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Hatsu Hioki likely headed to the UFC
Posted: Wed Jun 1, 2011 4:35 am
by Posey H8er
he's reportedly vacating his Shooto and Sengoku belts and will be in attendence at UFC 131. more at this link-
http://www.mmamania.com/2011/5/31/21999 ... -ufc-bound#2 featherweight in the world
Re: Hatsu Hioki likely headed to the UFC
Posted: Wed Jun 1, 2011 5:06 am
by Nemesis21
Don't know anything about him, but if he is # 2 Featherweight, nice to add him to UFC.
Re: Hatsu Hioki likely headed to the UFC
Posted: Wed Jun 1, 2011 12:30 pm
by CPT
Awesome news.
Don't think he'd be able to beat Aldo, but it's a fight I'd like to see somewhere down the line.
Re: Hatsu Hioki likely headed to the UFC
Posted: Wed Jun 1, 2011 1:48 pm
by Cammo101
Hioki should get an immediate title shot. He has a very real chance at beating Aldo. After how he dominated Marlon Sandro, I'm not sure I would pick anyone at 145 to beat him.
Re: Hatsu Hioki likely headed to the UFC
Posted: Wed Jun 1, 2011 3:07 pm
by High 5
Sweet, another can't miss Japanese fighter.
Re: Hatsu Hioki likely headed to the UFC
Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2011 3:02 am
by Posey H8er
Hatsu Hioki Negotiating With UFC, but Deal Isn't Signed Yethttp://www.mmafighting.com/2011/06/10/h ... igned-yet/
Re: Hatsu Hioki likely headed to the UFC
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 1:42 pm
by CPT
^ Was just coming to post that interview.
Speaks half decent English, didn't realize that. Able to do an interview without a translator, which is a plus.
Said he would probably take 2 fights before fighting for the title. Assuming he fights as often as the champ, that probably means Florian and Mendes get cracks at Aldo first. Also assumes he wins the two fights, which is not guaranteed, considering the lack of success other Japanese fighters have had coming to North America.
Also said that he would be going to Montreal to train at Tristar for a while after attending UFC 131 in Vancouver. Good move. Could help him adjust to the UFC a lot faster. Since he speaks English, he might have an easier time training with some of the better camps in North America, as opposed to other Japanese guys who have mostly continued training in Japan.
Hope to hear about the deal getting done soon.
Re: Hatsu Hioki likely headed to the UFC
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 2:21 pm
by Cammo101
I have high hopes for Hioki in the UFC. He can win a title,
Re: Hatsu Hioki likely headed to the UFC
Posted: Sat Jul 9, 2011 11:26 pm
by REDDzone
Hioki will make his debut at 137 against Roop.
Will admit to not having seen much of Hioki, hoping a Japanese fighter can make a splash though. That would be cool, plus any good fight for Aldo is one I want.
Re: Hatsu Hioki likely headed to the UFC
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 1:11 am
by CPT
Good matchup.
Not a pushover, but not throwing him to the wolves before he can get acclimated to fighting in the UFC.
Re: Hatsu Hioki likely headed to the UFC
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 5:12 am
by Posey H8er
love this matchup. if hioki wins i wonder if he gets a shot. it'll probably have to be in impressive fashion then. my guess is mendes gets aldo first (assuming he wins at 133) and hioki will get a shot IF he gets two wins.
and speaking of mendes, at least he will be on the prelims on 133.
Re: Hatsu Hioki likely headed to the UFC
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 11:39 am
by damo[23]
Awesome.
Would be cool to see Aldo with a proper rival or even bested - would like to see some divisions titles changing hands a bit again.
Re: Hatsu Hioki likely headed to the UFC
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 4:15 pm
by REDDzone
I've got to find a source where I can watch some Hioki fights. A ton of wins, only 4 losses and all losses were decisions. Hell, 3 were split decisions. Also defeated Marlon Sandro who is a pretty impressive FW who is currently entered in the bellator fw tourney.
Re: Hatsu Hioki likely headed to the UFC
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 4:20 pm
by REDDzone
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olZgAUj2XFA[/youtube]
Few hl vids online. Seems like a super good grappler, with slick transitions on the ground. The part that somewhat surprised me though is that it seems like he has passable standup which bodes well for him (who knows with a hl vid though). Not sure about his wrestling.
Re: Hatsu Hioki likely headed to the UFC
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 4:56 pm
by Cammo101
REDDzone wrote:I've got to find a source where I can watch some Hioki fights. A ton of wins, only 4 losses and all losses were decisions. Hell, 3 were split decisions. Also defeated Marlon Sandro who is a pretty impressive FW who is currently entered in the bellator fw tourney.
His loss to Omigawa was an absolutely disgusting decision. He dominated Omigawa the entire fight.
Re: Hatsu Hioki likely headed to the UFC
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 7:52 pm
by Nemesis21
damo[23] wrote:Awesome.
Would be cool to see Aldo with a proper rival or even bested - would like to see some divisions titles changing hands a bit again.
Especially in the WW division.
Re: Hatsu Hioki likely headed to the UFC
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 1:14 am
by Nemesis21
How is Hioki's stand up game ?
Re: Hatsu Hioki likely headed to the UFC
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:22 pm
by damo[23]
Nemesis21 wrote:damo[23] wrote:Awesome.
Would be cool to see Aldo with a proper rival or even bested - would like to see some divisions titles changing hands a bit again.
Especially in the WW division.
Defo - while having a perpetual champ is a great thing, its also great to have the belt thrown around a little bit - certainly between 2 or 3 guys.
It was kind of cool when GSP was coming of age and it bounced a bit between Hughes and GSP (well not bounced, but you get me, BJ GSP Hughes, hell even Serra lol).
I really like the BW/FW divisions, so the more they add to keep challenges coming through the more quality "championship" cards we get each year. I just love the fact that there are 7 belts UFC belts now - and doesnt look like an increase in numbered PPV's so its either more events per year with 'ships or more events per year with double 'ship fights.
/end tangent lol