Yushin Okami eyeing run at title ahead of promotional debut at WSOF 9

Yushin Okami‘s release by the UFC this past fall was one of the more surprising roster moves in the promotion’s history.

That surprise, naturally, carried over to Okami himself. And why wouldn’t it? He was let go after just one loss, which came on the heels of a three-fight winning streak. And over his tenure with the promotion, he went 13-5.

Okami’s losses in the UFC? They were to a who’s-who of the middleweight division: Rich Franklin, Chael Sonnen, Anderson Silva, Tim Boetsch and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza – the latter knockout getting him let go. The Silva loss was for the title.

But after the initial shock wore off, Okami started to rebound when World Series of Fighting gave him a call.

“My manager told me I had been released from the UFC,” Okami stated. “I don’t remember my reaction much. I guess I was surprised at first, but I always prepare the worst when I lose, so I recovered my composure with time. Thankfully I received offers from many promotions as soon as my release was announced. When World Series of Fighting presented an offer for me, I was very happy.”

Okami (29-8) will make his promotional debut this Saturday at WSOF 9 against Svetlozar Savov (12-4), a Bulgarian who will be making his WSOF debut, as well.

WSOF 9 takes place at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas with a main card airing on NBC Sports Network following prelims on MMAjunkie.

Okami said the chance to make a new name for himself while helping bolster a fledgling promotion like WSOF is what drew him to the company.

“WSOF is a new promotion, so history is going to be made here and now, and I plan on being a part of it,” he stated. “I think that the great opportunity to make history and the exposure with NBC made the difference for me. I think that the center of MMA is North America.”

But more than anything, Okami has his eye on something he got familiar with while in the UFC: a title.

He got close to it in 2007 when he lost a title eliminator to Franklin. And he fought Silva for it 2011. Now he wants to to finally win a belt in WSOF.

“My main focus and only goal is to become the World Series of Fighting champion, and I’m going to start on that March 29 with Savov,” he stated.

For more on WSOF 9, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.