Okami-Sonnen Booked for UFC 104
Brian Knapp Jul 17, 2009
It does not appear Yushin Okami
will get his rematch with UFC middleweight champion Anderson
Silva anytime soon.
The world’s top Japanese middleweight will square off with Team Quest veteran Chael Sonnen at UFC 104 on Oct. 24 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The matchup was announced on the UFC Japan Web site.
The 28-year-old Okami (23-4) has posted seven wins in eight appearances inside the Octagon, losing only to former middleweight champion Rich Franklin. He will carry a three-fight winning streak into his showdown with Sonnen. A strong ground and clinch fighter, Okami has been finished only once in 27 career bouts. The Kanagawa, Japan, native last appeared at UFC 92 when he cruised to a unanimous decision victory against Dean Lister. Okami also holds wins against former Bodog Fight champion Nick Thompson, top welterweight contender Mike Swick and the late Evan Tanner. He was the last man to defeat Silva, though he did so by disqualification, and has pined for a rematch ever since.
Sonnen, 32, has not fought since he defeated former International Fight League titleholder Dan Miller by unanimous decision at UFC 98 two months ago. The outspoken Oregonian counts victories against reigning Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Renato “Babalu” Sobral and current Maximum Fighting Championship titleholder Trevor Prangley among his 23 career wins. Sonnen (23-10-1), a former All-American wrestler at the University of Oregon, has proven vulnerable to submissions throughout his career, as seven of his 10 defeats have come in such fashion.
A light heavyweight title bout between champion Lyoto Machida and 2005 Pride middleweight grand prix winner Mauricio "Shogun" Rua will headline UFC 104.
The world’s top Japanese middleweight will square off with Team Quest veteran Chael Sonnen at UFC 104 on Oct. 24 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The matchup was announced on the UFC Japan Web site.
The 28-year-old Okami (23-4) has posted seven wins in eight appearances inside the Octagon, losing only to former middleweight champion Rich Franklin. He will carry a three-fight winning streak into his showdown with Sonnen. A strong ground and clinch fighter, Okami has been finished only once in 27 career bouts. The Kanagawa, Japan, native last appeared at UFC 92 when he cruised to a unanimous decision victory against Dean Lister. Okami also holds wins against former Bodog Fight champion Nick Thompson, top welterweight contender Mike Swick and the late Evan Tanner. He was the last man to defeat Silva, though he did so by disqualification, and has pined for a rematch ever since.
Sonnen, 32, has not fought since he defeated former International Fight League titleholder Dan Miller by unanimous decision at UFC 98 two months ago. The outspoken Oregonian counts victories against reigning Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Renato “Babalu” Sobral and current Maximum Fighting Championship titleholder Trevor Prangley among his 23 career wins. Sonnen (23-10-1), a former All-American wrestler at the University of Oregon, has proven vulnerable to submissions throughout his career, as seven of his 10 defeats have come in such fashion.
A light heavyweight title bout between champion Lyoto Machida and 2005 Pride middleweight grand prix winner Mauricio "Shogun" Rua will headline UFC 104.
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