Will Yoshihiro Akiyama win in Japan at or will Jake Shields come out victorious? – UFC Special
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is going to Japan next year. As per the match schedules and UFC officials, the UFC 144 event will take place on February 26, 2011. The event will take place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The welterweight
bout at UFC 144 will take place between Japanese mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Yoshihiro Akiyama and American MMA fighter Jake Shields.
Their bout is expected to be one filled with intensity and energy as the two fighters would use the octagon fighting ring to beat each other in Japan. Shields, the 32-year-old MMA fighter from American might face resistance from Akiyama, the 36-year-old Japanese
fighter. Akiyama would use the home ground advantage to his use. He would have full support of his Japanese fans. Shields would have to make his game straight before entering the ring with Akiyama.
If the Japanese will have an edge for fighting on home soil, then he would also have to look at his last match performances. Akiyama has lost the last three bouts, which has been a major cause of concern for the Japanese. He lost to American MMA fighter Chris
Leben at UFC 116 in July 2010 in England. He then lost to British fighter Michael Bisping at UFC 120 in October 2010. His third straight loss was by the hands of Brazilian Vitor Belfort at UFC 133 in August 2011.
Akiyama’s straight losses could be a factor that would reduce his confidence level as he looks ahead at UFC 144. On the other hand, Shields enjoyed a fifteen match straight run win and then this year, lost two consecutive fights. He lost to Georges St-Pierre
at UFC 129 in April 2011 followed by a defeat by the hands of Jake Ellenberger at UFC Fight Night in September 2011. Akiyama would be willing to forget his three losses and would focus on his match against Shields at UFC 144.
Shields, too, would get his act together and concentrate on his Japanese opponent. Shields has won twenty-six fights in his MMA career with six losses and one of his bout ending in a draw. On the other hand, Akiyama has won thirteen fights in his career with
four losses and two fights ending in a no contest. If Shields has a higher win ratio than the Japanese, then Akiyama would clearly have a home soil motivation that could lead him to a win in Japan.
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