UFC releases Yushin Okami

[BionicCommando]

Love how the same people who bitched about Okami being boring are now turning around and bitching endlessly about him being released. Consistency is nothing these days.

 

[rjmbrd]

If he signs with Bellagor, guess I will start watching Bellagor. First Fitsch now Oami. Bullshit. UFC too aggressive releasing fighters

I really only watch Bellator for a few guys, specifically Eddie Alvarez. Generally I'll watch a fight if it makes a buzz after it happens and its worth digging up.

If Yushin Okami is fighting in Bellator, I have to watch it. It's completely mind blowing they want someone as legitimately talented and high profile as Okami fighting somewhere else getting eyeballs.

 

[ethanfranklin]

There is no reasonable way to explain cutting Yushin Okami. He's legitimately top 10 in the world and recently beat two high profile guys in Lombard and Belcher. Pretty much zero doubt he can beat nearly all of the guys signed to MW, and split wins and losses if he fought the entire top 5 in succession, right now.

Weve gone from a culture that moved away from fake kung fu films, and looked for the best fighters, and genuinely educated us about fighting.

To one that has now taken those fighters, and made them kung fu up their performances for the lowest common denominator idiots at home.

Well done. :icon_neut

There are 47 people ranked below Okami in the UFC MW division.

MMA loses the best athletes at HW to all the other sports.

LHW and MW are marquee divisions, and MW is already a historically threadbare one.

This is insanity.

 

[BionicCommando]

I really only watch Bellator for a few guys, specifically Eddie Alvarez. Generally I'll watch a fight if it makes a buzz after it happens and its worth digging up.

If Yushin Okami is fighting in Bellator, I have to watch it. It's completely mind blowing they want someone as legitimately talented and high profile as Okami fighting somewhere else getting eyeballs.

They cut Fitch who was more high profile than Okami. Hasn't killed their business model yet.

 

[fearoth]

Gsp better not lose to Hendricks.

 

[Green Poncho]

Gsp better not lose to Hendricks.

People care about GSP.

 

[GoodOleWrasslin]

People bitched about him non stop when he was fighting because of his boring style. Now he gets released and everyone wants to freak out. Its a business. Boring fighters are bad for business. He was probably making more than he was bringing in.

But in true sherdog fashion people just want to cry about something.

 

[vyronturner]

Sucks for Okami. Hopefully it lights a fire under him and he starts destroying guys. He'll be back I think.

 

[ethanfranklin]

People bitched about him non stop when he was fighting because of his boring style. Now he gets released and everyone wants to freak out. Its a business. Boring fighters are bad for business. He was probably making more than he was bringing in.

But in true sherdog fashion people just want to cry about something.

Its a business promoting a sport. Period.

If you dont have that, you have nothing.

 

[BayStyles]

Yeah, and Leben's getting around the same $$$, or even more, officially.

He sure as hell is performing.

Lol I wasn't saying I agree'd with the cut, I don't. I'm just saying that's probably why they did

 

[Kneeuinthenutz]

Many of you can congratulate yourselves on this even taking place.

Many modern MMA fans have created a culture where "flash", and being marketable takes precedent over actually being one of the best fighters in the world.

 

[GoodOleWrasslin]

Its a business promoting a sport. Period.

If you dont have that, you have nothing.

Never said anything to the contrary. Im just pointing out that the UFC has made it clear with cuts like Fitch and Okami that its a business first. If fighters want to stick around they had better take notice.

 

[Green Poncho]

Weve gone from a culture that moved away from fake kung fu films, and looked for the best fighters, and genuinely educated us about fighting.

To one that has now taken those fighters, and made them kung fu up their performances for the lowest common denominator idiots at home.

Well done. :icon_neut

There are 47 people ranked below Okami in the UFC MW division.

MMA loses the best athletes at HW to all the other sports.

LHW and MW are marquee divisions, and MW is already a historically threadbare one.

This is insanity.

The hell? MW has always been one of the weakest divisions in name value and talent.

LHW and WW are the big divisions.

 

[rjmbrd]

They cut Fitch who was more high profile than Okami. Hasn't killed their business model yet.

I don't know that Fitch is, because such a great many people hated watching his fights. Roll back the clock and look at Sherdog around anytime he had a fight coming up - most of the attention was negative.

People get excited for Okami fights in a way they don't for Fitch, in my opinion. At least that is 100% the case for me.

Aside from that, Fitch was a thorn in their side and refused a title eliminator with Koscheck when they were the clear top guys in the division that had not yet fought. Okami would be fighting his buddy Chael Sonnen in his next gig if thats what they told him to do.

He's a company man. It's not a Fitch situation, and, its far more mind blowing to me.

 

[Shaddows]

Many of you can congratulate yourselves on this even taking place.

Many modern MMA fans have created a culture where "flash", and being marketable takes precedent over actually being one of the best fighters in the world.

well... that's what you get for a business owning a sport...

many of their decisions will be purely from the money aspect.

Zuffa is in the business to make money.

MMA is the product they chose to "sell".

They will try to make it marketable.

And when there's a conflict of interest, the money side will prevail.

 

[po_thead]

Top 5 at MW, a top Japanese fighter.

Not super exciting, not going to be a champion.
-

The top wins for me - I don't see how you cut a guy that high up in the ranks. Shocker

 

[Rex Kwon Do]

Guess the UFC doesn't give a shit about the Japanese market any more. Although I'll admit I know nothing about Okami's popularity over there.

Sucks, wish he was still going to be on the roster. Will he go to Bellator? He'd wreck whatever Russian currently has the belt over there.

 

[Levi_]

I guess the UFC has given up on building a fan base in Japan? No other conclusion I could draw.

 

[ocfightfan]

Yeah I find this one to be very questionable.

On the one hand, it's a logical business move. Okami makes a lot of money, but he probably is not a big draw at this point.

On the other hand it undercuts the UFC's sporting legitimacy, which long term could hurt the business side of things. If he had lost another fight or two I could see cutting him regardless of his spot in the top 10. Keep in mind, the top 10 is an opinion.

They are walking a fine line, and I think they erred on the wrong side this time.

 

[Barret]

Yushin is a threat to most MWs and the UFC knows it. That is why he was probably cut for fear of destabilizing the up and comers.

Its still the most fuckin retarded cut in recent times.