedowns. I think the biggest advantage he has in this fight is his punching in the stand-up and his speed. While he wasn't able to get anything going in the striking department against Anderson Silva, Tim Boetsch is about as far away from Silva as you can get. Expect Okami to have a huge speed disparity in this fight and if he can keep some constant movement going, whether it's changes in direction or constant circling, he can really work some angles and land nice punches in the stand-up at will. While it's not where he has the biggest strength in this fight, I wouldn't be surprised to see Okami get inside and test himself against Boetsch's wrestling and judo skills. He'll be fighting in front of his home crowd and will likely want to showcase his entire offensive arsenal in this fight. If he can put Boetsch on his back, he has the skills to keep him there. Primarily, though, I'd like to see Okami utilize his superior boxing and pepper away at Boetsch with with a large volume of sharp jabs and crosses. Tim Boetsch Record: 14-4 overall, 5-3 in the UFC Key Wins: Kendall Grove (UFC 130), Nick Ring (UFC 123), David Heath (UFC 81) Key Losses: Phil Davis (UFC 123), Jason Brilz (UFC 96), Matt Hamill (UFC Fight Night 13) How he got here: A natural athlete, Tim Boetsch tore through the local scene in New Jersey to start out his career before earning the opportunity of a lifetime when he stepped in on three days' notice to fight Vladimir Matyushenko at an IFL event East Rutherford. He would lose a decision to "The Janitory," but it proved that he could hang with the big boys. Just five months later, "The Barbarian" was making his UFC debut against David Heath where he proceeded to lay a beatdown on the veteran, finishing him off with a series of knees and one of the most violent tosses you'll ever see, which won over a wide margin of MMA fans. Perhaps thrown into the deep end too quickly, Boetsch would go 2-2 in his first UFC stint, losing to both Matt Hamill and Jason Brilz, but it would only take him one year away from the promotion where he stopped all three of his opponents to earn another invite. He went 1-1 at light heavyweight, but was overpowered by Phil Davis, which convinced him to make the cut to 185 pounds. Since dropping down, Boetsch has won consecutive decisions over the likes of Kendall Grove and Nick Ring to go on the first UFC winning streak of his young career. The AMC Pankration fighter is going to find out exactly what he's made of this Saturday night when he takes on former title challenger Yushin Okami. How he gets it done: Tim Boetsch is not the fastest fighter out there, but he might be one of the strongest middleweights in the UFC. To take advantage of that, he needs to close the distance and get inside against Okami. If he can get inside, he possesses some powerful knees and his clinch is very dangerous, as we've seen him toss multiple people across the Octagon in his UFC career thus far. "The Barbarian" has some tricky judo attacks which can come from strange angles and catch his opponents off guard. If he can't get inside immediately, don't be surprised to see Boetsch throw some nice push or front kicks as he can really snap his lead leg out there surprisingly quickly. The most important thing for Boetsh is to get inside and try to dump Okami on his back. If he can do that and keep him there, he might be strong enough to take a decision victory, although it sure as hell won't be easy. Fight X-Factor: The biggest factor for this fight has to be Okami's confidence. He finally got his title shot last August and he got completely destroyed by Anderson Silva in such a dominant way that he looked like he didn't belong in the same arena as the champion. That's got to do some serious damage to someone psychologically. If Okami is still shell-shocked from that loss, it could create a perfect opportunity for Boetsch to swoop in and pull off a tremendous upset. "Thunder" is a great fighter, but it's not easy to get back into the cage with the same level of confidence you once had after such a humbling defeat. How he handles it will be a very telling sign in how this fight plays out. Bottom Line: This fight could go in all sorts of directions. Okami has showcased some better overall boxing skills ever since transitioning over to Team Quest so he is slightly more exciting in the stand-up department, but he's never going to be the kind of fighter that most fans buy pay-per-views to see compete. Tim Boetsch is capable of random spurts of amazing, as evidenced by some of his finishes or his throws, but he's also been a much more cautious fighter since dropping down to 185 pounds and his fights haven't been the most exciting ever. I'd say it's about 50/50 that this fight ends up being entertaining and that's being generous. Who will come out on top at UFC 144? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Which top middleweight will be victorious on Saturday night at UFC 144 in Japan? Yushin Okami Tim Boetsch 3 votes | Results

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Tim Boetsch: Strength Will Be a Factor Against Yushin Okami

Tim Boetsch didn’t hesitate to accept the UFC’s offer to match him against Yushin Okami at UFC 144.

Posted in: ufc, yushin okami, boetsch, tim, okami

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Tim Boetsch: I'm Going to Smash Yushin Okami

For the first time since December 16th, 2000, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to the birthplace of mixed martial arts for UFC 144. In one of seven main card bouts, Tim Boetsch (14-4) will meet Japan's own Yushin Okami (26-6) for a middleweight showdown.

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“It is difficult for me to say my prediction, because I was defeated by Anderson. If I tell you how I truly think a Sonnen-Anderson rematch would go, it would make me feel sad.” Okami

submitted by muayguy [link] [4 comments]

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Yushin Okami: UFC Will Bring the Heat in Japan

Filed under: UFCSeveral UFC fighters met the media in Japan over the weekend to promote the Feb. 26 UFC 144 show at the Saitama Super Arena, and one of the big questions facing the promotion is whether it can engage Japanese fans who have largely turned away from combat sports in recent years. One of the Japanese fighters on the show, Yushin Okami, thinks there is no question that the UFC will deliver just the kind of product that Japanese fans want. "It's been a while since I've fought in Japan, so I'm excited. I would love to bring the heat and atmosphere of the real UFC over to Japan," Okami said at the UFC's press conference (audio via DanielHerbertson.com). Okami has been the most successful Japanese fighter in the UFC, going 10-3 inside the Octagon and losing only to Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen and Rich Franklin. But his long-term success in the UFC may actually make him less known to fans in his home country because he hasn't fought back home in almost six years. While other successful Japanese MMA fighters have been fighting in front of Japanese fans, Okami has been fighting in the United States, with occasional stops in Ireland, Germany and Brazil. And Okami was never a big star in Japan, fighting only a couple of low-profile bouts in Pride. So Okami's name won't move the needle in Japan, but his fight with Tim Boesch is a good middleweight matchup, and the card -- headlined by Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson -- is very impressive from top to bottom. What the UFC is bringing to Japan is just a very good fight card, the best that Japanese fans have seen in a long time. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Yushin Okami heading home for next fight with bout at UFC 144

Fresh off a devastating defeat to Anderson Silva in Brazil at UFC 134, Japanese middleweight Yushin Okami will now get a shot to pick up a victory in front of his own hometown crowd as he has agreed to face Tim Boetsch when the UFC heads to Japan in 2012 for UFC 144. The UFC revealed the February 26 fight earlier today. The 30-year old Okami is 26-6 in his career with wins inside the Octagon against Alan Belcher, Evan Tanner, Mike Swick, Mark Munoz, and Nate Marquardt. His strike-based stoppage to Silva was the first time he’d been finished in eight years meaning Boestch will certainly have his hands full in Saitama Super Arena. UFC President Says Okami is Best Fighter to Ever Come Out of Japan However, Boestch is no stranger to finishing his foes off with six TKOs and five submissions in fourteen total victories. “The Barbarian” is 2-0 since dropping to middleweight with his most recent outing featuring a Unanimous Decision over Nick Ring at UFC 135. Okami is the second Japanese fighter named to the UFC 144 lineup, as Yoshihiro Akiyama was recently announced to be facing Jake Shields on the card. The event will be headlined by Frankie Edgar defending his lightweight belt against former WEC champion Ben Henderson. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch On Tap for UFC 144 in Japan

Yesterday came word of a top Japanese fighter getting his place on the UFC 144 card in Japan. Today, another one was booked for the card, and he's going to be facing a Barbarian on February 26th. UFC.com with the info: Middleweight contender Yushin Okami will get a home game in his first bout since his UFC 134 clash with Anderson Silva when he takes on Tim Boetsch in UFC 144 action on February 26th. "Undefeated since dropping down to middleweight, Tim ‘The Barbarian’ Boetsch has verbally agreed to face top three ranked Yushin ‘Thunder’ Okami February 26th in Tokyo, Japan," said UFC President Dana White. Okami will fight in Japan for the first time in almost six years when he steps into the octagon to face Boetch. His last fight on home soil was a TKO win over Izuru Takeuchi in June of 2006, the fight before he signed with the UFC. Okami is currently training in Japan with a litany of top fighters including Dong Hyun Kim, Yoshihiro Akiyama, and Tatsuya Kawajiri. Boetsch dropped to middleweight after a lopsided loss to Phil Davis at UFC 123 and has looked quite impressive so far. He thoroughly beat down both Kendall Grove and Nick Ring to take unanimous decisions in both bouts. This is a gigantic step up in competition for The Barbarian though. The card will be headlined by a UFC lightweight title fight between Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson. More SBN coverage of UFC 144

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Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boestch added to UFC 144

After winning his first two fights at 185 pounds Tim Boestch will get a significant test in the form of recent title-contender Yushin Okami with the added pressure of competing in Okami’s proverbial backyard, as the bout is scheduled to take place on February 26 at UFC 144 in Saitama, Japan. The UFC announced the match-up earlier today through their website. Okami is coming off a TKO loss to champion Anderson Silva, only the second time “Thunder” had been finished in more than thirty in-ring appearances. The 30-year old holds an overall record of 26-6 with a number of solid showings to his credit including victories over Alan Belcher, Nate Marquardt, and Mark Munoz. Comparably, “The Barbarian” has won back-to-back bouts over Kendall Grove and Nick Ring after a decent run as a light heavyweight. Six of the 14-4 Boestch’s wins have involved a TKO with five others featuring a submission-based stoppage. UFC 144 is set to be headlined by lightweight champion Frankie Edgar putting his gold up for grabs against Ben Henderson, while Yoshihiro Akiyama will also make his welterweight debut on the card against talented grappler Jake Shields. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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UFC 144: Yushin Okami vs Tim Boetsch booked for Feb. 26 in Japan

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has announced a blockbuster middleweight match-up for its return to Japan, pitting former division number one contender Yushin Okami against the new-look Tim Boetsch in "Thunder's" homecoming fight. From UFC.com: "Undefeated since dropping down to middleweight, Tim ‘The Barbarian’ Boetsch has verbally agreed to face top three ranked Yushin ‘Thunder’ Okami February 26th in Tokyo, Japan," said UFC President Dana White. UFC 144, which takes place on Feb. 26, 2012, in Japan's Saitama Super Arena, is expected to air stateside on Saturday night (Feb. 25) in its usual pay-per-view time slot due to the difference in time zones. Okami (26-6) was kicked out of "Rio" after getting the lights dimmed by reigning division champion Anderson Silva in the main event of UFC 134 back in August. The loss snapped a three-fight winning streak for the Kanagawa crusher, who is 10-3 inside the Octagon with his only defeats coming to Silva, Chael Sonnen and Rich Franklin. Will he be able to deal with the new-and-improved "Barbarian?" Boetsch (14-4) was cranked and spanked by 205-pound phenom Phil Davis in November 2010, prompting the rough-and-tumble New Englander to shed some excess skin and try his luck at middleweight. The results thus far, have been stellar. He's already disposed of Kendall Grove and Nick Ring to cap off a perfect 2011 fight campaign and a decisive win over Okami could go a long way towards getting him "in the mix." UFC 144 is expected to be headlined by a 155-pound title fight featuring Ben Henderson, fresh off his unanimous decision win over Clay Guida, taking on reigning lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. In addition, Jake Shields returns to action against Yoshihiro Akiyama. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for future updates to this still-developing fight card.

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Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch Announced For UFC 144 In Japan

Anderson Silva’s most recent title challenger, Yushin Okami, will return to action next February when the UFC invades Japan. The UFC announced today that Okami will take on Tim Boetsch at UFC 144. “Undefeated since dropping down to middleweight, Tim ‘The Barbarian’ Boetsch has verbally agreed to face top three ranked Yushin ‘Thunder’ Okami February 26th in Tokyo, Japan,” said UFC President Dana White. Boetsch is on a two-fight win streak, but his wins have come against Kendall Grove and Nick Ring while Okami is 2-1 against the division’s upper crust in his last three outings. If it wasn’t already a tough enough fight for Boetsch, he’ll be meeting Okami on his home turf. At least Boetsch can take solace in the fact that the Japanese fans are quiet and peaceful unlike the wild and crazy crowds down in Brazil. Image for Sherdog

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Okami Draws Boetsch, Home Field Advantage for UFC 144

Yushin Okami will fight on Japanese soil for the first time since 2006 when he squares off against Tim Boetsch at UFC 144, promotion officials announced Tuesday.

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Yushin Okami to Face Tim Boetsch at UFC 144 in Japan

Just one day after the first local star (Yoshihiro Akiyama) was added to the UFC’s return to Japan, UFC officials announced today that another native will be coming home for UFC 144 in February, as former middleweight title challenger Yushin Okami will look to return to contention against Tim Boetsch. Okami (26-6) lost in his most recent bout, succumbing to strikes from middleweight champion Anderson Silva in their rematch at UFC 134 in August. Prior to that defeat, Okami won his previous three fights, and six of his last seven. He last fought in Japan in June 2006, his last match before joining the UFC. Tim Boetsch (12-4) made his middleweight debut in May at UFC 130, and has not lost since. He defeated Kendall Grove at that event, then went on to hand Nick Ring his first career loss at UFC 135 in September. Boetsch has four career losses, all to top opponents including Phil Davis, Matt Hammil, and Vladimir Matyushenko. All four of those losses were at light heavyweight. This will be the first fight outside of the United States for Boetsch, and the third straight fight outside of the country for Okami. UFC 144 will take place on February 26th in Saitama, Japan, and air live in the United States on the 25th. The main event will feature UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson and also includes Yoshihiro Akiyama taking on Jake Shields. For complete coverage of UFC 144, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

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Yushin Okami Returns Home for UFC 144 Bout

Returning to the Octagon for the first time since losing to Anderson Silva at UFC 134 in Rio, Yushin Okami will fight on home soil at UFC 144 in February.

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Yushin Okami to Face Tim Boetsch at UFC 144 in Japan

Filed under: UFC, NewsYushin Okami will take on Tim Boetsch in a middleweight bout at UFC 144 on Feb. 26, 2012 in Japan, UFC president Dana White said Tuesday on UFC.com. Okami (26-6), who is coming off a failed attempt in August to dethrone Anderson Silva, will be fighting in Japan for the first time since June 2006. Two months after the GCM fight in Tokyo, Okami joined the UFC and went on to compile a 10-3 record. Boetsch (14-4) out of AMC Pankration has reinvented himself as a middleweight this year, scoring wins over Kendall Grove and Nick Ring. The last time the UFC presented an event in Japan was back at UFC 29 in December 2000. In championship action at UFC 144, Frankie Edgar will defend his lightweight title against Ben Henderson. Yoshihiro Akiyama will also appear on the card, making his welterweight debut against Jake Shields. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, boetsch, japan, okami, tokyo okami