UFC 137 Results: Hatsu Hioki and 5 Japanese Stars Who Failed to Impress

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Tonight at UFC 137, Hatsu Hioki made his highly anticipated UFC debut. 

Although Hioki was given a split-decision victory over George Roop, he did not look like he was the No. 2 or 3 featherweight in the world. 

It's just one fight, but Hioki has seemingly continued the trend of Japanese fighters not doing well at the start of their UFC careers. 

Here's a look at some of the others...

Yoshihiro Akiyama

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Before Yoshihiro Akiyama entered the UFC, he was 12-1 (2). 

Akiyama was a big star in Japan and was supposed to continue doing well in the Octagon. 

He won a close fight with Alan Belcher at UFC 100 by split decision. 

Since his debut, though, Akiyama has dropped three straight and moved down to welterweight. 

Yushin Okami

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Yushin Okami has been the most successful Japanese fighter to ever hit the UFC. 

Despite this, he has often been buried on undercards of UFC fights. 

Okami has fared well against lesser opponents. But his three UFC losses have come to Rich Franklin in a title eliminator bout, Chael Sonnen and UFC champ Anderson Silva. He's never been able to emerge as elite.

Takanori Gomi

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Takanori Gomi was once one of the best lightweights in MMA. 

But since coming to the UFC he has shown that he is past his prime. 

Gomi is 1-3 in the UFC, with his lone win coming against Tyson Griffin. All of his UFC losses have come by submission. 

Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto

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Although Kid Yamamoto has the fastest knockout in MMA history and won the HERO's lightweight grand prix in 2005, his career has been on the decline. 

He's 1-3 in his last four fights. This include his UFC debut loss against Demetrious Johnson. 

Hatsu Hioki

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Hatsu Hioki came into tonight's fight as one of the best featherweights in the world. 

Although he won tonight's fight, the decision could have gone the other way. 

Hioki declared that Japanese MMA was not dead after his bout. But he and other Japanese fighters in the UFC will have to do more to prove many doubters wrong. 

Be sure to keep it on Bleacher Report for all things UFC 137. B/R is your home for MMA, from pre-fight predictions to in-fight coverage and post-fight analysis...which you can check out at our event hub.