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This Saturday, with the first two fight winning streak of his UFC career in his back pocket, Takanori Gomi will look to make it three straight in a UFC on FUEL TV 8 battle with Diego Sanchez. Can the former PRIDE champion regain past glories in his home country of Japan? Well, past history has shown us that you can never count out “The Fireball Kid.”

Gomi gets a Lil’ Evil on Jens Pulver
PRIDE Shockwave 2004 – 12/31/04
With the UFC’s lightweight division on hiatus from 2004 to 2006, it was the perfect time for Japan’s Gomi to stake his claim as the top 155-pound fighter in the game, and what better statement to make than to beat the last (and then only) man to hold the UFC crown in Jens Pulver? And “The Fireball Kid” did just that, knocking Pulver out in the first round of an exciting standup scrap.

One for the Time Capsule against “Mach” Sakurai
PRIDE Shockwave 2005 – 12/31/05
When talking to Gomi before his UFC debut in 2010, he described his 2005 knockout of Hayato “Mach” Sakurai as “the greatest moment in my life as a fighter.” That’s not surprising, given Sakurai’s iconic status in the sport in Japan and the fact that Gomi won the PRIDE Lightweight Grand Prix and its first lightweight title with the win. But maybe it was the way he won that was so memorable, using a ferocious ground and pound attack to soften Sakurai up for the standup finish moments after the two got back to their feet. This was definitely one for the time capsule.

Chute Boxe vs Takanori Gomi
2005
During the PRIDE years, the feared Chute Boxe team had their issues with Brazilian Top Team and Mark Coleman’s Hammer House squad, but in 2005, the standouts from Brazil got into it with one man – PRIDE lightweight boss Gomi, who beat Jadson Costa and Luiz Azeredo, the latter provoking an in the ring altercation over Gomi’s late shots on Azeredo. Gomi apologized, but still got the last word with two more wins over his rivals that year.

The Fireball Kid Erupts on Tyson Griffin
UFC Live – 8/1/10
Gomi’s long-awaited arrival in the UFC got off to a rough start in 2010, as he was dominated and then submitted by Kenny Florian in March of that year. If he dropped a second consecutive bout against always tough Tyson Griffin five months later, things would look even cloudier as far as a continuing run in the Octagon was concerned. But with a single right hand that sent Griffin face first to the canvas, Gomi resurrected his career, and earned his first UFC win (and first Knockout of the Night bonus). All in just 64 seconds.

Back in Form against Mac Danzig
UFC on FUEL TV – 11/10/12
After the Griffin fight, Gomi hit a two fight losing skid, dropping disappointing bouts to Clay Guida and Nate Diaz in 2011. 2012 marked a new start for Gomi though, one kicked off by a homecoming knockout of countryman Eiji Mitsuoka at UFC 144 in February. But it was his year ending split decision win over Mac Danzig that truly showed a return to form for “The Fireball Kid,” as he battled three hard rounds to earn the victory and a Fight of the Night bonus. On Saturday, he’ll look to do it again to make it three in a row.

ALBANY, NY February 28, 2013 – Lorenzo Fertitta, The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Chairman & CEO, today thanked the members of the New York State Senate Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation for overwhelmingly – 11 to 3 – approving S.2755, which would authorize the New York State Athletic Commission to add Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) to the list of contact sports that may hold matches and exhibitions in New York.  

“New York State’s time has come.  We are confident that 2013 is the year that the Empire State joins 48 other states in legalizing MMA,” Fertitta said.  “I want to thank Senator Griffo and the other cosponsors of the legislation for their leadership and Senator Little and the other members of the committee for their support.

“On behalf of the millions of New York State UFC and MMA fans, I’m hoping that this year, finally, the Assembly will join the Senate in supporting this legislation to bring revenues to the state and to local governments across the state, produce desperately needed jobs, and allow New Yorkers to see UFC and professional MMA events live in their own communities,” Fertitta said.  “As the UFC commemorates its 20th anniversary this year, we would love to celebrate with the most exciting fight card in our history at Madison Square Garden this fall.  Then we want to hit venues from Buffalo to Utica to Long Island.”

S.2755 is sponsored by Senator Griffo (R-Utica), along with eight cosponsors – Republicans and Democrats.  The bill passed the Senate in both 2012 and 2011.

“I know the Senate will again pass the bill this year and I am hopeful that with the leadership of Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle it will finally become law this year,” Sen. Griffo said.  “The legislation enjoys widespread, bipartisan support from upstate and downstate members in both houses.  Legalizing MMA in New York will means jobs and increased revenue.  It will mean UFC, as well as other MMA promoters, will hold matches here.  It means New York fans will no longer have to travel to New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and other states but will be able to see live professional MMA in their local arenas.”

“Once New York legalizes and regulates MMA, outstanding UFC fighters like light heavyweight champion Jon Jones – born in Rochester, raised in Endicott and living in Ithaca – and middleweight contender Chris Weidman – a proud Long Islander and Hofstra graduate – will be able to fight in front of their hometown fans.  And scores of other UFC fighters, including Olympic medalist and bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, will finally be able to show off their skills for their New York fans live and in person,” Fertitta said.

1. Superman vs. Doomsday
The good guys are supposed to win in the end, but after three solid rounds of being controlled on the ground, John "Doomsday" Howard surged to earn a final-seconds TKO over Dennis "Superman" Hallman at the TUF 10 Finale.

2. El Dirte vs. Filthy
The referee tells fighters to keep it clean, but there was no chance of that happening when Joe "El Dirte" Doerksen met "Filthy" Tom Lawlor at UFC 113. Doerksen pulled out the win via the equally-uncouth-sounding rear-naked choke.

3. Lightning vs. Thunder
These two weather-related phenomena usually go hand in hand, but on Saturday night they'll go head-to-head as Yushin "Thunder" Okami faces Hector "Lightning" Lombard at UFC on FUEL TV 8.

4. Tiger vs. The Gazelle
The Octagon has hosted plenty of animal-kingdom-themed matchups, like The Hippo vs. The Snake and Big Dog vs. the Sabretooth. Yet no pairing was a more perfect metaphor for MMA's predator-and-prey nature than Yves "Tiger" Jabouin's UFC 140 win over Walel "The Gazelle" Watson.

5. The Machine vs. The Korean Zombie
In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, will robots rise or will the undead rule the earth? No way to know -- yet -- but a UFC 140 sneak peek saw "The Korean Zombie" Chan Sung Jung quickly dispense with Mark "The Machine" Hominick.

6. The Doberman vs. The Messenger
Score one for the mailman as Jared "The Messenger" Hamman defeated CB "The Doberman" Dollaway in a UFC Live 5 clash built on this decades-old, cross-species rivalry.

7. The Polish Experiment vs. The American Psycho
Each country-claiming weirdo went 1-1 during Stephan "The American Psycho" Bonnar and Krzysztof "The Polish Experiment" Soszynski's duo of bouts at UFC 110 and UFC 116.

8. Hitman vs. Natural Born Killer
Martin "Hitman" Kampmann took on the "Natural Born Killer" Carlos Condit in the April 2009 UFN 18 main event between two career murderers. Kampmann got that decision win, but the NBK went on a tear,  scored the division's welterweight belt and has only lost once since then, to welterweight king GSP.

9. The Immortal vs. Lights Out
Matt "The Immortal" Brown and Chris "Lights Out" Lytle's nicknames represent opposite states of human consciousness. And while Brown didn't go lights out, he did tap out at the hands of Lytle twice during their careers, most recently at UFC 116.

10. Bang vs. The Damage
An injury stoppage was the unfortunate -- if foreshadowed -- outcome of the UFC Live matchup between Duane "Bang" Ludwig and Darren "The Damage" Elkins, which left Ludwig with a broken ankle.

Joe Hand Promotions Remains Exclusive Distributor of UFC Events on Closed Circuit TV/Pay-Per-View for all Commercial Establishments in United States
 

Feasterville, PA – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) organization and Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. announced a multi-year extension of their closed circuit/pay-per-view TV distribution agreement. The deal maintains Joe Hand Promotions, headquartered in Feasterville, Pa., as the exclusive commercial distributor throughout the United States for the UFC, the fastest growing sports organization in the world, through 2015.

“I’m pleased that Joe Hand Promotions will continue to provide passionate, loyal sports fans with our action-packed events,” said Dana White, UFC President. “Joe Hand Promotions’ experience in the closed-circuit industry and their knowledge of the UFC has helped grow the organization into the world’s leading pay-per-view event provider.”

Joe Hand Promotions acquired the UFC commercial distribution rights for the United States in 2001. With over 43 years of experience, Joe Hand Promotions has become the nation’s premier distributor of pay-per-view and closed circuit sports and entertainment programming.

“We are honored to be the exclusive commercial distributor of the UFC in the United States, provide commercial establishments such as bars, restaurants, military bases, casinos, universities, cruise ships and oil rigs with UFC live events,” said Joe Hand Jr., president of Joe Hand Promotions. “We look forward to continuing to provide UFC’s ever-increasing fan base with UFC live events at their favorite commercial establishments throughout the United States.”

UFC live pay-per-view events take place at preeminent destinations worldwide, including MGM Grand Garden Arena (Las Vegas), Staples Center (Los Angeles), Saitama Arena (Tokyo, Japan), Ericsson Globe (Stockholm, Sweden), Saddledome (Calgary, Canada), AirCanada Centre (Toronto, Canada), Bell Centre (Montreal, Canada), and HSBC Arena (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), and consistently draw sell-out crowds with record-breaking gates. Presenting over twelve pay-per-view events per year, the UFC stands as the largest pay-per-view content provider in the United States.

There's no rest for the weary in the fight game, so just a week after UFC 157 last Saturday, the UFC returns to the Land of the Rising Sun with UFC on FUEL TV 8 from Japan.

There are more than a few tight matchups on this card so picking the exact round or method of victory will be ultra important for this show, not to mention four different fighters making their UFC debuts.

Let's take a look at a few of the key fights that could mean the difference between victory and defeat in the latest UFC Pick Em' game for UFC on FUEL TV 8:

1) If you love knockouts, the main event is tailor made for that finish. Both Brian Stann and Wanderlei Silva are artisans of the knockout, with Silva having the most combined KOs and TKOs in UFC / PRIDE history (18), while Stann has finished 10 opponents, with eight of those wins coming by first round KO or TKO. Both of these fighters are finishers, so it's not likely this one will see the later rounds, but Silva has gone the distance with competitors like Rich Franklin over the last couple of years, so anything is possible. It's been nearly five years since Stann lost by knockout, but Silva has suffered four KOs or TKOs in his last seven defeats. When big punchers come to fight anything can happen, and Stann and Silva certainly define those roles. This one may come down to who can land the best one shot of the fight, and who has the better chin. The numbers side slightly with Stann judging by recent fights, but never count out the heart and determination of Wanderlei Silva.

2) Diego Sanchez returns to the lightweight division for the first time since 2009 when he takes on former PRIDE champion Takanori Gomi. Sanchez is a machine when it comes to conditioning and his ability to push forward during a fight. Sanchez has the third most takedown attempts in UFC history and the numbers show when he stays busier than his opponents in landing total strikes he's always victorious. Stylistically, Sanchez is favored in this fight because his wrestling and grappling style could give Gomi fits. Add to that the fact that Sanchez has never been finished in his entire career, and it starts to show that he's got a great shot of avoiding Gomi's heavy hands and pulling out a decision or potential submission win.

3) The fight between Dong Hyun Kim and Siyar Bahadurzada is one of the most interesting stylistic matchups on the card. Kim, who has traditionally been a grappler in the past, has worked tirelessly to improve his striking, showing that in his fights against Paulo Thiago and Sean Pierson. His bread and butter however is the ground game, where he's overwhelmed opponents like Nate Diaz, Amir Sadollah and TJ Grant. Bahadurzada is a vicious, powerful striker who only has one fight in the UFC but a resume that is a highlight reel of finishes. When picking this fight choose wisely because it's likely either Kim will grind out a decision by putting Bahadurzada on his back, or the Afghanistan native will land another nasty knockout to add to his record.

4) One underdog to keep an eye on for this fight card is bantamweight Bryan Caraway. The former WEC fighter and Ultimate Fighter hopeful makes his second trip to 135 pounds, but he has a very tough test in front of him in former WEC title contender Takeya Mizugaki. Make no mistake, Mizugaki has faced the best of the best at 135 pounds and he's hung tough with all of them. Still, Caraway's wrestling and tenacity could give Mizugaki problems in the clinch as he stays away from the Japan native's knockout power. For an underdog pick, Caraway is solid in this slot.

5) Alex Caceres is another interesting fighter to watch on the UFC on FUEL 8 prelims. Taking on newcomer Kyung Ho Kang, Caceres faces a more experienced fighter in every way except where this one counts – in the UFC. Caceres has looked very solid at bantamweight thus far, and as he continues to develop he's an interesting star on the rise. Kang is no pushover, but in his UFC debut he faces a confident fighter who has won three out of his last four fights with the defeat coming by way of a controversial split decision.

Matthew Riddle tested positive for marijuana metabolites following his bout at UFC on FUEL TV 7 in London, England on February 16, 2013. This is Riddle’s second failed drug test for marijuana within the past seven months. Riddle previously failed a post-fight drug test due to marijuana following his UFC 149 victory over Chris Clements.
 
As such, the UFC organization is exercising its right to terminate Riddle for breach of his obligations under his Promotional Agreement as well as the UFC Fighter Conduct Policy. The UFC organization has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance-enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents. The outcome of the bout against Che Mills was changed to a no contest and the results of the positive test will be reported to the official Association of Boxing Commissions MMA record-keeper.
 

Some may express themselves more vocally about how much they love fighting, but few mixed martial artists actually show it the way Diego Sanchez does. So as he sat on the sidelines for over a year nursing a series of injuries, you get the impression that the former Ultimate Fighter winner was going a little stir crazy.

“Having the downtime was really hard,” said Sanchez, who has been out of action since his Fight of the Night decision loss to Jake Ellenberger in February of 2012. “Being out of the gym and being away from what I know and what I love to do was hard, but ever since I’ve been back in the gym, it’s been awesome.”

This Saturday, Sanchez’ return will be in Japan against local icon Takanori Gomi. It’s an intriguing fight on many levels, with the most prominent having to do with a decision “The Dream” made while out of action in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to return to the lightweight division he competed in for three bouts in 2009.

“I had a string of bad luck,” said Sanchez of his second UFC stint at welterweight, which saw him go 2-2 with three Fight of the Night awards. “I broke my hand right before the (aborted) Matt Hughes fight and still stayed positive through that, and then I hurt my ankle right before the Ellenberger fight and my shoulder was really torn out, so I had to go and get my labrum repaired right after the Ellenberger fight, so it was a matter of injuries. And one thing I remembered from when I was fighting at 155 was that there was so much less chance of injury. I don’t know if it was that I was lighter and training with lighter guys or if it was easier on the joints, but I just felt better at ‘55, so I made the decision. Coming into my prime at 31, I thought it was a better decision for my career to jump down to 155 at this point. And on top of that, there were really big guys coming down to 170 like Nate Marquardt, and those guys are monsters who are really big and they don’t gas out. They do the weight cut properly, so that’s what I’m trying to do – be the big guy at 155 and I’m gonna go in there and wreak some havoc in the division. I feel that it’s the most stacked division in MMA, especially with the Strikeforce guys coming over, so it’s very exciting.”

And despite Sanchez’ success and ability to put on show-stopping fights at 170, he does make some good points when it comes to dealing with the size and strength of welterweights that seem to be getting bigger by the day. Eventually, a small welter will find himself unable to physically compete with larger foes on a consistent basis. So even though he saw plenty of good matchups for him at 170, 155 is just as attractive while also allowing him to fight on a more level playing field.

“Either division has tons of great fights, but I think I stack up better at 155, being taller, lighter, faster, and more explosive, and being bigger on top of that,” said Sanchez, whose first lightweight stint saw him defeat Joe Stevenson and Clay Guida before he lost a UFC 107 title bout against BJ Penn.

It’s a good move for Sanchez, and a sign that despite nearly 11 years in the pro game, he’s still tweaking his game, still staying sharp, and still staying relevant in an ever-changing sport. That evolution is something that he’s constantly keeping an eye on.

I think MMA’s going through a transition and another evolution process where it’s coming down to height and reach and distance,” he said. “Guys are learning how to use their kicks and use their jab, and that distance is not like the old days when you fought a real tall guy. Back then you could just take them down. But now guys are learning how to wrestle and they know how to use their leverage, so I thought it was the best decision (to move down in weight), and I think with my previous history at 155, going down and getting two or three wins that I’ll be right there and knocking at the door for a title shot.”

That’s probably an accurate assessment if he beats Gomi and adds a couple more wins over high-profile foes, and it’s something his peers from season one of TUF really can’t claim at this point. Kenny Florian and Stephan Bonnar are retired, Josh Koscheck, Chris Leben, and Mike Swick are all coming off losses, and Forrest Griffin is recovering from a knee injury. So what’s the secret for Sanchez?

“I think, for the most part, it was my age, just being so young when I was on The Ultimate Fighter,” he said. “I was only 22 years old when they filmed it. And I just continue to keep that open mind like Greg Jackson and keep learning and keep getting better in other areas. I want to be a better kickboxer, I want to be a better boxer, and those are the areas of my game that I’m really working on a lot right now. But of course, I’m still always trying to keep my grappling, wrestling, and ground and pound sharp because that’s what I do best. Nowadays you have to be a really well-rounded mixed martial artist because the fight does start on the feet.”

That’s home for Gomi. But as far as Sanchez is concerned, “The Fireball Kid” is the perfect foil for his comeback fight, and he can’t wait for the bell to ring on Saturday night.

“Me coming off these injuries, I was focused on getting the right fight for right now, and I really felt that him coming off those two wins over two really tough guys, he’s on an upswing in his career,” said Sanchez of Gomi, who has recently defeated Eiji Mitsuoka and Mac Danzig. “But at the same time he’s 34 years old, I feel he’s had his prime, and I think he’s one of those guys that’s not gonna run away from me. He’s gonna fight me good and I think he makes for a very exciting fight, and that’s what I’m hoping for. My goal for this fight is to showcase all my MMA. I want to showcase my striking, my wrestling, and my grappling, and play the game that I love.”

And he gets to do it in Japan for the first time in his career. Sanchez says competing in the Land of the Rising Sun is a “very big thing,” but with his family and friends watching on TV and not on site, he’s treating the bout not as a sightseeing trip with a fight thrown in, but strictly business.

“It’s like I’m going to battle,” he said. “It’s the first fight my parents aren’t going to other than the ones that were on The Ultimate Fighter, so to me, this is like a warrior going on a mission to another country to go to battle, and I’m excited for it. I’ve done it all and gone through it all, and nothing really matters after they lock that door on you and you’re in that cage. It doesn’t matter where you are, it all goes away, and it comes down to your training and you, your heart, your mind, your soul, and what you have, and who wants it more. That’s what I’m excited for. Lock that door, say my name, and let me go get Gomi.”

Las Vegas, Nevada – Fresh off a brilliant submission victory over Ivan Menjivar at UFC 157, “The California Kid” Urijah Faber returns to the Octagon®  Saturday, April 13 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas to meet Scott Jorgensen in a can’t-miss bantamweight showdown.

Faber, the former WEC featherweight champion ranked second in the bantamweight division, is known for his explosive athleticism and finishing ability, and the 33-year-old Sacramento native owns wins over the likes of Jens Pulver (twice), Raphael Assuncao, Takeya Mizugaki, Eddie Wineland and Brian Bowles.

A three-time Pac-10 wrestling champion at Boise State University, the 30-year-old Jorgensen defeated John Albert in a performance that earned him Fight and Submission of the Night honors in his most recent bout this past December. “Young Guns” also holds notable victories over Jeff Curran and Brad Pickett and has developed a reputation as one of the division’s most exciting fighters.

“Urijah Faber is one of the best bantamweights in the world and he proved it at UFC 157 by submitting Ivan Menjivar in the first round,” UFC President Dana White said. “He’s ready to jump right back in the Octagon on April 13 with Scott Jorgensen, who’s ranked seventh in the world at 135 pounds. Both of these guys like to finish fights. This is a really exciting main event for the TUF Finale!”

In addition to the Faber-Jorgensen main event, this season’s The Ultimate Fighter® winner will be crowned when the Octagon® makes its way back to the Mandalay Bay Events Center. The Ultimate Fighter® Finale card also includes:

•    Former Strikeforce bantamweight women’s champion Miesha Tate vs. highly touted, undefeated contender Cat Zingano in the second women’s bout in UFC history.
•    A heavyweight showdown between Travis Browne and Gabriel Gonzaga.
•    A featherweight collision between Bart Palaszewski and Cole Miller.
•    A featherweight bout between TUF veteran Justin Lawrence and Houston’s Daniel Pineda.

Tickets for The Ultimate Fighter® Finale go on sale Friday, March 8 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $200, $125, $75 and $50. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit the Mandalay Bay Events Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, www.ticketmaster.com, or charge-by-phone at 800.745.3000.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, March 6 at 10 a.m. PT via www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, March 7, starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

The main card will also air live on FX at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. Catch all new episodes of this season of The Ultimate Fighter Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT!

Martial arts has been a life saver for Mark “Super Samoan" Hunt.  Raised in South Auckland, New Zealand, Hunt says he was once a young man with a chip on his shoulder.  

"When you grow up with poor surroundings, poor people get angry. They get pissed off that they haven't got anything that everyone else has got. That's why I've got that chip I was talking about, people who don't have much get real upset.  And martial arts saved me; actually God helped me through martial arts, saved me from being an angry person. There are a lot of kids out there like that."  

Fighting has instilled discipline in Hunt, who takes on Stefan Struve this Saturday on UFC on FUEL TV 8 at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan.    

"It takes a lot of hard work to be a martial artist and train all the time, takes a lot of dedication. There are a lot of easier things I could've done in my life, but this is what I was supposed to be. It’s God's plan."  

A father of five, the 38-year-old Australia-based Hunt says one of his children may yet follow him into fighting.
 
"My youngest son loves fighting.  I'll support him in whatever he wants to do.  He loves fighting because I'm doing it. He's only five years old." 

Formerly a kickboxer and the 2001 K-1 Kickboxing World Grand Prix champion, then an MMA fighter in Japan's PRIDE FC, Hunt has seen spectacular highs and lows in the fight game, but he believes his long martial arts journey gives him a key advantage over Stefan Struve, who is aged just 25. 

"I've been fighting longer than he's been born, 26 years of martial arts and he's only 24 or 25 so I've got a lot more experience than he does. He's just got his youth, that's all."
 
Standing at 7 feet tall, Struve is the tallest fighter on the UFC roster. Struve is 9-3 in the UFC and on a four fight win streak. But the 5-10 Hunt doesn't see many threats from the Dutch fighter aside from his formidable height and reach. 

"He's a tall kid who's been blessed with being a big person.  He's good at jiu-jitsu but that's all it is.  I've got a lot more experience than he does." 

In 2011, Hunt staged an impressive career turnaround.  After a six fight losing streak, he scored a second round knockout over Chris Tuchscherer and a grueling decision victory over the favored Ben Rothwell.  In 2012, Hunt earned another upset victory with a first round TKO over veteran Cheick Kongo. His comeback even inspired a spirited Twitter campaign from fans rallying to get him a championship fight.  He didn't get a title shot, but with momentum on his side, he was scheduled to fight Struve in May of 2012.  Misfortune struck as Hunt suffered a knee injury and was forced to withdraw from the bout.  In his understated style, he admits being sidelined for so long has been difficult.  

"I'm looking forward to it (fighting again). It didn't really help with this injury, it just happened and it was just a setback for a while and it's hard to train with a leg injured like that. We’ll see how it goes in a couple of weeks.  Gonna party (laughs)."
 
While he has previously trained with American Top Team in Florida, this time he's prepared more locally. 

"I started off in New Zealand doing modified strongman work; now I'm back here (in Australia) training with the local guys, so it's pretty good." 

Hunt has worked with a 6-7 jiu-jitsu player to prepare for Struve.  It's a wise move given that the rangy Dutch fighter holds four UFC wins by submission.  Hunt, best known as a granite chinned knockout artist, has fallen prey to submissions in the past.
 
"I've trained with a tall guy for my jiu-jitsu, his name's Marco (Carlos Gracie black belt Marco Villela).” 

But when asked if he's found any tall sparring partners for the standup, Hunt replies with more of the candid humility he's become known for.  

"I had a little bit of training with a couple of boxers, a couple of kick fighters.  It hasn't been too great at all, but I get what I can get." 

This fight marks another return to Japan for Hunt, the country where he has fought for much of his career. And he recently enjoyed a stint on one of Japan's famously bizarre game shows, participating in a tug of war alongside Alistair Overeem and among other notable fighters.  Novelty factor aside, Hunt displayed some impressive strength as he beat a sumo wrestler, gigantic MMA fighter Bob Sapp, and a professional strongman to be crowned champion. 

"Yeah I loved doing that show; it's good for my popularity over there. Fighting is fighting, but it's all part of it, so it's great. They had a few other fighters there like Alistair (Overeem), Bob (Sapp), and it was great. I had a lot of fun."
 
While Hunt is once again the underdog against Struve, that's nothing new for the "Super Samoan," who was once the unheralded fighter from New Zealand who won the K-1 Grand Prix, then the PRIDE newcomer who beat legend Wanderlei Silva, and now the UFC fighter who is in the midst of an unlikely comeback. When asked about his status as underdog, Hunt cites a maxim from the standup game.
 
"It's good, I like it that way.  What you don't see coming hurts the most.  I don't mind being the underdog, it's fine."   
 

UFC President Dana White has called Yushin Okami the best Japanese fighter to ever compete in the Octagon, and with 12 wins in the promotion to his name, it’s hard to argue with his success in the UFC. But before Okami was fighting top level competition, challenging for world titles and securing a main card spot on Saturday’s UFC on FUEL TV 8 card against Hector Lombard, he was a fan like the rest of us, hoping to one day emulate the exploits of his countrymen.

“Yuki Kondo and Caol Uno were my favorite fighters in those days,” said Okami through translator Gen Isono when asked about his early years in the sport. “I loved how Yuki Kondo fought and how he looked, and I respected and still respect Caol Uno because we were on the same team and I knew how dedicated he was to this sport."

Kondo was one of the most underrated Japanese fighters to step into the Octagon, and though he once challenged Tito Ortiz for the 205-pound title in 2000, his impact was felt most keenly back home, both before and after his three fight stay in the promotion. Uno was the gold standard for fighters from the Land of the Rising Sun in the UFC for years, challenging twice for the lightweight title, losing a decision to Jens Pulver in 2001 and drawing with BJ Penn in 2003.

It was Okami who became the first to put it all together though, with his strength, ability to use the Octagon to his advantage, and fighting savvy serving him well consistently. Only four fighters have issued him a defeat in the UFC, and when those fighters are named Rich Franklin, Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen, and Tim Boetsch, that’s pretty impressive. But ask him about White’s comment, and while he appreciates it, he has bigger goals in mind.

“I am very glad and honored to hear that, but my goal is to become the world’s best fighter, not to become the best Japanese fighter,” he said. “I am going to make it happen.”

And after his upset loss to Boetsch in the third round of a fight he was winning last February, Okami bounced back with a TKO of Buddy Roberts in August and a decision win over Alan Belcher in their December 2012 rematch, giving him some nice momentum heading into his first start of 2013 against Lombard.

“I feel proud that I have defeated top fighters in my division, and in 2013 I want to convince fans that Yushin Okami has the right to challenge the title again,” said the Kanagawa native, who will have home Octagon advantage against the Cuban powerhouse.

“There is no jet lag and no difficulty for my daily life here,” he said of fighting at home. “In that sense, of course some adjustments are easier here. I admit I had and have some different kinds of pressure because I want to live up to the expectations of my fans in Japan and the people who support me.”

Against Boetsch, he fell short of those expectations thanks to the furious comeback of “The Barbarian.” But in an odd 12 months for the division, one that saw top contenders Boetsch, Belcher, and Michael Bisping lose big fights, Lombard drop his UFC debut, and yet another top contender, Chris Weidman, get sidelined by injury, Okami’s defeat has not hurt his standing as much as it may have in any other year. In fact, with two straight wins already in the bank, a third could skyrocket him back up the 185-pound ranks. Yet “Thunder” admits to not looking at his peers defeats as a way for him to move forward.

“I did not pay attention to those fights in that way,” he said when asked about Bisping’s loss to Vitor Belfort and Boetsch’s defeat at the hands of Costa Philippou. “Of course I was interested in their fights very much and I believe that any fighter should be given an opportunity when he proves he has the right.”

Now it’s time for Okami to prove that he’s worthy of eventually securing a third fight with Silva, and he has to get by Lombard to do it.

“Quick hands and one punch KO power are combined in Hector Lombard,” he said. “That will be the most difficult part for me to handle when I fight him, and I am very careful about that point.”

It’s a good mindset to have, especially since Lombard is coming off a first round blitzing of Rousimar Palhares last December. But Okami hasn’t made it to this point in his career without being able to adapt to different styles, which is just one element of his success thus far. As for the other secrets, he simply says, “I am very grateful to the UFC and the people around me for giving me such huge opportunities, but I do not regard myself as being successful already. My goal is to go one step further.”

And maybe that’s the secret, a humility that keeps him pushing for more, despite already reaching a high level. At 31, he’s still in his physical prime, and in training with other partners, including Team Quest and Chael Sonnen, he’s keeping things fresh at a time when other fighters can get stale. And while the grind of being a professional athlete can be a rough one, leading him to hit his bookshelf for relaxation, he refuses to take off too much time from his day job.

“I believe that relaxing is very important, but I am a professional fighter and training is part of my job, so basically I do not want to be away from martial arts completely.”

It’s the “Thunder” way.