It's no secret that MMA in Japan is falling apart. Both Dream and WVR are bleeding money, and we've already seen two fighters (Jorge Santiago and Dave "Pee Wee" Herman) jump ship to come to the UFC. With more fighters likely to follow suit, I figured I would list the top seven fighters I most want to see come to the Octagon. NOTE - if you're not a big MMA fan, you probably won't know many of the names on this list, and probably won't find this interesting. May I suggest looking at some of the other recent posts?
Honorable Mentions: There's a bunch of guys that could be good additions - Maximo Blanco, Mitsuhiro Ishida, Joachim Hansen - but I'm not sure how they would do in the Octagon. Shinya Aoki has already proven that he's a horrible striker, so I just feel he would get exploited in the UFC.
7. Xande Ribeiro (2-0)
One of the most accomplished grapplers in the world, Ribeiro would make an interesting addition to the UFC's light heavyweight division. He would become one of the most dangerous jujitsu fighters in the UFC (up there with Demian Maia and Rani Yahya) and he has also won both his fights by KO/TKO. He could use more experience, but grapplers like this don't come by everyday.
6. Bibiano Fernandes (8-3)
The first of four featherweights on this list (Japan has always been known for the smaller weight classes, as well as freak show fights), he was the Dream featherweight champ before losing to Hiroyuki Takaya (who he beat to win the championship). With the UFC's featherweight division in need of more fighters, Fernandes could make an excellent addition.
5. Gegard Mousasi (30-3-1)
Once regarded as one of the top middleweights in the world after becoming the Dream middleweight champ, Mousasi has moved up to the light heavyweight division, and his time to go to the UFC could be now. There might be problems if he is contracted to Strikeforce (where he was the light heavyweight champ, though he lost the belt in his first defense) but if he isn't then there's no reason he shouldn't be in the UFC. He has shown suspect wrestling defense in the past, but he's still young (only 25) and if he could move back down to middleweight he could be a title threat. Either way, he's a very exciting fighter that could definitely become a top contender.
4. Hiroyuki Takaya (15-8)
The current Dream featherweight champ, Takaya has already fought for Zuffa (he went 0-2 in the WEC in 2008). Recently, he's started to heat up, going 6-2 since leaving the WEC, with wins over notables like Yoshihiro Maeda, Hideo Tokoro, Joachim Hansen, Chase Beebe and Bibiano Fernandes, with the two losses coming to top featherweights Michihiro Omigawa (who just made his return to the UFC) and Fernandes. His wins have earned him another shot stateside where he can really prove himself.
3. Tatsuya Kawajiri (27-6-2)
Long considered one of the best lightweights outside of the UFC, it's time for him to make his UFC debut. He holds wins over many notable fighters, including Josh Thomson, Gesias Calvancante, Luiz Firmino x2, Joachim Hansen, Vitor Ribeiro, and Yves Edwards. Going to the Octagon would be a great chance to really prove that he is a top ten lightweight and potentially challenge for the title.
2. Marlon Sandro (17-2)
Sandro, a teammate of UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, is one of the most exciting featherweights out there. While he has said that if he was in the UFC he wouldn't want to fight Aldo, he would likely become one of the top guys in the division. Like Aldo, Sandro is known for his devastating power, holding recent KO wins over Masanori Kanehara, Yuji Hoshino, Tomonaru Kanomata and Nick Denis, his only losses come to Michihiro Omigawa (in a fight Sandro should have won) and the guy who is #1 on this list. Sandro would be a great addition to the UFC, and he would instantly become one of the top contenders in the division.
1. Hatsu Hioki (23-4-2)
The current Sengoku featherweight champ, Hioki is widely considered one of the best featherweights in the world. He's riding a three fight win streak after losing a controversial split decision to Michihiro Omigawa (like Sandro, and his last loss before that was three and a half years ago (it was also a split decision, Hioki has never been finished). With the top competition in the UFC, a move there would cement his top ten standing and likely lead to a title shot.
There you go, the seven guys I most want to see in the UFC. Will they all come? Probably not, but there's not many fights available anymore in Japan, coming here might be a necessity.
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