The UFC hasn’t ventured to Japan since 2000, and in recent years, UFC officials seemed in no hurry to change that — even after the UFC purchased (and soon disbanded) the country’s largest MMA organization, PRIDE Fighting Championships, in 2007.
But the perfect storm of factors soon will change that, and it’s expected to happen within six to eight months.
“The rumor is true,” UFC president Dana White recently said. “We’re going to come to Japan, and probably soon.”
Like here, Japan has a massive fight circuit that serves as a feeder system for the major organizations. But mounting debts, sponsorship troubles and failed TV deals — which were only compounded by the earthquake and tsunami disaster earlier this year — have those major promotions on life support.
World Victory Road’s “Sengoku” event series hasn’t hosted a show since December (and could be dead altogether), and DREAM hosts just its second show of 2011 on Saturday.
With all the uncertainty about top-level Japanese MMA, many of the country’s biggest stars – including Hatsu Hioki, Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto and Riki Fukuda — have fled to the UFC. Many others soon could follow suit, especially now that the UFC has made a commitment to the lighter weight classes that Japanese fighters long have dominated.
Additionally, many American fighters — especially those with lengthy résumés — fondly remember past fights in Japan, a fight-crazed country that once consistently drew crowds of 50,000 or more. So despite the cross-country travel, the UFC would have no shortage of volunteers willing to fight in Japan.
White often says MMA, and specifically the UFC’s brand of it, will be the biggest sport in the world. Getting a foothold in Japan would be a big step toward that goal.
“Countdown to UFC 133” features Franklin: A UFC production team recently visited the JG MMA Academy in West Chester Twp. to shoot footage of UFC light heavyweight Rich Franklin.
It’ll be used for a Spike TV special called “Countdown to UFC 133,” which previews Franklin’s Aug. 6 bout with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. The pay-per-view event takes place at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center, and a No. 1 contender’s bout between Rashad Evans and Phil Davis headlines the show.
“Countdown to UFC 133” debuts Aug. 1 at 11 p.m.
Franklin, a West Chester Twp. resident and former UFC champ, looks to rebound from a close decision loss to Forrest Griffin in February.
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