Yoshida Dojo Makes Octagon Debut

09/21/07 - September 22, 2007 will mark the UFC debut of highly talented Light Heavyweight fighter, and the PRIDE 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. But that’s not the only thing of historical MMA significance happening that day. Japanese fighters Kazuhiro Nakamura and Michihiro Omigawa, both students of Hedhiko Yoshida, will look to make waves in their respective divisions.

Nakamura jumps right into the deep end in his debut against undefeated Ryoto Machida. Machida comes off a unanimous decision win over David Heath back at UFC 70. Nakamura has won three of his last four fights, losing only to the previously mentioned “Shogun” at Shockwave 2006 on points. The winner should definitely be considered a new title contender in the UFC’s stacked Light Heavyweight division.

In the lightweight division, Omigawa takes on TUF 5 alum Matt Wiman, who in his last fight scored a first round TKO over Brian Geraghty at the Ultimate Fighter 5 finale. Omigawa’s record has certainly be checkered, dropping his first two fights to Aaron Riley and Gesias “JZ” Calvacanti, he has certainly improved winning three of his last four, with that lone loss coming from DEEP 154-pound champion Kazunori Yokota.

With no experience fighting in a cage, both fighters face a stiff challenge in their opponents who are both veterans of the cage. But if the Yoshida Dojo prevails on the 22nd, the UFC should certainly consider a show in Japan with the fighters acquired from the purchase of PRIDE.

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