Exclusive Video: Yushin Okami Talks Anderson Silva, His Desire to Become a Star in the UFC and Training With Sexyama

(Video courtesy of YouTube/Us)

Prior to the UFC revealing that the Japanese standout would be squaring off with middleweight champion Anderson Silva at UFC Rio in August, our Japanese correspondent Stewart Fulton visited Yushin Okami to interview him and take in a training session at Real Japan Wrestling gym in Tokyo.

Okami touched on a number of topics including the fact that he has been preparing for an inevitable showdown with Anderson, his training with Team Quest, Xtreme Couture and Yoshihiro Akiyama and his thoughts on a GSP-Silva super fight.

We will have an update in the coming days from “Thunder” now that the bout is official and we’re hoping to get his thoughts on Silva’s recent allegations that he faked being injured by an illegal upkick to get out of their 2006 Rumble on the Rock bout.

Tags: Akihiro Akiyama,Anderson Silva,UFC Rio,Yushin Okami

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ArmFarmer- May 6, 2011 at 5:05 am

Just to clarify, those aren't my standards as far as which fighters I like. Just pointing out the trends in ufc stars.

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iadyn- May 5, 2011 at 10:52 pm

This fight exites me though, Silva has shown a weakness for wrestlers and Okami can wrestle. Besides, there is no way Silva will have a chance to go all Sonnen on him. I actually think that this will be one of the toughest ones for Silva.

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Chromium- May 5, 2011 at 3:15 pm

I was gonna say, I don't think Okami is totally unmarketable, but he needs to work on that. He really needs to work on his charisma. He doesn't have to be Chael Sonnen but he can work on his oratory skills and maybe think of a few snappy one-liners. This is going to be true whether they market him to English-speakers or Japanese folk.

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LOKI- May 5, 2011 at 1:51 pm

His fight with Luciano Linares was pretty fuckin exciting!
And lest ye forget he knee'd poor Evan Tanner clear into the woods to find burried treasure.
He is a dullard on the interview but seing as he an Chael ar BFF's now maybe he can work on that.

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Uppercut Magnet- May 5, 2011 at 1:41 pm

American people care about those things.

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sixthsense- May 5, 2011 at 1:25 pm

who gives a fuck as long as he's winning fights what language he speaks or whether or not he can do cool Michael Jackson impersonations

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ArmFarmer- May 5, 2011 at 1:22 pm

Unfortunately for Okami he has about every characteristic of not being a star in the ufc.. Personality? Not really. Exciting fights? Not really. Entertaining style. Nope. Grasp of the english language. No. Outlandish excentric behavior. No. Fame from a previous profession. No... He has his work cut out for him...

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