UFC 144: Top 10 Japanese MMA Superstars

The UFC returns to Japan this weekend for the first time in 12 years for UFC 144.

The Land of The Rising Sun isn't quite the hotbed of MMA it once was, but Japan always will be considered one of the spiritual homes of the sport. Here are the top 10 fighters who helped secure Japan's enviable MMA legacy.

10. Mamoru Yamaguchi

Whilst he hasn't developed the kind of rabid following some of his countrymen have, "The Illest Afro in Asia" is a popular fighter in his own right, and, of course, holds the distinction of having the pound-for-pound best hairstyle MMA has ever seen.

A world-ranked flyweight for many years, with wins over notables Shinichi Kojima and Yasuhiro Urushitani, Yamaguchi has flirted with retirement in the last couple of years. Now 34, one last go-round for Urushitani in the UFC's new flyweight division would be a great way to give a wider audience a glimpse of his exciting style and enviable coiffure.

9. Akihiro Gono

A fan-favourite with an ultra-technical style, Akihiro Gono sums up the eccentric side of Japanese MMA.

Here he is in a winning effort against Gegard Mousasi, a man some two natural weight-classes heavier than himself who has lost only three times.

In his prime Gono's clowning not only endeared him to fans, but also helped cover up the fact he is an incredibly cerebral fighter, capable of frustrating his opponents into crucial mistakes. He owns another signature win over twice-beaten Bellator middleweight-juggernaut Hector Lombard, and his controversial spilt- decision loss to Dan Hardy still rankles with some.

8. Shinya Aoki

Whilst certainly not as flamboyant as some of his countrymen, don't let Shinya Aoki's unassuming exterior fool you—anyone whose nickname translates to "The Grand Master of Flying Submissions" deserves a place on this list.

The bespectacled wonder is an absolute beast in the ring and owns wins over Eddie Alvarez, Tatsuya Kawajiri and JZ Cavalcante. He rebounded from a 2010 setback to Gilbert Melendez to win seven straight in the space of 18 months, including an eyebrow-raising three straight victories via that much under-utilized of submissions, the neck crank.

7. Hayato Sakurai

Hayato 'Mach' Sakurai carved out a niche in fans' hearts as one of the pioneer bad asses of MMA.

Along with Matt Hughes (whom he would eventually go on to face), Sakurai helped to establish the welterweight division in MMA. He did it in exhilarating style, going unbeaten in his first 20 fights before finally falling to some guy from Brazil called Anderson Silva, a man comfortably 30-plus pounds heavier.

6. Ikuhisa Minowa

In at No. 6, it's Minowaman! 

Whilst we've already seen examples of Japanese fighters apparent relish for competing against larger foes, one man's almost suicidal penchant for stepping up against bigger opponents has made him the stuff of legend.

A natural middleweight who could probably make welterweight, Ikuhisa Minowa compiled a frankly offensive record of 1-8-1 over his first 10 fights. Undeterred, "The Punk" called on his dangerous submission arsenal and ever-reliable courage to steady the ship and embark on a long and successful career, almost always as the smaller man.

5. Takanori Gomi

Despite appearing to be 12 years old, Takanori Gomi has been one of the most formidable lightweights ever to grace a ring or cage.

With two bricks where most people keep their fists, "The Fireball Kid" was unstoppable as the Pride lightweight champion in the mid-2000s, and obviously has one of the best nicknames of all time to boot.

Although he has fallen on hard times recently, fans will be hoping he can get his mojo back against Eiji Mitsuoka this weekend.

4. Genki Sudo

Arguably MMA's best-ever showman is Genki Sudo.

Even in Japan, where flashy routines are commonplace, "Neo-Samurai's" entrances were way over the top. The fans, however, lapped it up.

Sudo surprisingly called time on his career, which included wins over Mike Brown and Nate Marquardt, at the age of 28 in 2006, paying heed to the adage of leaving 'em all wanting more. A true renaissance man, he has since found success in fields as diverse as dance and, interestingly, calligraphy.

3. Norifumi Yamamoto

Whilst newer converts to MMA may question Norifumi Yamamoto's place on this list, anyone who witnessed the brash wrestler's reign of terror from 2002-2007 will know exactly why he's here.

For an extended stretch of time, getting in the ring with "KID" was essentially a death sentence. 

Fans loved him for his knack of finishing fights early and violently, and while recent years have seen some questionable career decisions—not least of all a spectacularly ill-advised trip to K-1 where he had his clock well and truly cleaned by Mike Zambidis—no one who saw him in his prime could forget what a force of nature the little man from Kanegawa could be.

2. Masakatsu Funaki

One of the true innovators of MMA, Masakatsu Funaki is simply a hero.

A pro wrestler by trade and a co-founder of the pioneering Pancrase organisation, Funaki pretty much beat anyone worth beating in the early days of the sport, putting Guy Mezger, Bas Rutten and both Shamrocks to the sword amongst several others.

A consensus all-time great, Funaki was consistently ranked in the top five pound-for-pound fighters in the world (sometimes at No. 1) during the mid-to-late 90s. And although he has since parlayed his enduring popularity into a successful return to wrestling, he leaves behind an impressive legacy.

1. Kazushi Sakuraba

In at No. 1, who else but "The Gracie Hunter."

A superstar in his own country. Kazushi Sakuraba is perhaps most famous for his long-running feud with the venerable Gracie family, in particluar UFC legend Royce. His happy-go-lucky demeanour was the perfect foil for Royce's icy stoicism, and their 90-minute match in 1999, a win for Sakuraba, has taken on almost mythical status.

His unique submission game and ever-reliable single-leg takedown have given countless elite fighters fits, but his connection with the fans stems from somewhere far deeper than just being fun to watch.

Sakuraba's inhuman bravery and self belief, characterised by incidents like his coming to the ring for his second-round match after the Gracie fight, make him the greatest fighter ever to come out of Japan, or maybe even anywhere.