A ‘Phoenix’ Rises From Japan
Tony Loiseleur Dec 19, 2007
Not many are very familiar with UFC middleweight Yushin Okami (Pictures), let alone that his nickname is
"Thunder." As a reference to Japanese pro-wrestler Jyushin Thunder
Liger, the homage is perhaps lost on most of the Western
audience.
Keeping it within the realm of pro wrestling, when asked what kind of nickname he would like to have besides a Jyushin Thunder Liger reference, the 6-foot-2 Japanese middleweight leans back in his chair, thoughtful.
"El Samurai?" he proposes. "That might please Western fans to call
me that, but … no. Tiger is kind of neat, but no … Delfin? Hmm. Oh
wait, Ultimo. Ultimo Okami sounds kind of cool."
Then, after a few more moments of thought, Okami asks, "Actually, how about Phoenix?"
"My mother once spoke to a fortuneteller to get my reading," he says. "She only gave the fortuneteller my name and date of birth, and the fortuneteller told my mother that I was born under the sign of the phoenix, and under the star of the god of fighting. It was really interesting because I was already a professional fighter then, and my mom hadn't told her anything about that. I liked that idea though, so I figure if I fight, I should probably use that as a name."
Trying out the title, Okami murmurs to himself, "Hmm … Yushin ‘Phoenix' Okami."
He says it again, this time in a quiet impression of Bruce Buffer, before he nods in approval, saying, "Yeah, that sounds rad."
With a wry but satisfied smile, Okami leans forward. "Please get the word out," he says. "I want people to start calling me that from now on. I want to be known as ‘Phoenix Okami.'"
Okami has done most of his talking in the cage. Most MMA fans in the West are familiar with "Phoenix Okami" only as "the Japanese fighter that other middleweights say is really strong."
Given his performances in the UFC, it's easy to see why. Okami has out-muscled and bullied some of the most recognizable faces in today's Octagon. He holds dominant wins over TUF alumni Mike Swick (Pictures), Rory Singer (Pictures) and Kalib Starnes (Pictures), two of whom made particular mention of Okami's overwhelming strength -- usually between rounds as they expressed frustration and doubt in their corners.
In the UFC's Ireland debut, Okami forced former middleweight champion Rich Franklin (Pictures) to fight for every point on the judges' scorecards before dropping a competitive unanimous decision. Despite not being televised, Okami's latest exploits at UFC 77 had him controlling and pounding out a dominant decision win against the tough and ground-savvy Jason MacDonald (Pictures).
Be that as it may, he is surprised to hear that his peers in the cage have dubbed him -- in the words of Kalib Starnes (Pictures) -- "too strong."
"Really?" Okami asks with mild surprise. "I didn't know that. Thanks for telling me."
It does not take long for him to accept the revelation; Okami is apparently used to the idea of being a top-ranked middleweight.
Since quietly infiltrating the ranks of the UFC's 185-pound division in August 2006 when he defeated Alan Belcher (Pictures), Okami's stock has risen as one of the division's top prospects, if not Japan's best export to date. It is a status that has earned him a respectable hardcore following as one of the few contenders to the UFC middleweight title currently held by Andersen Silva.
Despite not always being featured on UFC telecasts, Okami's popularity has grown.
"Compared to when I first started in the UFC, I've noticed an increase in demand from the fans," he says. "I hear their voices saying they want to see me fight. It's something I appreciate very much. Even though [my fights are not often telecast], I enjoy and want to fight for the fans. That said, I promise that I will continue to do my best on their behalf.
"As for being a top-10 middleweight, I think that I am. There are a lot of fighters in the UFC at middleweight, and from fighting many of them and doing well, I've gained confidence that I am a top fighter in the weight class. It is a confidence that I still hold today."
Of all the qualities that he exhibits inside of the ring or cage, it is his calm and collected approach to taking apart his opponents that MMA fans are perhaps most familiar with. Often beginning cautiously, it is not until the second or third round that the Japanese fighter begins to shine. It is a characteristic that has earned him another descriptor from fans and fellow fighters alike -- that of a "slow starter."
"Well, I suppose that I am," admits Okami. "I don't like to just jump into the fray and start swinging. I like to know who I'm fighting, and I measure my opponent in that moment, while I'm fighting them.
"It's like in ‘Dragon Ball,' you know? I like to ‘scout' my opponent," Okami says with a smile, jokingly referencing the nigh-legendary Japanese comic. "I use my ‘scouter' to see their power level, their strengths and weaknesses, and if there's anything I can exploit.
Once I know for sure, once I ‘get' him, then bam -- that's when I jump in and take him apart."
Despite the not-so-charitable title he has inadvertently picked up along the way, Okami does indeed realize the importance of finishing and putting on exciting fights.
"I admit that I haven't had the most exciting fights during my time in the UFC," he says. "From this point forward, I want to try making them more exciting, but not at the expense of winning. To do that, I've stepped up my training in standup in particular, learning how to push forward and effect more damage.
"I'm looking to incorporate both excitement and winning from this point on. As a professional fighter at this high a level, I am supposed to be able to do both, so it's become a very important thing for me to achieve. There's still an infinite amount of potential in me that no one has seen yet. Since I'm focusing on my standup and submissions now, they are always improving, as is my overall game. Two years from now, I see myself becoming the middleweight champion in the UFC, and defending that title as the champ."
The Journey West
With an overall record of 21-4-0 and a 5-1 ledger in the UFC, Okami is arguably the most successful Japanese fighter to have stepped into the Octagon.
Despite the numbers, Okami has a different opinion on what constitutes "most successful."
"I don't really know that I've got to that level yet," he says. "As a top-10 middleweight, yes, but I'm not the most successful Japanese fighter in the UFC. I haven't really fought for anything substantial yet, like a belt. My senior [in Wajyutsu Keisyukai], Caol Uno (Pictures), fought B.J. Penn (Pictures) for the lightweight title when he was in the UFC, and while it ended in a draw, he still fought for a title. Until I get to do the same with Silva and take that belt, I wouldn't say that I'm the most successful Japanese fighter in the UFC."
Uno, who spends much of his time between K-1 HERO'S and helping direct Cage Force, is perhaps one of Japan's most influential pioneers in the sport. He is also one of the most internationally recognized bridges between Japanese and American MMA.
After winning and relinquishing his Shooto title on the same night, Uno was the first to do what many young Japanese fighters at the time believed was the next logical step in their careers: head to the United States to compete in the UFC.
Okami recalls his interest in the sport as stemming from that seminal bout, when Uno beat Rumina Sato (Pictures) for the second time, only to give up his belt moments later in order to ply his craft in an eight-sided cage across the Pacific. When the itch to fight took over, acquaintances introduced Okami to Mr. Kubo, president of GCM as well as Japan's largest network of MMA gyms, Wajyutsu Keisyukai, where the young middleweight has trained for the past six years.
"I liked MMA because it allowed you to do so many different things that you can't do in other sports," Okami says. "Judo had their throws and kickboxing had their kicks, but only MMA had ground-and-pound. It's rather iconic of MMA, and it's something that I enjoy particularly."
After approximately one year of training, Okami began his professional career in earnest, fighting and accruing victories in PRIDE's "The Best" series, Pancrase and various GCM-promoted Demolition and D.O.G. shows. Despite mixed results in his few trips abroad, Okami won all of his fights in Japan. At the time, Japan's MMA scene had begun to boom, but Okami's sights were still set on competing in the States, and in particular, the UFC.
Like most English-speaking MMA fans, Okami's interest in the UFC stemmed from a fascination with its first champion, Royce Gracie (Pictures).
"Ever since I saw a video of Royce Gracie (Pictures), I was interested in the UFC," he recalls. "I started watching more and more of their events, and eventually, as the shows went on, I became more interested in it. I fell in love with the UFC's image and mystique. There was an appeal there. Things like the Octagon and such really had an impression on me. I thought, ‘Truly, these are the major leagues. I want to fight there.'
"I wanted to fight there because not many Japanese fighters have been able to do well in the Octagon. I wanted to represent both my gym, Wajyutsu Keisyukai, as well as Japan by doing my best in the UFC. I want to change Western fans' perceptions regarding Japanese fighters. As a Japanese fighter, this is very important to me."
With such a heavy commitment on his shoulders, Okami appears, for all intents and purposes, to be doing pretty well with it. In fact, despite rumors that he was bound for K-1 HERO'S after his UFC contracted had expired, Okami says he always wanted to re-sign with the American promotion because his eyes are still set on the belt.
"At the [end of my contract], I felt that I had unfinished business there, so my experience in the UFC up to that point was still somewhat shy of being perfect," he says. "In the end, I want to be the first Japanese fighter to win a title in the UFC."
The ‘Away' Team
Okami's stateside debut occurred in Hawaii, where he dropped controversial decisions to hometown favorite Falaniko Vitale (Pictures) in Superbrawl and then to the always-game Jake Shields (Pictures) in Rumble on the Rock's 175-pound tournament.
Although controversial decisions tend to only be discouraging and frustrating experiences for most fighters, for Okami they were not only expected but in a way appreciated.
"I understand why decisions like those happen," he says. "It still sucks to lose, yes, but in the U.S., it's like I'm part of the away team. So to me, it's a part of the whole overseas experience. Actually, these experiences have taught me a lot and really helped me prepare for competing in the UFC.
"For example, my loss to Rich Franklin (Pictures). I understood that losing the decision might have been the outcome, and I accepted it beforehand. I needed to finish him. I needed to get a submission, a KO, or a TKO to win -- anything less than that wouldn't bring me anything."
Nevertheless, Okami's luck abroad has changed since competing in the UFC. Despite dropping three fights outside of Japan before his UFC debut, the loss to Franklin has been his only defeat in his last six fights on foreign soil.
Interestingly, Okami also stands as the last person to hold a win over the man who beat Franklin for the title, current UFC middleweight champion Andersen Silva. However, there's not too much to brag about; the win came after the dangerous Brazilian illegally up-kicked Okami in the quarterfinals of the Rumble on the Rock tourney, which led to a disqualification.
"Silva and I have unfinished business," Okami says. "I want that rematch because it feels like our first fight didn't end definitively. I want to finish him, once and for all."
On the topic of how he would approach a rematch with Silva, Okami was brief but direct.
"I'd like to knock him out, certainly, but I also really want to submit him. I want to take him down and force him to submit," says Okami, miming the tap on his arm. "I want to make him tap out."
Before he will face the champion, he has at least one more fight to get through. Silva also has to get past Dan Henderson (Pictures) in March.
"I think their fight will be a standup war before Dan will close in and try to get a takedown, which is where he will look to get in some ground-and-pound," Okami predicts. "As for whom I think will win … I think Silva will maybe win by decision."
When asked which of the two he would rather face, Okami pointed to Silva: "Henderson is a great fighter with great wrestling and an amazing right hand. He's quite famous in Japan from his time in PRIDE, so I'd love to fight him sometime in the future. Still, I'd rather that Silva win, just because I have business I need to finish with him."
Given the way that the Japanese middleweight has handled himself in the Octagon, it could be just a matter of time until he gets the opportunity to see his goals to their end. Despite a few setbacks in the past and an uphill battle for popular awareness since debuting at UFC 64, Yushin "Phoenix" Okami is becoming the UFC's No. 1 contender at middleweight.
A title shot could come soon, giving Okami the chance to prove what his namesake implies: He may be the rebirth of the champion-caliber fighter that Japan has waited so long for.
Keeping it within the realm of pro wrestling, when asked what kind of nickname he would like to have besides a Jyushin Thunder Liger reference, the 6-foot-2 Japanese middleweight leans back in his chair, thoughtful.
Advertisement
Then, after a few more moments of thought, Okami asks, "Actually, how about Phoenix?"
There's a story here.
"My mother once spoke to a fortuneteller to get my reading," he says. "She only gave the fortuneteller my name and date of birth, and the fortuneteller told my mother that I was born under the sign of the phoenix, and under the star of the god of fighting. It was really interesting because I was already a professional fighter then, and my mom hadn't told her anything about that. I liked that idea though, so I figure if I fight, I should probably use that as a name."
Trying out the title, Okami murmurs to himself, "Hmm … Yushin ‘Phoenix' Okami."
He says it again, this time in a quiet impression of Bruce Buffer, before he nods in approval, saying, "Yeah, that sounds rad."
With a wry but satisfied smile, Okami leans forward. "Please get the word out," he says. "I want people to start calling me that from now on. I want to be known as ‘Phoenix Okami.'"
Okami has done most of his talking in the cage. Most MMA fans in the West are familiar with "Phoenix Okami" only as "the Japanese fighter that other middleweights say is really strong."
Given his performances in the UFC, it's easy to see why. Okami has out-muscled and bullied some of the most recognizable faces in today's Octagon. He holds dominant wins over TUF alumni Mike Swick (Pictures), Rory Singer (Pictures) and Kalib Starnes (Pictures), two of whom made particular mention of Okami's overwhelming strength -- usually between rounds as they expressed frustration and doubt in their corners.
In the UFC's Ireland debut, Okami forced former middleweight champion Rich Franklin (Pictures) to fight for every point on the judges' scorecards before dropping a competitive unanimous decision. Despite not being televised, Okami's latest exploits at UFC 77 had him controlling and pounding out a dominant decision win against the tough and ground-savvy Jason MacDonald (Pictures).
Be that as it may, he is surprised to hear that his peers in the cage have dubbed him -- in the words of Kalib Starnes (Pictures) -- "too strong."
"Really?" Okami asks with mild surprise. "I didn't know that. Thanks for telling me."
It does not take long for him to accept the revelation; Okami is apparently used to the idea of being a top-ranked middleweight.
Since quietly infiltrating the ranks of the UFC's 185-pound division in August 2006 when he defeated Alan Belcher (Pictures), Okami's stock has risen as one of the division's top prospects, if not Japan's best export to date. It is a status that has earned him a respectable hardcore following as one of the few contenders to the UFC middleweight title currently held by Andersen Silva.
Despite not always being featured on UFC telecasts, Okami's popularity has grown.
"Compared to when I first started in the UFC, I've noticed an increase in demand from the fans," he says. "I hear their voices saying they want to see me fight. It's something I appreciate very much. Even though [my fights are not often telecast], I enjoy and want to fight for the fans. That said, I promise that I will continue to do my best on their behalf.
"As for being a top-10 middleweight, I think that I am. There are a lot of fighters in the UFC at middleweight, and from fighting many of them and doing well, I've gained confidence that I am a top fighter in the weight class. It is a confidence that I still hold today."
Of all the qualities that he exhibits inside of the ring or cage, it is his calm and collected approach to taking apart his opponents that MMA fans are perhaps most familiar with. Often beginning cautiously, it is not until the second or third round that the Japanese fighter begins to shine. It is a characteristic that has earned him another descriptor from fans and fellow fighters alike -- that of a "slow starter."
"Well, I suppose that I am," admits Okami. "I don't like to just jump into the fray and start swinging. I like to know who I'm fighting, and I measure my opponent in that moment, while I'm fighting them.
"It's like in ‘Dragon Ball,' you know? I like to ‘scout' my opponent," Okami says with a smile, jokingly referencing the nigh-legendary Japanese comic. "I use my ‘scouter' to see their power level, their strengths and weaknesses, and if there's anything I can exploit.
Once I know for sure, once I ‘get' him, then bam -- that's when I jump in and take him apart."
Despite the not-so-charitable title he has inadvertently picked up along the way, Okami does indeed realize the importance of finishing and putting on exciting fights.
"I admit that I haven't had the most exciting fights during my time in the UFC," he says. "From this point forward, I want to try making them more exciting, but not at the expense of winning. To do that, I've stepped up my training in standup in particular, learning how to push forward and effect more damage.
"I'm looking to incorporate both excitement and winning from this point on. As a professional fighter at this high a level, I am supposed to be able to do both, so it's become a very important thing for me to achieve. There's still an infinite amount of potential in me that no one has seen yet. Since I'm focusing on my standup and submissions now, they are always improving, as is my overall game. Two years from now, I see myself becoming the middleweight champion in the UFC, and defending that title as the champ."
The Journey West
With an overall record of 21-4-0 and a 5-1 ledger in the UFC, Okami is arguably the most successful Japanese fighter to have stepped into the Octagon.
Despite the numbers, Okami has a different opinion on what constitutes "most successful."
"I don't really know that I've got to that level yet," he says. "As a top-10 middleweight, yes, but I'm not the most successful Japanese fighter in the UFC. I haven't really fought for anything substantial yet, like a belt. My senior [in Wajyutsu Keisyukai], Caol Uno (Pictures), fought B.J. Penn (Pictures) for the lightweight title when he was in the UFC, and while it ended in a draw, he still fought for a title. Until I get to do the same with Silva and take that belt, I wouldn't say that I'm the most successful Japanese fighter in the UFC."
Uno, who spends much of his time between K-1 HERO'S and helping direct Cage Force, is perhaps one of Japan's most influential pioneers in the sport. He is also one of the most internationally recognized bridges between Japanese and American MMA.
After winning and relinquishing his Shooto title on the same night, Uno was the first to do what many young Japanese fighters at the time believed was the next logical step in their careers: head to the United States to compete in the UFC.
Okami recalls his interest in the sport as stemming from that seminal bout, when Uno beat Rumina Sato (Pictures) for the second time, only to give up his belt moments later in order to ply his craft in an eight-sided cage across the Pacific. When the itch to fight took over, acquaintances introduced Okami to Mr. Kubo, president of GCM as well as Japan's largest network of MMA gyms, Wajyutsu Keisyukai, where the young middleweight has trained for the past six years.
"I liked MMA because it allowed you to do so many different things that you can't do in other sports," Okami says. "Judo had their throws and kickboxing had their kicks, but only MMA had ground-and-pound. It's rather iconic of MMA, and it's something that I enjoy particularly."
After approximately one year of training, Okami began his professional career in earnest, fighting and accruing victories in PRIDE's "The Best" series, Pancrase and various GCM-promoted Demolition and D.O.G. shows. Despite mixed results in his few trips abroad, Okami won all of his fights in Japan. At the time, Japan's MMA scene had begun to boom, but Okami's sights were still set on competing in the States, and in particular, the UFC.
Like most English-speaking MMA fans, Okami's interest in the UFC stemmed from a fascination with its first champion, Royce Gracie (Pictures).
"Ever since I saw a video of Royce Gracie (Pictures), I was interested in the UFC," he recalls. "I started watching more and more of their events, and eventually, as the shows went on, I became more interested in it. I fell in love with the UFC's image and mystique. There was an appeal there. Things like the Octagon and such really had an impression on me. I thought, ‘Truly, these are the major leagues. I want to fight there.'
"I wanted to fight there because not many Japanese fighters have been able to do well in the Octagon. I wanted to represent both my gym, Wajyutsu Keisyukai, as well as Japan by doing my best in the UFC. I want to change Western fans' perceptions regarding Japanese fighters. As a Japanese fighter, this is very important to me."
With such a heavy commitment on his shoulders, Okami appears, for all intents and purposes, to be doing pretty well with it. In fact, despite rumors that he was bound for K-1 HERO'S after his UFC contracted had expired, Okami says he always wanted to re-sign with the American promotion because his eyes are still set on the belt.
"At the [end of my contract], I felt that I had unfinished business there, so my experience in the UFC up to that point was still somewhat shy of being perfect," he says. "In the end, I want to be the first Japanese fighter to win a title in the UFC."
The ‘Away' Team
Okami's stateside debut occurred in Hawaii, where he dropped controversial decisions to hometown favorite Falaniko Vitale (Pictures) in Superbrawl and then to the always-game Jake Shields (Pictures) in Rumble on the Rock's 175-pound tournament.
Although controversial decisions tend to only be discouraging and frustrating experiences for most fighters, for Okami they were not only expected but in a way appreciated.
"I understand why decisions like those happen," he says. "It still sucks to lose, yes, but in the U.S., it's like I'm part of the away team. So to me, it's a part of the whole overseas experience. Actually, these experiences have taught me a lot and really helped me prepare for competing in the UFC.
"For example, my loss to Rich Franklin (Pictures). I understood that losing the decision might have been the outcome, and I accepted it beforehand. I needed to finish him. I needed to get a submission, a KO, or a TKO to win -- anything less than that wouldn't bring me anything."
Nevertheless, Okami's luck abroad has changed since competing in the UFC. Despite dropping three fights outside of Japan before his UFC debut, the loss to Franklin has been his only defeat in his last six fights on foreign soil.
Interestingly, Okami also stands as the last person to hold a win over the man who beat Franklin for the title, current UFC middleweight champion Andersen Silva. However, there's not too much to brag about; the win came after the dangerous Brazilian illegally up-kicked Okami in the quarterfinals of the Rumble on the Rock tourney, which led to a disqualification.
"Silva and I have unfinished business," Okami says. "I want that rematch because it feels like our first fight didn't end definitively. I want to finish him, once and for all."
On the topic of how he would approach a rematch with Silva, Okami was brief but direct.
"I'd like to knock him out, certainly, but I also really want to submit him. I want to take him down and force him to submit," says Okami, miming the tap on his arm. "I want to make him tap out."
Before he will face the champion, he has at least one more fight to get through. Silva also has to get past Dan Henderson (Pictures) in March.
"I think their fight will be a standup war before Dan will close in and try to get a takedown, which is where he will look to get in some ground-and-pound," Okami predicts. "As for whom I think will win … I think Silva will maybe win by decision."
When asked which of the two he would rather face, Okami pointed to Silva: "Henderson is a great fighter with great wrestling and an amazing right hand. He's quite famous in Japan from his time in PRIDE, so I'd love to fight him sometime in the future. Still, I'd rather that Silva win, just because I have business I need to finish with him."
Given the way that the Japanese middleweight has handled himself in the Octagon, it could be just a matter of time until he gets the opportunity to see his goals to their end. Despite a few setbacks in the past and an uphill battle for popular awareness since debuting at UFC 64, Yushin "Phoenix" Okami is becoming the UFC's No. 1 contender at middleweight.
A title shot could come soon, giving Okami the chance to prove what his namesake implies: He may be the rebirth of the champion-caliber fighter that Japan has waited so long for.
Related Articles
