5 Upcoming MMA Fights We Wish Were In The Big Leagues

3. Satoshi Ishii vs. Sergei Kharitonov

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxDwHF3oQC8 Satoshi Ishii is one of the best heavyweights outside the UFC, and probably the best heavyweight in Japan. There was talk for a while of him joining the big show, but he was making good money in his native Japan to knock out some of the best fighters outside the UFC. Those include Jeff Monson, Pedro Rizzo, Sean McCorkle, Tim Sylvia, Jerome Le Banner, and Phil De Fries. While some (like ex UFC champs Pedro Rizzo and Tim Sylvia) were well past their prime, it's still a pretty solid record. Outside his first fight, Ishii's only loss until this year was to Fedor Emelianenko, and there's no shame in that. Then last month, the now 12€“3€“1 dropped a fight to Cro Cop, which we'll get to in a bit. In the mean time, Ishii has agreed to meet former Strkeforce fighter Sergei Kharitonov at an M-1 event in November, to be held in China. It's another big name for Ishii, who is a former gold medal Olympian (in Judo). Kharitonov (21-5) is a Pride vet who holds wins over Mike Russow, Alistair Overeem, and Andrei Arlovski (when the Pit Bull was at his lowest). This is probably the best fight you'll find outside the big leagues at heavyweight.