Yushin Okami, like former welterweight title challengers Jake Shields and Jon Fitch, can now be found competing under the World Series of Fighting banner. Released while on a 3-1 stretch, he was cut from the promotion basically due to a relatively high salary (over $40,000 to show and another $40,000 to win) despite what Dana White would consider a boring fight style. When you think of it, however, is 40/40 really a "high" salary for a top ten fighter? His fight style certainly didn't seem boring when Okami met Silva, however. Okami entered the fight on a three fight win streak with victories over Mark Munoz and Nate Marquardt, and a TKO victory over the basically unknown Lucio Linhares. Munoz and Marquardt, however, were names, and those gained him the shot - as well as already having a win over Anderson Silva. That's right. This fight was all about balancing the record books. See, Okami had won against Silva outside the UFC, but it was due to Silva being disqualified for an illegal upkick at their 2006 Rumble on the Rock fight. In the rematch? Okami lasted all of a round and a half against Silva before Silva took him out with punches. That ended the Japanese fighter's hopes of a belt in the UFC, and he was eventually rushed out the door. Silva also got revenge on one of the few fighters to ever beat him, by any means.
Primarily covering the sport of MMA from Ontario, Canada, Jay Anderson has been writing for various publications covering sports, technology, and pop culture since 2001. Jay holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Guelph, and a Certificate in Leadership Skills from Humber College.
