One of the most exciting fighters on the Zuffa roster is in serious danger of being cut after UFC 128.
Yoshihiro ‘Sexyama’ Akiyama has thrilled UFC fans with his Fight of the Night performances against Alan Belcher, Chris Leben and Michael Bisping, but after losing the latter two bouts, Akiyama may be out of a job if he falls short once again against Nate Marquardt on March 19th.
This is a crime. Although he has been on the losing end of his last few fights, no one has delivered quite like Sexyama.
After winning a (somewhat controversial) decision against Belcher at UFC 100, Akiyama was set to get his dream fight against Wanderlei Silva at UFC 116, however, ‘The Axe Murderer’ was forced to withdraw from the bout due to injury, and Leben stepped in on short notice.
After considering declining the fight, Akiyama stepped up for the fans and gave us one of the most entertaining bouts of the year, and was winning the fight before getting caught in a triangle late in the third round.
He then came back just three months later and delivered his third consecutive Fight of the Night against Bisping, rocking the English fighter just seconds into the first round. He was eventually outclassed on the feet by ‘The Count’ and lost the decision.
It would be a shame to see one of the most exciting fighters in UFC history get shown the door after just four fights, especially considering the murderer’s row of opponents he has been given. The combined records of the first three men he fought inside the Octagon: 62-16.
The UFC rewards fighters for being entertaining, (Matt Brown), and Dana White always tells fighters to leave it all inside the Octagon and they will be rewarded. I hope for Akiyama’s sake that he is true to his word.
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