UFC in Japan: 10 Fighters the UFC Must Include in Its Return to Japan

This February, the UFC makes its return to Japan after 12 years.

Much like for the card in Brazil, expect Dana White to pull out all the Japanese fighters on the roster, plus a couple of the former Pride stars.

Everybody on the UFC roster is going to want to fight in Japan, as this is likely to be one of the biggest events in UFC history.

Here are 10 fighters the UFC absolutely must include in its return to the land of the rising sun.

Yushin Okami

The most prominent Japanese fighter on the UFC roster would likely find himself in a co-main event spot on this card.

Okami is a top-three middleweight, but he wouldn't have the drawing power to sell the card entirely on his own.

Although, seeing as the event will be in Japan, he may be more of a draw than one thinks.

Yoshihiro Akiyama

Yoshihiro Akiyama could potentially make his welterweight debut at this card, and he is one of the most prominent Japanese fighters on the UFC roster.

Akiyama went 12-1 [2 NC] in Japan before signing with the UFC, and all 15 of his fights were in Japan or South Korea.

Akiyama is a huge superstar over there and would be a huge draw.

Takanori Gomi

Takanori Gomi was a longtime Pride champion and was a huge star when Pride was still around.

Gomi is a fan favorite in Japan; he's another fighter who would be a huge draw for the card.

Unfortunately, if he loses another fight, he may not be around long enough to be on the Japan card.

Minotauro Nogueira

There were so many stars from the Pride days that I'm not sure there's enough room on one card for all of them!

Nogueira was the Interim Heavyweight Champion, and while in Pride, he only lost to Fedor Emelianenko (albeit twice) and Josh Barnett.

Nogueira last got to fight in front of his home country in Japan, and he won in resounding fashion.

Wouldn't it be great to go back to where his career really took off?

Hatsu Hioki

Hatsu Hioki has spent his entire career (except for three fights) in Japan.

He is now set to make his UFC debut at UFC 137 against George Roop.

Should Hioki win, he'll prove that he is a top featherweight, and could be one win away from a shot at Jose Aldo and the featherweight title.

That would be a pretty big fight for the Japan card...

Takeya Mizugaki

Takeya Mizugaki is one of the most prominent UFC/WEC fighters, and he has gone 4-4 in his eight combined fights, alternating wins and losses in each.

Mizugaki has won three decisions and a TKO, and his losses all came to top competitors like Miguel Torres, Scott Jorgensen, Urijah Faber and Brian Bowles.

Mizugaki has fought 15 times in Japan, and you can be sure he wants to make it 16.

Kid Yamamoto

Kid Yamamoto is a fairly recent addition to the UFC and a new bantamweight fighter.

Yamamoto has spent the majority of his career thus far fighting in Japan in the lightweight division.

But now he's in the UFC fighting in the bantamweight division, where he has gone 0-1.

Many in Japan, and everywhere, will recall Yamamoto's four-second KO over Kazuyiki Miyata, where he ran across the cage and hit him with a flying knee.

Shogun Rua

Shogun Rua is another former Pride star who likely wants to fight on the Japan card.

In fact, Rampage Jackson called him out and said that he wants to "fight Shogun in Japan."

Dana White didn't commit to it, as Shogun is fighting Dan Henderson in November, but it would be an interesting possibility.

Shogun won the Pride Middleweight Grand Prix in 2005, when he defeated Rampage Jackson, Minotauro Nogueira, Alistair Overeem and Ricardo Arona to capture the title.

Wanderlei Silva

You can be 100 percent sure that Wanderlei Silva wants to fight in Japan.

Silva will go out at UFC 139 and take on Cung Le, knowing that, with a win, he will likely get to fight in Japan, but with a loss, his career may be over.

Everyone would want to see Wanderlei have one more fight in Japan, and go out on a high note over there.

Rampage Jackson

The man who spawned the idea for the article.

After UFC 135, Rampage Jackson made it clear that he wants to fight Shogun Rua in Japan.

As I mentioned earlier, Dana was non-committal about the Shogun fight, but he said Rampage can definitely fight in Japan.

Rampage has the drawing power, and the name, to headline the UFC's return to Japan.

Tim McTiernan is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. For the latest news on everything MMA, follow me on Twitter @tmt2393.