Yoshihiro Akiyama steals show as 'Road to UFC: Japan' debuts on UFC Fight Pass

The UFC’s Japanese version of “The Ultimate Fighter,” featuring eight Japanese featherweights fighting for a UFC contract, debuts today on UFC Fight Pass, and “Sexyama” makes an immediate impact.

While UFC heavyweight contenders Josh Barnett and Roy Nelson are the coaches of “Road to UFC: Japan,” Japanese MMA legend Yoshihiro Akiyama makes a cameo in the first episode and immediately steals the show.

Sporting a Creamsicle-colored overcoat, Akiyama sits down with one of the contestants, Hiroto Uesako (10-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC), before he leaves for Las Vegas to begin the competition. Akiyama’s sage advice includes, “”Since you’re doing this, you want to make people admire you, you know?” and in what certainly deserves to become in iconic MMA quote, “Also, bring lip balm with you.”

In addition to Uesako, Tatsuya Ando (3-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Daiki Hata (17-9-7 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Mizuto Hirota (17-7-1 MMA, 0-2 UFC), Teruto Ishihara (7-2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Tatsunao Nagakura (11-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Akiyo Nishiura (13-8-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and Nobumitsu Osawa (8-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) make up the eight-man tournament field. While the series debuted several weeks ago in Japan, the subtitled version will see new episodes added to UFC Fight Pass each Monday between now and Sept. 26, when the two finalists will compete for a UFC contract at UFC Fight Night 75.

Featuring coaches Barnett (33-7 MMA, 5-2 UFC) and Nelson (20-11 MMA, 7-7 UFC) squaring off in the main event, UFC Fight Night 75 takes place Sept. 27 at Saitama Super Arena in Japan, just north of Tokyo. Due to the time difference, the event airs on Sept. 26 in North America. Following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass, the rest of the card is expected to air on FOX Sports 1.

For more on UFC Fight Night 75, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.