I’m not a betting man (at least when it involves money) but I would be willing to guess that Yushin Okami, the last man to defeat Anderson Silva, is a major underdog going into their rematch this weekend. I mean, he’s only facing a guy who has won 14 fights in a row since 2006, the majority of which have ended with Silva making a highlight reel out of a world-class athlete. With that being said, what would an Okami victory do for the current state of MMA?
First, relax, because the universe would not collapse upon itself if Okami somehow found a way to pull out this victory. While many people believe he does not have a shot against one of the greatest combat sports athletes we have ever seen, that’s the reason why they step into the cage. Okami does present a challenge to Silva if he is able to absorb damage and score multiple takedowns. Unlike his training partner Chael Sonnen, he does have the ability to thwart submission attempts with his stifling top control. Call it a long shot, but he does have a chance to win this bout.
A victory by Okami would blow a hole in the hopes of pitting Georges St. Pierre against Silva. While the MMA community has been clamoring for this fight for at least the last two years, the fight isn’t any closer to happening. Both champions have cleared out the majority of the opposition in their weight classes, and victories for both fighters in their upcoming bouts would solidify that thought in the minds of the fans.
Another idea in the minds of MMA fans is that Okami is fighting for the “honor” of Japanese MMA. Looking at the fighters who were big names in Asia that have come across to the US, none of them have performed well, outside of Okami. The interesting thing is that he came to the UFC under the least amount of fanfare in comparison to others from his country. Quietly the man known as “Thunder” has amassed a 10-2 record inside the Octagon, defeating the likes of Alan Belcher, Nate Marquardt, Mark Munoz, and the late Evan Tanner. This resume is impressive in its own right, but possibly more so, knowing what Okami is currently carrying on his shoulders.
One of the most interesting aspects of mixed martial arts is the frequency in which upsets occur in the cage. Whether it’s by one fighter exceeding expectations or due to a judging miscue, it’s really difficult to predict what is going to happen. I’m looking forward to the title bout this weekend. Okami presents an interesting challenge to the champion, because a lot has changed for these two fighters over the past five years.
