Dana White: I think it's time Yushin Okami got a title shot

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This Sunday (Aug. 1) the UFC makes its way to the Versus network for the second time this year. Headlining the card will be surging light heavyweight prospect Jon "Bones" Jones taking on the always crafty Vladimir "The Janitor" Matyushenko.

The co-main event of the evening will pit middleweight phenom Mark Munoz against the Japanese grinder Yushin "Thunder" Okami.

Both men are coming off impressive second round stoppages in their previous fights. Okami took out UFC newcomer, Lucio Linhares, via doctor stoppage during their UFC Fight Night scrap back in March.

Munoz was last seen opening the live show for the UFC's first venture to Abu Dhabi for UFC 112 with his fight against Kendall Grove. Mark survived a shaky start and came back with a vengeance in round two, working his violent ground and pound on Grove and finishing the Hawaiian to improve to 8-1 overall.

Last night UFC President Dana White made an appearance on the Versus sports talk show, The Daily Line, to discuss this Sunday's UFC on Versus 2 card. His comments about the middleweight contest should definitely catch the eye (or ears) of Yushin Okami as the boss made the claim for "Thunder" getting a UFC title shot somewhere down the road:

"I think it's time this guy gets a title shot; he's been here a long time."

What's interesting about these comments is that no one has really considered this fight as a number one contender bout or anything of the sort -- especially with Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort waiting in the wings.

Munoz is riding a three fight win streak, which could argue a number one contender opportunity soon after this fight should he defeat Okami, but Okami is 1-1 in his last two fights.

Prior to the Sonnen fight, Okami had been on the sidelines since 2008. His career has been riddled with decision performances in the past and injuries that have kept him from achieving the status that a lot of MMA fans believe he can reach.

Perhaps the best argument for Okami is the "unfinished business" angle from their 2006 bout under the "Rumble on the Rock" banner in which Okami scored a DQ win over Silva.

The Brazilian has not lost since.

But this will be no easy test for Okami. Munoz is a monster with some of the most vicious ground and pound we've seen in years, and perhaps ever in the history of MMA. Few men are able to throw down the incredibly powerful body shots that this guy can pull of while in someone's guard and if Okami gets stuck under the "Filipino Wrecking Machine" you can bet there will be "Thunder" and lightening waiting for him.

Okami has almost always had the wrestling and ground control advantage over his opponents; that is until he faced Chael Sonnen. Sonnen was able to use his stick-to-you wrestling style to stifle any offense "Thunder" could have gained. With Munoz having just as good, if not a better, wrestling game in his arsenal it will be interesting to see if the "Sonnen Blueprint" can still be used on Okami, or if he's filled those holes in his game.

One thing about Mark Munoz is you always hear great things about him coming from his training camp. That's always the case with fighters and their partners, but with Mark it's different. Much like what we used to see coming out about Cain Velasquez when it was still unknown exactly what he possessed. Time and time again you'll hear tough guys rant and rave about Munoz, the level he's training at currently, and just what he's able to do.

For this training camp he's been training with Anderson Silva, who reportedly told Munoz that "Thunder" won't stand a chance against him, and although that's great praise to be given from probably the best source you could possibly get it, the fact still remains that Anderson Silva is the Middleweight Champion, and Munoz is a middleweight.

So here we're faced with another teammate vs. teammate debate. But I guess we'll "cross that bridge when we get to it."

In the meantime, does Okami deserve a title shot with a win over Munoz? Or should he fight Vitor Belfort in a number one contender match?

Seems a weird time to announce this.

What happened to Vitor?

I get the feeling he's sending a message to Anderson Silva and Ed Snoares, that they better have an exciting fight vs Chael Sonnen (R).

okami's an extremely hard worker who has been at a very high level for years and years and that makes me want to say he deserves a title shot at some point.

that point is definitely not after a win over mark munoz. in fact, i don't even think he deserves to jump as high as vitor after a win over munoz (basing that one the fact that vitor is supposed to be the one fighting andy right now, but was injured). maybe marquardt, maybe a sonnen rematch if sonnen loses, maybe maia.

the fact is that to get a shot at the title, you should either have to: a) string together more wins over legit competition than okami has right now, or b) beat the consensus #2 in a match no one is even sure you should have gotten (like vitor did to ace), or c) be somewhere in the 3-5 ranking range when the #2 guy gets injured (like chael and maia did).

his fight against rich was his chance to earn a title shot. his fight against chael was his chance to get at least a #1 contender's fight. he lost them both. he needs to beat munoz, someone in the #6-10 range, someone in the #2-5 range, and then get a title shot. that'd put him at 4 wins, 3 over guys we know for sure are tough dudes.

actually, i guess there's a fourth scenario in which someone can get a title shot, and that's when the champion has beaten everyone else and none of those people look particularly improved since the time they were beaten. also, okami's a decently sexy matchup since he has a "win" over andy.

so, if we go by that last scenario, okami could sneak in with just 2 more wins (including the munoz fight) right after vitor presumably gets his shot.

I think he is doing it because if Munoz wins, he wants to be able to say well we were going to have you fight Okami and now it's only logical you fight Munoz. And this will stop them from any hesitation of the no teammates fighting.

I would assume Vitor is the definite next contender though no matter what

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhorrrr

okami's an extremely hard worker who has been at a very high level for years and years and that makes me want to say he deserves a title shot at some point.

that point is definitely not after a win over mark munoz. in fact, i don't even think he deserves to jump as high as vitor after a win over munoz (basing that one the fact that vitor is supposed to be the one fighting andy right now, but was injured). maybe marquardt, maybe a sonnen rematch if sonnen loses, maybe maia.

the fact is that to get a shot at the title, you should either have to: a) string together more wins over legit competition than okami has right now, or b) beat the consensus #2 in a match no one is even sure you should have gotten (like vitor did to ace), or c) be somewhere in the 3-5 ranking range when the #2 guy gets injured (like chael and maia did).

his fight against rich was his chance to earn a title shot. his fight against chael was his chance to get at least a #1 contender's fight. he lost them both. he needs to beat munoz, someone in the #6-10 range, someone in the #2-5 range, and then get a title shot. that'd put him at 4 wins, 3 over guys we know for sure are tough dudes.

actually, i guess there's a fourth scenario in which someone can get a title shot, and that's when the champion has beaten everyone else and none of those people look particularly improved since the time they were beaten. also, okami's a decently sexy matchup since he has a "win" over andy.

so, if we go by that last scenario, okami could sneak in with just 2 more wins (including the munoz fight) right after vitor presumably gets his shot.

all good points the problem is after Vitor that the middleweight picture is a bit messed up

Leben I feel has improved but still has nothing for Andy. He needs to fight Wandy who i feel is still miles away from a top contender spot or he could even end up getting Bisping in a rematch if Bisping beats Akiyama.

It's a weird mix at the top of the middleweight division

Quote:

Originally Posted by Best80smovieRAD

all good points the problem is after Vitor that the middleweight picture is a bit messed up

Leben I feel has improved but still has nothing for Andy. He needs to fight Wandy who i feel is still miles away from a top contender spot or he could even end up getting Bisping in a rematch if Bisping beats Akiyama.

It's a weird mix at the top of the middleweight division

i'd like a bisping rematch for leben if bisping gets past akiyama (i, personally, don't think he will, though).

i'd also love leben vs wandy. i rate wandy higher than you partially because i'm swinging from his nutsack and partially because i'm not even sure wand lost to rich. i've watched that fight so many times, and i'm sure i'm watching it with a totally biased view and can't help it, but i can't consider that more than a tie or a win for wand.

i, personally, like wand/leben, winner of okami/munoz vs winner of wand/leben, marquardt/some-rising-contender-maybe-belcher?, and then basically pick whoever looked most impressive of that bunch. at the rate the ufc has their guys put their belts up, all of that could happen in the same general timeframe as vitor-andy.

edit: actually.. fvck.. none of that works because wand will be out for a few months and the okami/munoz winner would just be waiting forever. i hate monkey wrenches.