(Inside Your Soul: It’s where Hioki is looking and the name of his t-shirt company.)

Hatsu Hioki was born 28 years ago in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.

Why he matters:
Hioki (24-4-2) is one of Japan’s most decorated fighters, having won titles under the Shooto, Sengoku and TKO Championship Fighting banners. The recent UFC signee has beaten a glut of the world’s top 25 featherweights including Mark Hominick, Marlon Sandro, Ronnie Mann, Takeshi “Lion” Inoue and Masanori Kanehara and now he will finally get the opportunity to test his skills against more of the world’s best in the Octagon.

(Video courtesy of YouTube/HipHopPhilosopher)

(Video courtesy of YouTube/HipHopPhilosopher)

(Video courtesy of YouTube/HipHopPhilosopher)

(Video courtesy of YouTube/HipHopPhilosopher)

(Video courtesy of YouTube/HipHopPhilosopher)

His TKO 25 win over Mark Hominick is often referred to as one of the best five-round bouts in Canadian MMA history alongside Hominick’s UFC 129 battle of attrition with Jose Aldo and his utter domination over Sandro to win the Sengoku title was likely the breakout performance that put him on the UFC’s radar.

(Video courtesy YouTube/MMAHide)

(Video courtesy YouTube/MMAHide)

(Video courtesy YouTube/MMAHide)

(Video courtesy YouTube/MMAHide)

If not for a heavily-debated split decision loss to Michihiro Omigawa at Sengoku 11, Hioki would be undefeated in 14 fights since October 2007.

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