Comments on: Joe Stevenson and Chael Sonnen open up eyes with their post-fight comments

By: The Gaijin

The Gaijin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:00:08 +0000

@ Mark. No I am not kidding…people have been bitching forever about how “Okami is getting screwed”, etc., etc. and maybe he was, maybe he wasn’t but they were definitely hoping he was going to lose one of these times b/c he’s BORING. How well would a Silva-Okami main or semi-main event sell without a huge name to bootstrap it along?

This was the perfect opportunity for the UFC to douse every last ember of the “Okami’s getting screwed” camp. He lost and got dominated in a boring fight – and that is the ONLY reason they bothered to televise the fight. “You want to see Okami on the ppv main card? Well here you go! He got schooled, now let’s never speak of this again.” The hardcores got their cake, and had to eat every last terrible bite…and I don’t blame them (UFC) one bit.

By: MMA Pound 4 Pound Champ » UFC 104 Post-Fight Interviews

MMA Pound 4 Pound Champ » UFC 104 Post-Fight Interviews — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:14:30 +0000

[...] 104 post-fight press conference videos and interviews via Fanhouse & Fox Fight Game. Fight Opinion has a look at some of the interesting statements made by Joe Stevenson (Fisher was “slippery”) and Chael Sonnen (Okami drags his [...]

By: eJiuJitsu » UFC 104 Post-Fight Interviews

eJiuJitsu » UFC 104 Post-Fight Interviews — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:08:10 +0000

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:01:54 +0000

They’re forced to, there’s no charity on their part. They’re the most public of the MMA orgs so if they were to fire Yushin Okami while he’s winning or just because he lost one fight, then they risk a possible wave of negative press being called an illegitimate sport for giving guys like Wanderlei Silva and Chris Lytle a dozen chances while giving an actual winner the shaft. They fortunately can afford to have it both ways. If they ever have a downturn in business where it becomes time to trim the fat, then it will get interesting to see them justify keeping Clay Guida over Gray Maynard.

By: 45 Huddle

45 Huddle — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:53:01 +0000

Zuffa is the friendliest promotion for boring fighters. There isn’t even a close second. And even the UFC doesn’t exactly have the fairest playing field. Exciting fighters always get the benefit of the doubt when matchmaking is considered.

By: Steve4192

Steve4192 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:43:29 +0000

“Hopefully Okami gets released. He has more value in Japan now than in the US, I think.”

Someone might want to tell that to the Japanese promotions. Nobody came sniffing after Okami the last time he was a free agent. Why would anyone snap him up now? Pretending that Okami has value ANYWHERE is laughable.

For whatever reason, the UFC is the ONLY promoter who has historically shown any interest in Yushin Okami. The should be lauded for that but instead they are lampooned for not ‘treating him right’. They could have cut him after the Franklin loss but didn’t. The could have let him walk as a free agent after the McDonald win but didn’t. Okami fans should be thankful that the UFC keeps him employed.

I predict that Zuffa will re-sign him once again. He’s a top 10 caliber fighter who fights cheap because there is no competition for his services. Guys like that are useful as long as the remain cheap.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:33:20 +0000

Oh yeah I forgot about O’Brien since he was brought back so fast. And I also forgot Sean Gannon, although I’d bet my cat he comes back in to fight Kimbo in 2010.

By: Mick

Mick — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:21:08 +0000

@The Gaijin: You kidding? You’re looking way too much into this. Only the hardcores want Yushin to get a title shot. His fights don’t need to be televised to sway the minds of Okami fans/haters. A casual fan could care less about Okami.

By: EJ

EJ — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:15:10 +0000

I have to say even though i\’ve been really tough on Okami for awhile now (mostly his fans). I just read his interview about losing to Sonnen and that guy is a class act. Unlike others who got beat and started talking about supposed injuries that caused them to lose. Okami gave Sonnen all the props that he deserved for him win and didn\’t make any pathetic excuses. I hope he learns to step up his training because he is a talented guy but he fights too conservatively and this could be the start of seeing him change things up and make a real run at the MW title.

By: klown

klown — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:54:08 +0000

If you watch the interview, Sonnen wasn’t a total jerk about Okami. Setting aside Sonnen’s criticism of Okami’s ability to promote fights, Sonnen is nothing but complimentary about Okami as a fighter. He says Okami is “as strong as any fighter he’s ever faced” and “definitely still Top 10″.