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The exodus from PRIDE is continuing to Zuffa and the UFC, as two Japanese competitors are set to make the jump to the octagon this Sept.
Representatives from J-ROCK, the management company of Yoshida Dojo, have confirmed that Yoshida pupils Kazuhiro Nakamura (Pictures) and Michihiro Omigawa (Pictures) will make their UFC debuts at UFC 76 in Anaheim on Sept. 22.
It was widely speculated that Nakamura and Omigawa would make the jump to the UFC after their trainer Hidehiko Yoshida (Pictures) had remarked about his and his team's interest in competing abroad in the UFC. While J-ROCK representatives declined to speak on Yoshida's personal negotiations, Nakamura had been somewhat talkative during his negotiations, telling the media at a recent Yoshida Dojo-operated VIVA JUDO! seminar that as he grew up in PRIDE, he felt he didn't belonged in HERO'S and thus would soon fight in the UFC.
Nakamura will immediately jump into a high profile fight in his UFC debut. After winning three of his last four bouts -- sans a loss to divisional star "Shogun" Mauricio Rua (Pictures) , who will also debut on the card -- Nakamura will square off with undefeated and dangerous contender Lyoto Machida. The bout will reportedly be a part of the live pay-per-view telecast.
Omigawa will make his first foray into the octagon against TUF 5 alum Matt Wiman (Pictures) in a preliminary bout. While he is perhaps best known for a brutal KO loss to Aaron Riley (Pictures) in his pro MMA debut, the internationally accomplished judoka has vastly improved his overall game, winning four of his last five bouts. His lone loss in that time was a majority decision loss in his fourth pro bout against now-DEEP lightweight champion Kazunori Yokota (Pictures).
fuente: sherdog.com
Representatives from J-ROCK, the management company of Yoshida Dojo, have confirmed that Yoshida pupils Kazuhiro Nakamura (Pictures) and Michihiro Omigawa (Pictures) will make their UFC debuts at UFC 76 in Anaheim on Sept. 22.
It was widely speculated that Nakamura and Omigawa would make the jump to the UFC after their trainer Hidehiko Yoshida (Pictures) had remarked about his and his team's interest in competing abroad in the UFC. While J-ROCK representatives declined to speak on Yoshida's personal negotiations, Nakamura had been somewhat talkative during his negotiations, telling the media at a recent Yoshida Dojo-operated VIVA JUDO! seminar that as he grew up in PRIDE, he felt he didn't belonged in HERO'S and thus would soon fight in the UFC.
Nakamura will immediately jump into a high profile fight in his UFC debut. After winning three of his last four bouts -- sans a loss to divisional star "Shogun" Mauricio Rua (Pictures) , who will also debut on the card -- Nakamura will square off with undefeated and dangerous contender Lyoto Machida. The bout will reportedly be a part of the live pay-per-view telecast.
Omigawa will make his first foray into the octagon against TUF 5 alum Matt Wiman (Pictures) in a preliminary bout. While he is perhaps best known for a brutal KO loss to Aaron Riley (Pictures) in his pro MMA debut, the internationally accomplished judoka has vastly improved his overall game, winning four of his last five bouts. His lone loss in that time was a majority decision loss in his fourth pro bout against now-DEEP lightweight champion Kazunori Yokota (Pictures).
fuente: sherdog.com
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