Yukia Nakai - "A Champions Story"

Fighter profile of Yuki Nakai by Drake Bradstone

This is the story of YUKI NAKAI, the man that went from the nearly man of Mixed Martial Arts and the peoples champion to the Kage Ryu Taijitsu Featherweight Champion who is now hated by all.

Nakai turned to MMA when his father, a former Rikugun Taii (Captain) in the Japanese Military, left his mother for a young Chinese girl whilst on tour. This hit Nakai hard and instead of facing this head on he decided to hit the local MMA gym to take out his anger. At 23 years old Yuki was already a purple belt but he he chose to learn other aspects in order to participate in the underground Japanese fight scene. On June 10th whilst walking home from wrestling practice Nakai was approached by John Bravo a local promoter of FCB a small time MMA organisation. John recruited Nakai for a fill in fight the very next night at FCB 2 - The Rising and the rest is history. Nakai defeated Moon Rosoco via Unaminous Decision and signed a contract with FCB going 3-0 before his first title shot at the Featherweight title on August 20th 2011.

FCB 10 - Sabu Kamahori (c) vs. Yuki Nakai

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the vacant featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the fighter to my left.
With a record of 3 wins, 0 losses and 0 draws, fighting out of Tokyo, Yuki Nakai!
And introducing the fighter to my right.
With a record of 5 wins, 2 losses and 0 draws, fighting out of Tokyo, Sabu kamahori !

Round 1

Sabu kamahori is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
kamahori with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
kamahori connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Nakai momentarily.
Nakai walks into a stiff left hand from kamahori .
kamahori thumps Nakai with a low kick.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Nakai. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

Round 2

Nakai wants to clinch but kamahori slips to the side
and kamahori counters with a nice low kick that buckles Nakai's knee momentarily.
kamahori throws a jab when Nakai was well out of range.
Nakai with a poor takedown
and kamahori makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

And the misery contintued for Nakai when he was rocked in the 3rd round before finally manging to land a takedown but was too tired to take advantage:

Round 3

kamahori lets loose with a powerful body kick. Nakai will feel that in the morning.
Nakai walks into a straight right hand from kamahori .
Nakai has his takedown stuffed
and kamahori counters with a flying knee. Nice. Nakai is rocked!

Nakai drives through with a takedown into kamahori 's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
kamahori manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nakai manages to get himself to full guard.
kamahori looking to pass the guard.
kamahori is pushing down on Nakai's leg trying to pass to half guard. Nakai is fighting to maintain full guard but kamahori has managed to sneak the leg through.

Rounds 4 and 5 went exactly the same with Nakai being picked off but he never gave in and lost his first championship fight convincingly.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sabu kamahori comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got kamahori winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 41:50
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 40:50
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 40:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sabu kamahori !
Sabu kamahori is the new featherweight champion!

That loss would have been enough to make any normal man quit but Yuki was back in the gym after just 2 days and he knew that he had to work on his wrestling. Yuki had slick submissions but really struggled to get the fight to the ground against the top opposition. Yuki went on to win 2 more fights in impressive style utilising his new found wrestling skills to earn himself another crack at the featherweight title against the man who was knocking them all out for fun "The Thorn" Derrick Rose.

October 15th - FCB 23 Derrick Rose(c) vs. Yuki Nakai

Round 1

Nakai is breathing heavily.
Rose lands a nice looking body shot.
Rose swings for the body but Nakai moves out of range.
Rose scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Rose slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Nakai gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rose throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rose lunges at Nakai with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Nakai's hand.
Nakai is rocked!
Rose ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Rose punishes Nakai's body with a nice straight punch.
Rose closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Nakai quickly recovers to half guard.

Round 2

BOOM! Rose connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Rose is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Rose landing shots from mount.
Rose scoring with strikes but Nakai is staying in there.
Oh Nakai is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rose raining down hammerfists from mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rose connects with a bit shot that sees Nakai covering up! More strikes from Rose and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Rose is our winner by TKO!
 

A devastated Nakai knew that he was outclassed and learned a valuable lesson that cardio was the new cross training of MMA. Yuki brought in strength and conditioning coaches from Europe to help get back on the hunt for a title.

2012 brought in some more changes, FCB was taken over by the Vahalla Alliance and was repackaged as Vahalla Tokyo. Nakai signed up to the new promotion but he knew that the big wigs at Vahalla Tokyo wanted excitement and knockouts which Yuki was not acustomed to as a submission fighter.

However, Yuki developed into a great fighter and excited the Vahalla crowds with 5 straight wins which 3 were stunning submission victories before getting his 3rd shot at the featheweright title. Before the title fight Yuki was awarded his Brown Belt by his long term mentor Master Tiotay but the task ahead was huge. This time it was an even more impossible task, the champion at the time was no other than Rafa Silva. Silva was a human wrecking machine amassing 8 knockouts in a 9-0 record. The fight didn't go Nakai's way who couldn't cope with the Elite Thai fighting style of Rafa Silva.

April 14th 2012 Vahalla 56

Silva fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Nakai looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nakai is breathing heavily.
Oooooh!!! Silva has knocked Nakai down with a huge combo! Silva steps away and waves a wobbly Nakai back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Silva scores with a push kick.
OH! Nakai has been rocked by a huge right hand and is in deep trouble! Silva smells blood and charges in for the finish! Silva unloads a vicious overhand right and connects to the jaw of Nakai sending him face first to the canvas! Unbelievable!
 

During the Summer of 2012 Nakai's personal life took a change with his Father turning up out of the blue and getting back with his Mother. Yuki didn't approve and didn't speak to his parents all through the remainder of the year. During this period Yuki was always one of the top 3 or 4 fighters for Jonny Bravo's Vahalla Tokyo which had gone global with the integration into the Pay Per View market. Yuki lost another title shot again against Rafa Silva but this time for the lightweight title, Yuki was again knocked out but this time his Mother and father were in the crowd to witness the defeat. Later on Yuki Nakai was inducted into the Vahalla Tokyo Hall of Fame which was huge because he was the only man to be inducted who wasn't a champion, he got the recognition for his die hard performance and from much pressure from his fans

Things took a turn for the worse when Vahalla Tokyo folded at the end of 2012 and Nakai was a free agent. Even though Yuki had 10 losses and no title wins Guns McKenzie appoached Yuki to sign with him at the Kage Ryu Taijitsu fighting orgainstion and take part in their featherweight tournament.

At this point in his life Yuki had a great relationship with the fans and had a reputation as a guttsy fighter who would take a beating if it meant getting the win. During 2012 Nakai earned the name "The Working Mans Champion" because he didn't mind getting his hands dirty. His relationship with his father and mother had improved, Yuki would visit them once a week. He even bought their home and paid off his dads debts. At 31 years old Yuki was considered the most experienced fighter taking part in the KRT featherweight tournament.

However on December 13th, the day before his KRT debut, Yuki got a call from the hospital which his mother had just been rushed to, when he arrived sadly his mother had already passed away. She died from internal bleeding from a domestic violence incident that happened early on in the day. Nakai's father was never found at the house and he never called the ambulance, it was a neighbour who heard the whole thing that called the authorities. Something happened to Nakai in the hospital, the man was never the same, he didn't attend his mothers funeral, he didn't take any time off from the gym. The very next night Nakai turned up to KRT 24 which he headlined and we all saw a change in Yuki Nakai.

December 12th - KRT 24

Maeda stands over his opponent and dives in with a flying punch! Nakai throws up his legs and catches Maeda in a triangle! Oh this looks tight! Maeda tries to escape but he's forced to tap! Wow, fantastic work there by Nakai! That came out of nowhere!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Yuki Nakai!
An intense looking Yuki Nakai took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'You call this a show? hey you guys in the cheap seats, you paid to see Nakai I understand but I came here for the prestige and Im on a 3 fight card fighting against chumps!!! I want to main event a REAL SHOW now and I want it for the World Title, now hit my music!!!!! '.

Something must have happened to Nakai on that faithful night in the hospital, the man was never the same, he didn't attend his mothers funeral and he didn't take any time off from the gym. Sparring partners became sparse due to rumours that Yuki would break their arms and not take a blind bit of notice if they tapped. Yuki then would fight again but this time in the KRT Featherweight Semi Finals:

February 15th - KRT Tournament Semi Finals

Nakai controlling well, preventing Okamoto from escaping the position.
Nakai is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Okamoto taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Nakai.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 7:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Yuki Nakai!
Post fight, Yuki Nakai stared into the camera and said 'Hey grappling is my world.... stick to K1 kid, face it this aint your sport! (Grabs the nearest camera) Now book me in the semi finals, who\'s gona stop me from becoming the 145 GP Champion?!'

Nakai had found his way to a 5th title shot and with his new attitude would he finally be crowned champion?

1st March 2013 - KRT 145/265 Tournament Finals

Round 1

Santoro got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nakai has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Santoro has managed to get both his arms back between Nakai's legs - danger averted.
Santoro lands a couple of elbows.
Santoro lands a couple of digs.
Nakai working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Santoro doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Santoro manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Round 2

Nakai is working for a kimura but Santoro is defending it quite comfortably.
Santoro misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Santoro is controlling Nakai's trapped leg to prevent Nakai from advancing to side control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Santoro manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Santoro throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Nakai escapes and throws Santoro's legs to the side, diving into side control!
You can see the frustration on Santoro's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Santoro tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Nakai is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Santoro has escaped the position, nice work there.
Santoro throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

Round 3

Nakai seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Santoro is holding on tight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santoro is looking to get to half guard.
Nakai wants to control the pace but Santoro is squirming around nicely.
Santoro bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicky Santoro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Santoro has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Nicky Santoro!
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Nicky Santoro!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Nicky Santoro!

Nicky Santoro wins by unanimous decision!

　

Yuki Nakai never turned up to the press conference after that fight, his contract had expired and Guns McKenzie was tearing his hair out trying to resign Nakai because he loved his new found attitude. The problem was Yuki's new found hatred wasn't an act, it was real emmotion and the man was too unstable to entertain the masses.　

Fast forward 19 days and the infamous scene at the Hard Knocks Arena Tokyo.

Featherweight Title Fight - Nicky Santoro(c) vs. Tony Kazarian

That's eight minutes gone in the round. Santoro throws a big elbow that misses. Wait a minute, what's this? Is that?... yes it's Yuki Nakai he's shouting abuse at Santoro and Santoro get's distracted and Kazarian pushes a forearm under Santoro's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Santoro is tapping out! Damn, that was fast! My GOD NAKAI HAS JUST COST SANTORO THE FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE... THAT SON OF A BITCH!! Ladies and gentlemen, after 8:32 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tony Kazarian! Tony Kazarian is the new featherweight champion! A victorious Tony Kazarian thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter. But surely he owes a big thank you to YUKI NAKAI.

He has never publically given his side of the story or the reason for his change in attitude towards his opponents and more importantly why he did what he did on March 20th 2013. But this was enough to get Yuki a title shot against Tony Kazarian. This would be Nakai's final chance to become champion, Yukai was fighting a man just as experienced and some would say highly skilled in the very fields that Nakai was considered a master at. Would this be Nakai's time?

April 5th 2013 - Tony Kazarian(c) vs. Yuki Nakai

Round 1

Kazarian fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nakai avoids it really well and circles away.
Nakai swings for the body but Kazarian moves out of range.
Kazarian shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Nakai napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kazarian throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Round 2

Kazarian looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Nakai!
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kazarian lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Nakai manages to get back to half guard.
Kazarian working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kazarian lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kazarian is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Round 3

Kazarian working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nakai's head.
Kazarian got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nakai has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kazarian has managed to get both his arms back between Nakai's legs - danger averted.
Kazarian is stalling in the full guard.
Kazarian has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakai looking for a triangle here. Kazarian is fighting it but it looks tight! Nakai pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Kazarian is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 6:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Yuki Nakai!
Yuki Nakai is the new featherweight champion!

At the 6th time of asking and 37 astonishing fights later Yuki Nakai is finally a champion. Nakai's story may be a happy ending in terms of success but what has he had to do to achieve that success. Heart break with his family, he has never really grieved the loss of his mother and refuses to let anyone into his life. His decision to screw a fellow fighter out of their title will surely tarnish his reputation and surely if he had done this whilst with Vahalla Tokyo he would have never been considered for their Hall of Fame. He is hated everywhere he goes and retirement is not that far way so having a nice quiet life after MMA will be difficult. No doubt that this change resulted in Nakai becoming a champion, but at what cost? The phrase "nice guys finish last" springs to mind when talking about Yuki Nakai and that was his story for many a year but I hope Yuki doesn't come to regret his decision not to confide in a friend or his manager when things went bad but at least he has the KRT featherweight Title to keep him warm at night. This has been YUKI NAKAI "A Champions Story."

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