Filed under: News , UFC , Videos The UFC’s Japanese version of “The Ultimate Fighter,” featuring eight Japanese featherweights fighting for a UFC contract, debuts today on UFC Fight Pass, and “Sexyama” makes an immediate impact. While UFC heavyweight contenders Josh Barnett and Roy Nelson are the coaches of “Road to UFC: Japan,” Japanese MMA legend Yoshihiro Akiyama makes a cameo in the first episode and immediately steals the show. Sporting a Creamsicle-colored overcoat, Akiyama sits down with one of the contestants, Hiroto Uesako (10-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC), before he leaves for Las Vegas to begin the competition. Akiyama’s sage advice includes, “”Since you’re doing this, you want to make people admire you, you know?” and in what certainly deserves to become in iconic MMA quote, “Also, bring lip balm with you.” In addition to Uesako, Tatsuya Ando (3-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Daiki Hata (17-9-7 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Mizuto Hirota (17-7-1 MMA, 0-2 UFC), Teruto Ishihara (7-2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Tatsunao Nagakura (11-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Akiyo Nishiura (13-8-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and Nobumitsu Osawa (8-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) make up the eight-man tournament field.
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Yoshihiro Akiyama steals show as ‘Road to UFC: Japan’ debuts on UFC Fight Pass – MMA Junkie