was Kawajiri Japan's last hope?

[PRIDE_DREAM_RIZIN]

Crusher was on a legitimate winning streak in the UFC, I believe he was 2-3 wins away from title contention. With his last loss that sets him back to the stone age for say. Was he Japan's last great hope in the UFC?

 

[Okajima]

For the time being yeah.

 

[DannyNL]

Hmmmm... maybe, bro!

 

[LouisBolanos]

Kyoji Horiguchi is only 25. He still has plenty of time to develop. But yeah in general Japan is not looking good.

 

[Realiity Check]

Kyoji Horiguchi, I still have believe he's championship material.

 

[Loriquero]

horiguchi is going to be FW champion in three years or before

 

[frandie2b]

Kawajiri is legit, but too damn old.

Japan needs to produce some new fresh blood, but it seems like MMA is not that big anymore there.

 

[BjPenn2016FW]

Kiichi Kunimoto, Michinori Tanaka

 

[Dreaming Dead]

Nowadays Kawajiri sucks and is boring. That was a terrible fight.

Old school Shooto/PRIDE Kawajiri was awesome. The legitimar Crusher. The one who smashed Vitor Shaolin and other fools. The one who gave Gomi all he could handle. That fighter seems to be gone.

 

[Hardcor'O'Death]

I wonder if Aoki could fought in the UFC

 

[SirKratos]

Who was that dude with unorthodox movement,won a fight by split decision at BW or FLW 2-3 months ago

Him

 

[Ryan G]

Nowadays Kawajiri sucks and is boring. That was a terrible fight.

Old school Shooto/PRIDE Kawajiri was awesome. The legitimar Crusher. The one who smashed Vitor Shaolin and other fools. The one who gave Gomi all he could handle. That fighter seems to be gone.

No kidding. I couldn't figure out what the hell he was trying to do against Bermudez, spinning around in circles like a drunk ballerina. What a bizarre game plan.

 

[tjumper78]

we all know kawajiri hasnt been a top 10 material for a long time.
other than horiguchi and tanaka (potential top 10), japan has nothing. other than the superboy, even korea has pretty much no one with potential to challenge for the title anytime soon or down the road although most of their fighters are extremely entertaining (sorta opposite of japanese fighters).
i'd love to see more asian fighters in the ufc but it's just how it is.

 

[waldywaldy]

Horiguchi has potential. Tanaka is a prospect. Aoki could still be top 10 at both LW and FW imo. Mizuki Inoue is still very young.

But I agree, slim pickings these days.

 

[UkraineFreightTrain]

I thought he was Pride's last hope at LW.. then he got destroyed by Melendez

Very unhappy about that

 

[Hallelujah]

There was a jap prospect that ko'd a dude a few months back on the prelims. he is your savior

 

[Big Al's Texas BBQ]

we all know kawajiri hasnt been a top 10 material for a long time.
other than horiguchi and tanaka (potential top 10), japan has nothing. other than the superboy, even korea has pretty much no one with potential to challenge for the title anytime soon or down the road although most of their fighters are extremely entertaining (sorta opposite of japanese fighters).
i'd love to see more asian fighters in the ufc but it's just how it is.

Kim is still top 10 and KZ can potentially get back into the top 10 after he comes back.

 

[Lucifer Alpha]

Kiichi Kunimoto

Are you just naming any Japanese fighter in the UFC?

 

[soulsstealer]

cant really call it a hope.

 

[TheVenom]

Kawajiri's best years are LONG gone. Underrated career, IMO, I think he should retire soon.