Greater Japanese fighter: Kazuo Misaki or Yushin Okami?

[ExitLUPin]

I think most would agree the Holy Trinity of Japanese MMA fighters are Saku, Gomi and Aoki. Lot of room for the next best guy, the flyweight trio (yamaguchi, Kojima, urushitani), kondo, Kawajiri, Mach, Hioki etc. But who do u think was greater b/w these 2 who i think u can reasonably argue for 4 and/or 5? Both mostly MWs in their careers as well but also competed at WW.

Misaki is known for having some of the slickest boxing of that era and one of the best chins in MMA history, along with a dynamic submission game on the ground.

Yushin was known for his successful grinding style involving a heavy a clinch game using his size/strength involving takedowns and a decent top game.

Kazuo Misaki

Top 5 wins: Dan Henderson (was considered the best MW in the world by many), Denis Kang (controversial)

Top 15 wins - Kiuma Kunioku, Phil Baroni

Other notable wins - Paul Daley (outstruck him), Ed Herman

Controversial losses - Jorge Santiago 2 (escaping under ropes when he was about to lose by TKO), Ricardo Almeida (decision), Nate Marquardt (broken arm), Manhoef (stoppage)

Draw - Jake Shields

Other - NC: Originally knocked out Akiyama, was deemed illegal soccer kick

* Siyar wasnt ranked anywhere when they fought. Neither was Riggs or Nakamura.

Yushin Okami

Top 5 wins - Nate Marquardt (controversial)

Top 10 wins - Alan Belcher II, Hector Lombard (controversial)

Top 15 wins - Mike Swick

Other notable wins - Jason MacDonald, Dean Lister

Controversial losses - Jake Shields (decision), Falaniko Vitale (decision)

Other: DQ win over Anderson due to getting knocked out from illegal upkick.

*I didnt include Evan Tanner as notable b/c he was well past prime and hadnt fought in 2 years/wasnt ranked. Mark Munoz wasnt ranked at the time either. Belcher also wasnt ranked the first time they fought.

 

[wilKO]

I don't know much about Japanese mma legends but Mach Sakurai is a Japanese legend. He was p4p number 1 and brought up Gomi. I'd put him ahead of both guys in the poll.

 

[Mixfight]

Prime Misaki would kick the shit out of Okami.

 

[Sinthesized]

Okami

 

[Spookv]

Okami

 

[Abezal]

Prime Misaki tools most Japanese guys at his weight, with only Saku being the exception.

 

[Redhawks100]

Prime Misaki would kick the shit out of Okami.

Lol here we go with the Pride fanatic.

 

[ExitLUPin]

Lol here we go with the Pride fanatic.

Both were PRIDE fighters my son. In fact Yushin fought in PRIDE a couple years before Misaki made his PRIDE debut defeating Patino who had KTFO Jacare Souza 2 fights before.

 

[yekmurat]

Okami fought for UFC title you know right?

 

[ExitLUPin]

Okami fought for UFC title you know right?

Whats ur point?

Evan Tanner was the UFC champ. Do u think hes a better fighter than Jacare Souza lol

Misaki was the PRIDE GP champion for 185lbs and he holds a win over a prime Dan Henderson who most considered the best MW in the world at the time.

 

[J0N0]

Misaki is hugely underrated for some reason; probably because he never went on a consistent win streak; he beat some great fighters though. Same with Gono, he doesn't get the respect he should.

 

[PRIDE_DREAM_RIZIN]

PRIDE Gran Prix Champion

 

[ortizgnp]

Okami made it in the UFC - no other japanese fighter has done it.

 

[yekmurat]

Whats ur point?

Evan Tanner was the UFC champ. Do u think hes a better fighter than Jacare Souza lol

Misaki was the PRIDE GP champion for 185lbs and he holds a win over a prime Dan Henderson who most considered the best MW in the world at the time.

Tanner vs Jacare compare is just funny lol...They both fought in UFC so get over it...You say he won over Hendo,at the same time he lost to Lytle and Marquart so what???MMAth doesnt work as u see
My point is Okami fought in better competition and come so close to get the title...

 

[Redhawks100]

Both were PRIDE fighters my son. In fact Yushin fought in PRIDE a couple years before Misaki made his PRIDE debut defeating Patino who had KTFO Jacare Souza 2 fights before.

Yes I know he fought twice in Pride lol

 

[ExitLUPin]

Tanner vs Jacare compare is just funny lol...They both fought in UFC so get over it...You say he won over Hendo at the same time he lost to Lytle and Marqueart so what???MMAth doesnt work as u see
My point is Okami fought in better competition and come so close to get the title...Plus Misa

So fighting in the UFC makes someone a better fighter huh? I guess UFC champ Tim Sylvia is better than Fedor lmao herp derp

What relevance does him fighting in the UFC have to do with this? Beating a prime Dan Henderson when he was considered the best MW in the world is by far better than anything Okami has come close to lol

 

[Just Creed]

I wouldn't call the Lombard win controversial. Okami clearly win 2 rounds

 

[MidnightPurple]

While on the subject of asian fighters, I think Choi Doo-ho has great potential to be featherweight belt contender.

 

[yekmurat]

So fighting in the UFC makes someone a better fighter huh? I guess UFC champ Tim Sylvia is better than Fedor lmao herp derp

What relevance does him fighting in the UFC have to do with this? Beating a prime Dan Henderson when he was considered the best MW in the world is by far better than anything Okami has come close to lol

Why you need to give examples of other fighters to prove you re right?This is MMAth,MMAth sucks and it makes you look ridiculous...Okami has like 12-13 UFC wins when UFC MW division was really stacked and he got that title shot...and you talk about Fedor,Tim or Hendo????

 

[ExitLUPin]

Why you need to give examples of other fighters to prove you re right?This is MMAth,MMAth sucks and it makes you look ridiculous...Okami has like 12-13 UFC wins when UFC MW division was really stacked and he got that title shot...and you talk about Fedor,Tim or Hendo????

It wasnt stacked LMAO.
yeah he had alot of wins in UFC and half of those wins werent even against ranked guys lol

Kalib Starnes, Rory Singer, Lucio Linhares, Buddy Roberts LMAO
Munoz wasnt ranked at the time, Belcher wasnt the 1st time they fought and had no real wins against anyone.

I listed his relevant wins in the OP.

Your logic is stupid. And i doubt u know much if anything about Misaki based on ur logic here.

Yushins only top level win was Marquardt who some thought he lost. Meanwhile Misaki has beaten Hendo and Kang albeit Kang was controversial. There was nothing controversial about the Hendo fight and he straight up beat and outstruck a Hendo at the heart of his prime giving him his first loss at MW.