Japanese MMA scene Fighter to watch out 2012

I write about annual Japanese MMA watch out fighters article.As always there is more fighter in majors or Japanese majors you can check.I only listed not known fighter except for diehards.

Kyoji Horiguchi
Huge three KO run at 2011 after he won Shooto Rookie tourny.Horiguchi will face Masakatsu Ueda who is world ranker and will enter Bellator tourny.Massive speed and karate strike with huge KO power.Horiguchi is not bad odds against Ueda.



Doo Ho Choi
Known for decision win over Ikuo Usuda 2010.Choi breakout his perform 2011.His vicious knee and sprawl skill earn win against Mitsuhiro Ishida and Nobuhiro Obiya.He will face Kazunori Yokota for vacant DEEP feather weight and should be strong favourite.I curious to see if he will face strong striker with hard punches.



Jon Shores
Shores is known for submission finish skill at very early career.This year, he improve his strike skill but still,there is ton of room to improve.He beat Tomonari Kanomata with using strike pressure.He will likely to face Takumi Nakayama for Pancrase interlim FW title who won by wrestle BJJ fusion grapple.



Yasuaki Kishimoto
Recognize name from win over Un Sik Song who were prospect but can't make former form after back from military duty, Kishimoto have finally almost reach to challenge DEEP LW title.He had win over veteran Jutaro Nakao.I can't see his Osaka fight. But I can say he will likely get shot.

Yuta "Uruka" Sasaki
Uruka's 2011 campaign was hard fought.He get close decision against Yoshifumi Nakamura and Kosuke Kindaichi.His lack of finish skill not solve yet.That7s cost him lose against guy Delumeau who brings Wrestle and BJJ fusion positioning.While he still young,he need finish skill.



Michinori Tanaka
Tanaka is MVP of this year's Shooto rookie tounament and his division is most stacked rookie tournament for this year.I can say finalist Akihito Ishihara isn't bad rookie,second best rookie this year from Shooto.But he dominate him at ground chain grapple.



Hideto Tatsumi
Japanese heavier weight talent pool is thin so I can't judge convincingly but Hideto Tatsumi who have Judo background may the guy worth check.After losing debut with Christian M'Pumbu,Hideto upset veteran Hiromitsu Kanegara at 3rd fight.I can say judge this is too early.But his perform is not bad too.He had train with Japanese star Yushin Okami.Will face Yang Hae Jun at Legend FC.

Also DEEP will crown flyweight champ with tournament.If Tatsumitsu Wada drop flyweight,it guarantee tounrament's winner quality