The Ultimate Fighting Championship is kicking off its 2014 campaign with UFC Fight Night 34, which will come from Marina Bay, Singapore. While some aren’t excited about the card because it doesn’t feature the bigest names in the sport, there are still quality fights to look forward to going into the event. For example, the co-main event of the card will involve Tatsuya Kawajiri, who is a legend in Japanese MMA, and his style should excite the mainstream American fans.
“Crusher” is a fighter that has nearly 14 years of professional experience, and during that career, he has become known for his violent, attacking style. At 35 years of age, he may be past his fighting prime, but he still has the ability to put on a show, which is just as important for the entertainment aspect of MMA. He’s riding a five-fight win streak into his UFC debut that includes some names that are prominent within the sport. Although his signing has flown under the radar, he’s one of the main fighters to watch this weekend.
With a record of 32 wins and 7 losses, Kawajiri displays a diversity that isn’t always seen within the sport. Twelve wins have come by some form knockout, ten by decision, and another nine by submission. His ledger includes some of the most important names that have graced the lighter weight classes of mixed martial arts. Michihiro Omigawa, Joachim Hansen, Josh Thomson, Gesias Cavalcante, and Yves Edwards have all been handled by Kawajiri at some point in time. And his defeats have come to fighters long considered among the best at lightweight, such as Eddie Alvarez, Gilbert Melendez, Takanori Gomi, and Shinya Aoki. That’s a resume that can easily compare to any of the current 145-pounders on the UFC roster.
Despite his long record of distinction at lightweight, debuting in the UFC’s featherweight division was a smart career move for Kawajiri. Although his lack of name recognition stateside will be a hurdle in terms of getting him a quick title shot, if he rattles off some dominating wins, he should quickly be considered among the best in the weight class. Potential opponents such as Dustin Poirier, Dennis Siver, and “The Korean Zombie” Chang Sung Jung are all worthwhile matchups for Kawajiri inside of the UFC in 2014. But first he has to get through the 8-0, also-debuting, Sean Soriano.
The UFC’s signing of Tatsuya Kawajiri wasn’t as widely-promoted as it should have been, but UFC Fight Night 34 is the prime opportunity to change that. The Japanese standout has an opportunity to blow the doors off in his Octagon debut and kick off what should be an interesting 2014 for the featherweight division.
• Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Sean Soriano
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UFC Fight Night 34: Saffiedine vs. Lim is due to take place on January 04, 2014 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC Fight Night 34 will be.
