What's wrong with the Asian fighters?

[blazerkor]

It's just not that popular in Asia. I don't think it's close to as popular as it is here. Also it's a misconception that there are no Asian fighters doing well. For how many are in the sport they are doing pretty damn good. We recently had Okami in the UFC who was a beast and don't forget that Machida and Bendo are both half asian. Right now we have Horiguchi, Mizugaki, Choi, and Stun Gun. Also the karate hottie is of Thai descent. So Asians aren't doing too bad considering this sport isn't something they actively have in their culture.

 

[matrat103]

The more important question is when is KZ coming back?

 

[Sherm]

If you're the typical Elliot Rodgers type, then yes of course you would feel that way because your mother hates being Asian.



Self hating Asian detected. Take a look at the Olympics. China has always been a top achiever in medals. There is no lack of athletic ability, only lack of proper training and knowledge of MMA, which is still not popular over there.

Elliot Rodger is a disgrace to the half-race.

As to your second point, I believe one of the first Americans to win a gold medal in weightlifting was a Japanese American named Tommy Kono, who got into strength training when he found a bodybuilding magazine while being held in an internment camp. He also ended up winning a Mr. Universe. There are also an inordinate number of high-level half-Asian fighters, like BJ, Lyoto, and Bendo. I still think there could be a minor genetic component, but I think it is hugely overstated by most.

 

[blazerkor]

To my dismay as a half-Asian, I often worry there might be some truth to this.

But no one accuses Mexicans of having A-level atheletes, and they are awesome at fighting. Also, Japan just got second in the Men's 4x100m at the Olympics. A-sians, not B-sians!

I am Full Asian and will say that it is Genes, also. Unless we're banging out pie charts to confuse white boys or building iphones or making great chicken and broc, we're just not going to dominate.

Genes, they are too pure of a race. Even explosive rumble is mixed down the line.

Yikes, I'm sorry but this stuff is pure craziness. Asians in the far East don't have well established programs to go to in order to learn MMA, so they're just behind and I expect some dominant champions down the road. Asian Americans culturally aren't a big demographic in MMA, they just don't choose to translate the world class Judo, Kickboxing, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Boxing and Jiu Jitsu champions into MMA. It's got nothing to do with genetics seeing as how Asians are always very well represented in all of the individual disciplines in combat sports.

 

[thakmd]

Elliot Rodger is a disgrace to the half-race.

As to your second point, I believe one of the first Americans to win a gold medal in weightlifting was a Japanese American named Tommy Kono, who got into strength training when he found a bodybuilding magazine while being held in an internment camp. He also ended up winning a Mr. Universe. There are also an inordinate number of high-level half-Asian fighters, like BJ, Lyoto, and Bendo. I still think there could be a minor genetic component, but I think it is hugely overstated by most.

Plenty of Asians have dominated in martial arts and in the Olympics. Nothing to do with genetics. Asians simply do not care much about MMA because MMA is an American / Brazilian creation.

 

[chubbazz]

i wonder what percentage of the ufc roster is straight asian. anyway, it's not like they suck, they've had some elite fighters who have earned title shots, just fucking difficult to become a champion. they're doing ok considering the disparity in numbers.

 

[Mondo Freaks]

Its an aggression thing. Asian fighters seem very timid.

 

[mrbaapt]

Genes

That Korean guy Perry KO'd was a monstrous Welter weight. His "genes" are just fine.

 

[ilfirin]

trololol are we pretending Mizugaki didn't pass his prime quite a few years ago now? And Lim was never that good to begin with, sorry. Shitty examples.

 

[mrbaapt]

Genes, they are too pure of a race. Even explosive rumble is mixed down the line.

The small eyes and dark hair are actually phenotypes from South East Africa particularly the Khoisan people.

East Asian people are no more "pure" than any other type of people. Extremely mixed.

 

[Grappleboxing]

Nothing is wrong. Asians punch well above their weight in the UFC, it's just that when an Asian loses, it is a bigger deal than when white guy Joe Smith from Iowa loses, just cause there are fewer asians. Horiguchi and DHK are Top 15. Ishihara,Lim, Kang, and Choi are rising prospects while Gomi,Okami, and Kawajiri were great fighters back in the day. KZ is also rearing to come back sometime next year.

That beign said, improvements can be made.
1. Better mma camps. Asian fighters need to move to America to reap the benefits of sparring and training with top fighters and get used to American style training.
2.Promotion. While mma is slowly rising in China, Korea is exploding in growth. Japan hit a low within the last few years, but it is remaining steady with a slow amount of decent prospects that can became great on the world stage.
Once a star comes from one of these places, I imagine mma will be more popular.

 

[Credo]

 

[ElusiveRiddum]

Can yall stop with this genes nonsense? Japan took home the second most wrestling medals in the Olympics this time around, so I'm pretty sure they're not hurting in the athleticism department.

A lot of the Japanese guys getting wrecked ( like Mizugaki) are older guys out of there prime. They just need some new blood. Korea already has some decent talent.

 

[12ga.]

Different culture. Why is there not many African MMAers arnt they supposed to be best athletes in the world? Not many south Americans with exception of Brazil who has a shit load. Not many white europeans but America is way over represented. Not many Mexicans but tones of Mexican Americans.

Different strokes for different folk.

 

[tdavis925]

Its an aggression thing. Asian fighters seem very timid.

Right... Doo Ho Choi, Chan Sung Jung, Hyung Gu Lim, all so timid. It's like they don't even come to fight.

I'm honestly appalled at the racism, especially the self-hating racism I'm seeing in this thread. I know I shouldn't expect better from Sherdog, but come on, especially when the real explanation is so damn obvious.

 

[tdavis925]

Elliot Rodger is a disgrace to the half-race.

He's a disgrace to humanity. Race has nothing to do with it.

 

[deweydeucalion]

Many Asian countries have really good amateur boxing/wrestling/judo programs but non of the people in them do mma. MMA is not big in Asia and the UFC is an American company with majority American fighters.

 

[Topguntrophey]

 

[aries]

probably training. there arent any particularly reknown mma camps in japan.



also maybe some of this. asians are brainy and generally work smarter not harder types.

That doesn't make sense when you look at how many Asian boxers there are. Perhaps the size part is an element as to why they don't do so well at the heavier weights.

 

[HI SCOTT NEWMAN]

Its an aggression thing. Asian fighters seem very timid.

Totally agree. When fighters are aggressive to Asian fighters they just wilt. seen it hundreds of times