Headlining UFC Japan was a makeshift light heavyweight bout between Ovince Saint Preux and Yushin Okami. The original plan was for OSP to rematch Mauricio Rua, but the former middleweight title contender Okami stepped up on short notice when Shogun pulled out with injury. Yushin had recently been competing at welterweight, so it was always going to be a tall task to get the upset win, and he wound up being the latest victim of the “Von Flue choke.”
Okami shot for a takedown right away, and Saint Preux immediately sprawled and wound up on top.