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[jesusatemyhotdog]

Yoshiyuki Yoshida to UFC

Another Japanese prospect is set to cross the Pacific and land stateside.

In a tumultuous year for the Japanese MMA scene, Yoshiyuki Yoshida (Pictures) offered quite an unexpected bright spot. Now Yoshida's management has confirmed to Sherdog.com that the 170-pound Cage Force tournament champion has been offered a four-fight deal with Zuffa and the UFC.

Greatest Common Multiple based its 2007 schedule around its Cage Force tournaments at 155 and 170 pounds. In addition to putting on good fights and popularizing both the cage and the unified rules in Japan, GCM and its Worldwide Cage Network sister promotions made it a goal to foster and promote international talent who could one day make their way overseas, to the UFC, and shine. Moreover, it was suggested that the respective tournament winners would earn UFC deals.

In the 170-pound tournament, former Shooto world champion Akira Kikuchi (Pictures) seemed a lock to earn that Octagon opportunity. Instead, the fight community was forcefully introduced to Yoshida.

Although Yoshida's win over British prospect Dan Hardy (Pictures) in the tournament finale came via an unfulfilling disqualification due to a low kick that landed to the groin, the pupil of Shooto icon Noboru Asahi was sensational throughout 2007. Yoshida went 4-0 on the year, including brutal first-round stoppages of current provisional Pancrase king Katsuya Inoue (Pictures) and the aforementioned Kikuchi.

Perhaps embodying GCM's very goals with the Cage Force program, Yoshida has become noted for his cage savvy. While many fighters, especially Japanese fighters, have been slow to grasp some nuances of the unified rules and the cage, Yoshida flourished in the venue, showing the ability to use the fence to his advantage by controlling and pounding opponents, as well as utilizing devastating elbows.

Yoshida is set to sign the contract on Monday. His management believes that his first bout in the Octagon will likely be in April.

This kid has a ton of potential. I hope that he does well in the already stacked 170 division.

[ufobydeath]

Aw, I thought it was Hidehiko Yoshida...

[jesusatemyhotdog]

Originally Posted by ufobydeath

Aw, I thought it was Hidehiko Yoshida...

This is much better than Hidehiko coming.

But, I realized the confusion that this may cause after posting it. If one of the mods wants to change the thread title, that would probably be a good idea.

Check out some action, the elbows are wicked:

YouTube - Yoshiyuki Yoshida vs Akira Kikuchi (MMA - Brutal elbows)

[ufobydeath]

Originally Posted by jesusatemyhotdog

This is much better than Hidehiko coming.

But, I realized the confusion that this may cause after posting it. If one of the mods wants to change the thread title, that would probably be a good idea.

I know It'll be nice to see how he does. I haven't seen too many of his fights but what I've seen has been pretty good.

[Punk Ass]

I don't think it's really that serious IMO. His standup is pretty non existent. He may have some power but with the with the fundamentally sound fighters of the UFC I don't really see him going too far unless he improves his standup tremendously.

[jesusatemyhotdog]

Originally Posted by harlemhustla145

I don't think it's really that serious IMO. His standup is pretty non existent. He may have some power but with the with the fundamentally sound fighters of the UFC I don't really see him going too far unless he improves his standup tremendously.

I think that his Judo background and cage experience will give him enough of a base. He will be able to develop his stand up in the future. As we all know, in the Octagon grappling and wrestling skill can serve you better than pure striking skill. I would like to see him and Karo at some point.

I don't think that he is in the title picture for the foreseeable future, but he is young, aggressive and is consistently improving. That and I love the Japanese fighters and wish that there were more in the Octagon.

[ufobydeath]

Originally Posted by jesusatemyhotdog

I think that his Judo background and cage experience will give him enough of a base. He will be able to develop his stand up in the future. As we all know, in the Octagon grappling and wrestling skill can serve you better than pure striking skill.

Case in point: Sherk

Originally Posted by jesusatemyhotdog

I don't think that he is in the title picture for the foreseeable future, but he is young, aggressive and is consistently improving. That and I love the Japanese fighters and wish that there were more in the Octagon.

Neither is Karo Make it happen Joe!

[smoogy]

Yoshida is my 12th ranked Welterweight in the world

[AJL416AZ]

Originally Posted by harlemhustla145

I don't think it's really that serious IMO. His standup is pretty non existent. He may have some power but with the with the fundamentally sound fighters of the UFC I don't really see him going too far unless he improves his standup tremendously.

he should improve his standup game, but none of the top 170s in the UFC except Thiago Alves, GSP, and kind of Matt Serra are any good standin up

[dofking]

Reminds me of Yushin Okami. He overpowered Kikuchi pretty easily in that fight.