Why isn't Takaya in the UFC?

[PRIDE_DREAM_RIZIN]

I just saw he is fighting on the Pancrase card tonight, he was once regarded as the best FW on the planet at one time. I remember his all out wars against Bibi in DREAM.

 

[skylolow]

My guess is he makes decent money fighting in that part of the world. Much more than the UFC would offer him. The guy gets some good wins but he also drops fights that he probably shouldn't.

 

[AronaBeatsJones]

If history has shown us anything, it's that Japanese fighters don't fare too well in the States.

I was really hoping Aoki would've been the one to break the curse, but between Gomi, Yamamoto, Gono, Hioki, Nakai, and even Akiyama, it just doesn't seem to work out. Hoping Kawajiri will be the one, but it's a tall order in UFC's stacked lightweight division.

It's better to stay on the Japanese scene, rack up wins, and be a national star, rather than an international failure.