UFC headed for Japan?

According to Cagepotato.com, Dana White recently talked with reporters over the possibility of a card booked in Japan, Asia being an untapped market for DW and co, and the President of Zuffa said it was more than likely. “The rumor is true,” he said of the possibility for the venue in the land of the rising sun, “We’re going to come to Japan and probably soon.” When asked for a more precise date Dana succinctly responded “This year.”

Now the thing to note here is that DW didn’t necessarily say that it would or wouldn’t be the UFC going to Japan. Strikeforce still has its shared contract with Dream and therefore Zuffa has ties to current JMMA stars such as Aoki, Sakurai, Fernandes, Kawajiri, Minowa Man, Zaromiskis, Hansen and Takaya.

On the flip side of things, White and the Ferrita brothers might do some more shuffling around, as they did with Nick Diaz, and have some of their new talent who, with more pull in the Japanese mixed martial arts scene, would lead to increased ratings. Most notable among these are Takanori Gomi, Kid Yamato, Jorge Santiago, Michihiro Omigawa, and perhaps the best acquisition of recent memory in the form of Hatsu Hioki, the man many fans consider to be thee number two featherweight in the world and holds not one, but two victories over Jose Aldo’s latest title challenger Mark Hominick. A fight for the 145 strap between the top two featherweights in the world could easily rejuvenate the decaying lack of interest among Japanese spectators and put the UFC in good standing with their new audience.

This last bit is just pure speculation on my part, but maybe the next TUF finale will take place in Japan? White has expressed interest in having The Ultimate Fighter in Asia and, although neither coach is native to the Japan or anywhere else in Asia, not to mention significant language barrier problems, Mayhem Miller has fought in Dream a few times and would hold it least some recognition among the crowd. Regardless of reasoning I would consider it a personal goal of mine to watch bantamweights running around in sake fueled delirium with a sumo diaper on and featherweights defecating in each other’s rice. A man can dream, can’t he?