The mafia could be behind this alonng the betting industry, opponent took a dive, something like that. But let's not overthink. That event never was important.
Yachi was a massive favorite on the betting lines. Everyone thought it was too much for Saku Jr's debut. Yachi has been one of Japan's best for a long time, and went to war with Volkanovski before Volk went to the UFC.
That was the unanimous verdict: Yachi's experience was gonna be too much. I also tried to research any strenght on Saku jr. but i found nothing: No amateur background, no kb backgroung. Only some grappling experience at Quintet. I also checked Yachi's last bouts and he was coming over a decent victory over Sho Patrick Usami, who is another Rizin prospect.
Seeing this again in slow motion it does seem like Yachi is legitimately stunned on the ground
Yachi was like -400, the same odds Tito Ortiz had against Ken Shamrock. What made the odds maker think the old declining man who peaked out a decade ago would dominate the born MMA fighter is unknown to me. It would've made more sense if they had been -210/+180. Sakuraba grew up in the elitist environment, has been training all his life, has a body frame of welter weight if not middle weight and got huge advantages in age and reach. Those who were obsessed with Yachi's experience didn't see how Rorion's son defeated Kazushi. "Grappling counts as MMA experience"- demian Maia.
It's very simple, most people expected Taisei to be another Erson Yamamoto, if only due to the fact that there wasn't much to go off on in regards to his skills. This result hardly answers any questions one might have about him either, though I do hope he's good enough to one day make it into the UFC for some meaningful fights.
