In the wake of the tragic earthquake that struck Japan late last night, UFC president Dana White has updated fans on middleweight Yoshihiro Akiyama, who was training in his home area for his upcoming fight at UFC 128.
Akiyama, who had trained part time in the United States for his past few fights, stayed at home in Japan for his bout in New Jersey against Nate Marquardt, due to his affiliation with Greg Jackson’s team where the Japanese fighter had worked previously.
“Akiyama and his family are safe,” White tweeted late on Friday afternoon. “He will be there for UFC 128.”
The earthquake which measured a 8.9 on the Richter scale has claimed hundreds of lives thus far, with hundreds more displaced or missing in the chaos of the situation.
Akiyama will be making his fourth appearance in the UFC where he faces Marquardt on the main card of UFC 128 in New Jersey next weekend.