UFC 82: Tanner vs. Okami

CounterPuncher · 12-27-2007, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Former middleweight champion Evan Tanner (32-6) will return to action against top 185-pound contender Yushin Okami (21-4) at UFC 82: “Pride of a Champion” on March 1, 2008, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

MMAmania.com (UFC blog for UFC news, results, videos, rumors, fights, pics and tickets — MMAmania.com) has learned from a reliable source that bout agreements are signed, marking the return of Tanner after a two-year self-imposed break from competition.

Talk about getting right back on the horse — Okami is among the best in the division. It certainly is not a “tune-up” fight for Tanner. But that shouldn’t be too surprising since he is well known for taking on the best in the sport and leaving it all inside the Octagon win or lose.

He submitted Justin Levens (triangle choke) after back-to-back losses to David Loiseau (UFC Fight Night 2) and Rich Franklin (UFC 53). Tanner lost his 185-pound title in the fight with Franklin, getting overwhelmed for much of the bout and forcing the doctor at ringside to call a halt to the action.

The self-taught mixed martial artist is currently back in Las Vegas — after a long strange trip outside the cage — trying to get back into top form. Tanner updates his Web site frequently with his latest adventures and training news.

Okami just re-signed a new four-fight deal that ensures he remains in the UFC 185-pound mix. He had a setback earlier this year, losing his only fight inside the Octagon to Rich Franklin at UFC 72: “Victory” via unanimous decision. “Thunder” (or is it now Phoenix?) holds wins over notables such as Jason MacDonald, Mike Swick, Rory Singer, Kalib Starnes and Alan Belcher during his time as a UFC fighter.

He is known as a slow starter who fights his fight each time out. However, Okami may not have that luxury against an animal like Tanner.

UFC blog for UFC news, results, videos, rumors, fights, pics and tickets — MMAmania.com

Definitely a tough first fight back for Tanner. This ones not gonna be easy. I'll be rooting for him though.

GSPALLTHEWAY · 12-27-2007, 04:51 PM

good matchmaking here... very interesting fight with 2 similar styles

FrankenJim · 12-27-2007, 04:55 PM

Ooooooooo Think i may have seen Tanner fight, Defo name rings a bell. Sounds a great match up. Are they both Strikers?

OneBigThrow · 12-27-2007, 05:06 PM

O god they must have a lot of faith in Tanner..

theEmpiric · 12-27-2007, 05:08 PM

Definately a tough matchup for Tanner.

War Tanner!

NateRupe · 12-27-2007, 05:13 PM

Haha this is a tough match for Okami.

OneBigThrow · 12-27-2007, 05:15 PM

it would be but im seriously worried about evan tanner's jitters and **** like that

they are both tough opponents for eachother, im glad they are both still in the UFC really

Beazt · 12-27-2007, 06:02 PM

Evan Tanner is without a doubt my favorite fighter.

What I remember of Tanner is that he puts relentless pressure on his opponents. Very similar style to Clay Guida.
Hard to say if he'll adopt that same fighting style with his return. Let's hope!

BUT......IMO, this is a raw deal for Yushin Okami.

If Okami wins, then he won't gain much respect because us keyboard warriors will have a million reasons why Tanner isn't as good as he once was.

If Tanner wins, then Okami loses a bunch of respect for the same reasons.

That being said.....WAR TANNER!

The-Iceman-Chuck-Liddell · 12-27-2007, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beazt

Evan Tanner is without a doubt my favorite fighter.

What I remember of Tanner is that he puts relentless pressure on his opponents. Very similar style to Clay Guida.
Hard to say if he'll adopt that same fighting style with his return. Let's hope!

BUT......IMO, this is a raw deal for Yushin Okami.

If Okami wins, then he won't gain much respect because us keyboard warriors will have a million reasons why Tanner isn't as good as he once was.

If Tanner wins, then Okami loses a bunch of respect for the same reasons.

That being said.....WAR TANNER!

He really is the Clay Guida of MW. They even look the same.

The-Iceman-Chuck-Liddell · 12-28-2007, 07:49 PM

So I guess it's not official....

Toshinden · 12-28-2007, 07:59 PM

My first thought when I saw the title of this thread was "****ing epic!" and then 2 seconds later I was like... "wtf... wait a minute, this might not end well...". This is, for sure, a tough fight for Tanner after such a long period of no competition for him in the UFC (and by that, I mean no fights... not that his last fights were easy). I like both guys, so I hope Tanner is in a good place, mentally. If he is, I think this could be a good fight to watch. If not, well, Okami might be the next in line after Henderson, though he'll probably be given one more top-level name before that shot happens (if it happens).

CounterPuncher · 12-28-2007, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The-Iceman-Chuck-Liddell

So I guess it's not official....

Yeah I guess not. I would have put that it was a rumor in the title but this article made it sound like it was already a done deal.

giguer · 12-29-2007, 01:09 AM

Looks like Siva vs Henderson on UFC 82

Heatwaves · 12-29-2007, 03:12 PM

FYI... Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer is confirmed the Tanner/Okami rumor today. However, since he's not a part of the UFC, can one man's rumor confirm another?

CounterPuncher · 01-18-2008, 06:44 PM

Quote:

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, England – Late last year, Evan Tanner announced that he had signed to once again compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Now there is a date and an opponent to round out his return.

As part of a question and answer session on Friday, UFC broadcaster Joe Rogan stated that Evan Tanner will face Yushin Okami when the promotion makes its Canadian debut.

That event will be headlined by a championship bout between current welterweight titleholder Matt Serra and interim champion Georges St. Pierre. It will take place on April 19 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

Joe Silva, UFC’s vice president of talent relations, confirmed Rogan’s comments about the fight.

Tanner last fought more than one-and-a-half years ago at UFC 59 where he defeated Justin Levens by triangle choke. He won the middleweight championship at UFC 51, defeating David Terrell by TKO. His reign didn’t last long though, as he lost the belt to Rich Franklin four months later.

The 36-year-old fighter out of Amarillo, Texas has long been considered a nomad, never staying with one fight camp for very long. Tanner has spent time training with teams such as Team Quest and Chute Boxe USA, but is currently training at Hard Knocks Muay Thai in Las Vegas. He has also recently traveled to Utah to train with Josh Burkman, who fights in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Jan. 23 against Mike Swick.

Rogan also stated that the UFC has been talking with Hayato “Mach” Sakurai, Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto and Takanori Gomi amongst others, but as far as he is aware nothing is solid with any of them.

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It looks as if this fight is definitely going to happen now.... that is, unless Joe Silva and Joe Rogan are lying to us.

fightzilla · 01-18-2008, 08:36 PM

I think Tanner is going to win

nublood · 01-18-2008, 09:02 PM

Wow. Tanner has been out for who knows how long out of shape and battling a drinking addiction. And Okami is who he is matched up with?

Okami by 1st rd whatever he wants imo.

Toshinden · 01-18-2008, 09:46 PM

I'm stoked - Hendo/Silva and Tanner/Okami is more than enough for a worthy card...

Beazt · 01-19-2008, 01:55 AM

About Damn Time!!!!! Seems like Tanner has been gone for a lot longer than 1 1/2 years.

FEC4 · 01-19-2008, 10:01 PM

tanner all the way