8 MMA Fighters You Didn't Realise Are Still Competing

Yushin 'Thunder' Okami may just be the best Japanese fighter to have spent the majority of his professional career fighting outside of his home country.

Making his UFC debut way back in 2006, Okami consistently demonstrated an impressive wrestling acumen that saw him suffocate opponents before finishing with strikes or grinding out a victory on the judges' scorecards.

Okami compiled a 7-2 record during his first three years with the UFC, with his only defeats coming by top contenders in Rich Franklin and future teammate Chael Sonnen. Thunder would rebound from these losses and earn a title shot against long-reigning middleweight king Anderson Silva, but he would be unable to solve the puzzle that was prime Silva and fell to a second-round TKO defeat.

Despite being released by the UFC in 2013, Okami would continue his career in the US competing for the World Series of Fighting promotion, and Pancrase in his native country.

A second UFC stint starting in 2017 would prove less-successful for the Japanese fighter after dropping to 170lbs, going 1-2 across three bouts before once again being released by the organisation. Okami is still fighting though, having signed with One Championship to compete in their middleweight division with his last fight being a win over Agilan Thani in October of last year.