The topic of prospect talk in MMA is never dull. People search all over the USA and Europe to find the next champions of UFC, PFL or Rizin. Many pundits overlook Japan’s prospects. With successful fighters from Japan such as Rinya Nakamura, Tetsuro Taira, Makoto “Shinryu” and Rei Tsuruya, we could be seeing a new golden age of Japanese fighters having success abroad. Ten fighters from Japan, five men and five women, are worth paying attention to.
Hirotaka Nakada (6-5)
A fighter out of Kenji Osawa’s gym Wajutsu Keishukai Hearts, “The Rich” is a 2019 amateur Pancrase All Japan winner. He has fought mainly Pancrase and defeated top fighters like Yojiro Uchimura, a former UFC fighter Issei Tamura. Even at 27 years of age, he continues to improve his fighting technique and has improved in each fight. He never stops fighting, no matter if he wins or loses. He never backs down and isn’t afraid to brawl. He will fight Shyudi Yamauchi at Pancrase 341, on March 31, where he is expected to be a strong opponent.
Moeri Suda (10-6)
The atomweight division in Japan might be one of the divisions that doesn’t get the love it…
