Best fighters not fighting in the US?

[Wige247]

Who are they?

[jimmie]

Shinya Aoki.

[Wige247]

Shinya Aoki.
:think...small list

[jimmie]

:think...small list

Im burnt out im to lazy to think.

[snakey112]

Mariusz Pudzianowski :tong

[monaroCountry]

List all the K1 and those in the Japanese orgs, add in the Brazilian Orgs, and basically ALL of the Eastern European Orgs including the Russians i.e. M1.

Its a huge list of great fighters, many of their names might not be that well known by Western (American) audiances who are only exposed to American orgs like the UFC and Strikeforce.

[2FastByFar]

There really aren't that many great MMA fighters outside of America that haven't fought in the USA before. The UFC/WEC has like over 80% percent of the best fighters; Add in Strikeforce & Bellator and it's slim pickings. MMA is in a bad state in Japan and they have lost many of there best fighters to the US. As for Shinya Aoki he will probaly be in the US in 2010.

(P.S. before anyone complains about my opinion remember guys like Hansen, Gomi, Sakurai, Misaki, Khalidov, etc. have all fought in the US. Prospects in Europe & Brazil get signed quick.)

[Wige247]

There really aren't that many great MMA fighters outside of America that haven't fought in the USA before. The UFC/WEC has like over 80% percent of the best fighters; Add in Strikeforce & Bellator and it's slim pickings. MMA is in a bad state in Japan and they have lost many of there best fighters to the US. As for Shinya Aoki he will probaly be in the US in 2010.

(P.S. before anyone complains about my opinion remember guys like Hansen, Gomi, Sakurai, Misaki, Khalidov, etc. have all fought in the US. Prospects in Europe & Brazil get signed quick.)

I mean best fighters who aren't currently fighting under one of the North American orgs.

[Nosbor]

Here is a name too look out for in a year or two.

MAGOMED SHIKHSHABEKOV! He will be affiliated with a domestic based organization by then, no doubt.

He is from the Allah Akhbar part of Russia. Probably Chechenya, Dagestan or Ossetia.

[leicester]

jimmy wallhead.dan hardys trainer.

[bored]

Jimmy just signed for bellator, watch out for him.

[Grievesy]

Shinya Aoki
Joachim Hansen
Tatsuya Kawajiri
Hayato Sakurai
Alistair Overeem
JZ Cavalcante
Paulo Filho
Kid Yamamoto
Hideo Tokoro
Masakatsu Imanari

just to name a few....

[The Priest]

Shinya Aoki
Joachim Hansen
Tatsuya Kawajiri
Hayato Sakurai
Alistair Overeem
JZ Cavalcante
Paulo Filho
Kid Yamamoto
Hideo Tokoro
Masakatsu Imanari

just to name a few....

wer can i c these guys in action :patsch

[Grievesy]

Youtube

or

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[2FastByFar]

Shinya Aoki is a LW who is DREAM Champion in Japan - next fight vs. Mizuto Hirota on Dynamite 12/31

Joachim Hansen is former LW DREAM Champion (he's Norwegian)

Tatsuya Kawajiri is a LW in DREAM - next fight vs. Kazunori Yokota Dynamite 12/31

Hayato Sakurai is a WW in DREAM - next fight vs. Akihiro Gono Dynamite 12/31

Alistair Overeem is a HW and believe it or not he's Strikeforce's champ even though he has not defended the belt in over 2 yrs, his management claims he'll do so after April (I wouldn't hold your breath) in the mean time you can see him in Japan - next fight vs. Kazuyuki Fujita Dynamite 12/31

Gesias Calvancante is a LW in DREAM.

Paulo Filho is a MW/LHW who can be seen in either DREAM or on local Brazilian shows. He was the former WEC middleweight champ before WEC dropped the class and he lost to Chael Sonnen in a bizarre fight (non-title because the champ didn't make weight) that got him cut instead of having him transferred to the UFC.

Kid Yamamoto is a multi-weight class fighter usually around FW that currently fights in Dream when he's not messing around in K-1, he's kinda like B.J. Penn in that he has incredible natural talent but has spent much of his career chasing big money fights in higher weight classes (he's really a BW) and also fighting in K-1. - next fight vs. LW Masanori Kanehara Dynamite 12/31

Hideo Tokoro is a FW in DREAM - next fight vs. Marlon Sandro Dynamite 12/31 (I'm excited for this fight, 2009 yr of the FW)

Masakatsu Imanari is a BW/FW who fights in DEEP (Small Japan promotion)/DREAM

[2FastByFar]

Also as has been pointed out there are some good guys fighting in Bellator's second season: Jimmy Wallhead (England), Hector Lombard (Australian/Cuban - Bellator's MW Champ), Eddie Alvarez (American - Bellator's LW Champ) who had been fighting in Japan (DREAM), Dan Hornbuckle (American - WW) who had been fighting in Japan (Sengoku).

[2FastByFar]

Other guys to look out for:

Andre Galvao Brazilian WW prospect fighting in Dream.
Willamy Freire Brazilian LW prospect fighting in Shooto.
Renan Barao Brazilian FW prospect fighting in Shooto/small Brazilian shows.
Patricio Freire Brazilian LW (really FW) prospect fighting in small Brazilian shows.
Masakatsu Ueda Japanese BW fighting in Shooto.
Hatsu Hioki Japanese FW fighting in Sengoku (which is probably merging with DREAM).
Marius Zaromskis Lithuanian WW fighting in DREAM - he is fighting Nick Diaz in Strikeforce on 1/30 for WW belt
Mamed Khalidov Chechen-Polish MW fighting in Sengoku.