UFC 144 to feature Bart Palaszewski and Hatsu Hioki in Japan – UFC/MMA News
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will host UFC 144 on February 26 in Japan at the Super Arena in Saitama. The 28-year old Polish mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Bart Palaszewski will meet Japanese MMA fighter Hatsu Hioki.
The 28-year Japanese fighter will contest in his second UFC fight of his career. He made his UFC debut at UFC 137 in October 2011.
Hioki defeated George Roop in the third round. Hioki was also the Shoot Lightweight Champion when he won the title in May 2010 at the Shooto event by beating Takeshi Inoue. For Hioki, the UFC 144 bout will be one he would never
think of losing for his hometown support will be of significance for him.
Palaszewski, on the other hand, made his UFC debut at UFC 137 in October 2011. He defeated Tyson Griffin in the first round of the fight and made an impressive entrance into the UFC circuit. He would be hopeful to win the bout
but he would be facing an opponent who would have two of the biggest factors on his side.
First, Hioki will have his home crowd support and second, he will be going in UFC 144 with five consecutive wins. The winning streak, which he has maintained since May 2010, will be the greatest decisive factor in the match. The
Japanese will be not only motivated, but his focus in the match will be clear; to keep the attack the moment the fight starts.
The Polish fighter won three consecutive matches from 2009 to 2010 but his streak could not be extended as he lost the match against Kamal Shalorus at World Extreme Cagefighting’s event WEC 53 in December 2010. He would have to
be on top of his game to win against Hioki in Japan.
Hiojki, nicknamed Iron Boom and Shooto no Ko, which in Japan means Child of Shooto, secured a deal with the UFC in June 2011 when he signed a deal to be part of UFC in many of its fights. The news of Hioki facing Palaszewski at
UFC 144 has been taken as a great news by MMA and UFC fights for they anticipate a great encounter when the two collide in Japan.
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