Former middleweight champion Evan Tanner (32-6) will return to action against top 185-pound contender Yushin Okami (21-4) at UFC 82: “Pride of a Champion” on March 1, 2008, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
MMAmania.com (www.mmamania.com) has learned from a reliable source that bout agreements are signed, marking the return of Tanner after a two-year self-imposed break from competition.
Talk about getting right back on the horse — Okami is among the best in the division. It certainly is not a “tune-up” fight for Tanner. But that shouldn’t be too surprising since he is well known for taking on the best in the sport and leaving it all inside the Octagon win or lose.
He submitted Justin Levens (triangle choke) after back-to-back losses to David Loiseau (UFC Fight Night 2) and Rich Franklin (UFC 53). Tanner lost his 185-pound title in the fight with Franklin, getting overwhelmed for much of the bout and forcing the doctor at ringside to call a halt to the action.
The self-taught mixed martial artist is currently back in Las Vegas — after a long strange trip outside the cage — trying to get back into top form. Tanner updates his Web site frequently with his latest adventures and training news.
Okami just re-signed a new four-fight deal that ensures he remains in the UFC 185-pound mix. He had a setback earlier this year, losing his only fight inside the Octagon to Rich Franklin at UFC 72: “Victory” via unanimous decision. “Thunder” (or is it now Phoenix?) holds wins over notables such as Jason MacDonald, Mike Swick, Rory Singer, Kalib Starnes and Alan Belcher during his time as a UFC fighter.
He is known as a slow starter who fights his fight each time out. However, Okami may not have that luxury against an animal like Tanner.
For the latest rumored UFC 82 fight card click here.
64 Comments »
HOLLA!!!
EVAN ALL THE WAY!
1. A great come back
2. Or something really funny
AWESOME NEWS!!!!!!!!!!
This has to be the first good news Evan Tanner has had in a while. Tanner and Okami are both ground and pound fighters, so it will be interesting to see who will be able to impose thier will. Okami is strong, so Tanner better be up to the task and not show up to the Nationwide arena “finding the captain in himself” (*followed by the Captain Morgan stance*)
This is great! This is exactly the match I had hoped to see to welcome Tanner back!
Gotta think the winner of this gets the winner of Silva/Henderson for the title.
[quote comment="246637"]Gotta think the winner of this gets the winner of Silva/Henderson for the title.[/quote]
It just goes to show how week the mw division is but this should be a action packed fight
Evan baby!!!!!!!
War Evan!!!!
this a good match up..but the winner should not get a title shot.
We should see a MW grand prix..throw everyone in the mix even the scrubs..have a tourney..the winnerof the Grand prix gets a shot at the winner of Silva/Henderson. Maybe this can jump start the rest of the division.
I like Evan and I am glad he is back. No one ever showed more courage then him agaist Ace. Damn, Ace messed his face up. I think Okami will win however and get a shot at The Spider.
[quote comment="246648"]We should see a MW grand prix..throw everyone in the mix even the scrubs..have a tourney..the winnerof the Grand prix gets a shot at the winner of Silva/Henderson. Maybe this can jump start the rest of the division.[/quote]
But do we want to put Dan Henderson/Anderson Silva on the bench for a full year while the tourney plays itself out?
Good good first fight back for Tanner.
i was kinda hoping they would match him up with bisping.Tanner would murder him
Tanner always brings it…Tanner all day!
Okami is awsome too..
Gonna make for a great fight.
[quote comment="246657"][quote comment="246648"]We should see a MW grand prix..throw everyone in the mix even the scrubs..have a tourney..the winnerof the Grand prix gets a shot at the winner of Silva/Henderson. Maybe this can jump start the rest of the division.[/quote]
But do we want to put Dan Henderson/Anderson Silva on the bench for a full year while the tourney plays itself out?[/quote]
I would just wantto spice things up a bit. Let’s bring it back to the Royce days..let’s say..get the best 8 mw’s in a UFN/PPV have them square off..winner gets a shot. With the time frame Page is given it would follow UFc’s timing. every 8months or so..( I hope not ) ..VM I just want to see some life and spice in this weight class and in the ufc..it’s like things are becoming repetitive.
I’ll be pulling for Okami on this one.
SHit….. this would be a great fight! war Okami
I hope Tanner trains like he used to and comes prepared to fight. I liked the idea of him fighting Bisping for his first fight back, but this will work as well. I think he’ll need at least one more win before he gets a title shot if he somehow beats Okami….which isn’t going to be an easy task, especially for someone who hasn’t fought for 2 years.
wow, so much for a tune up.
I hope I am wrong but I beleive this fight will not live up to any hype going into it.
With the layoff tanner has had his conditioning will be no where near where it was when he was an exciting fighter at his peak and okami is a slow starter and natuarlly a boring fighter which means this could be the most boring fight on the card
I like Tanner a lot but I see Okami pounding him out in the 2nd.
Oh my God yes, this is an awesome fight.
GUARANTEED TANNER WILL GAS – EVEN IN THE 1ST ROUND
this better be on the main card, if okami wins he has to get a title shot next i am glad tanner is fighting okami and not lutter or maia on this one even though lutter might now face maia
[quote comment="246639"][quote comment="246637"]Gotta think the winner of this gets the winner of Silva/Henderson for the title.[/quote]
It just goes to show how week the mw division is but this should be a action packed fight[/quote]
well if okami wins i can see him probably getting a shot it tanner wins he may need to fight marquardt or ed herman before hed get close to contention.
wow. I cant believe this is even a mix. Tanner is going to submit or TKO Okami first round. No doubt about it. You see the new pic of Tanner yet?
http://www.evantanner.net/journal
the dude is back to stay!
[quote comment="246632"]AWESOME NEWS!!!!!!!!!!
This has to be the first good news Evan Tanner has had in a while. Tanner and Okami are both ground and pound fighters, so it will be interesting to see who will be able to impose thier will. Okami is strong, so Tanner better be up to the task and not show up to the Nationwide arena “finding the captain in himself” (*followed by the Captain Morgan stance*)[/quote]
Joe Silva did a great Job putting this fight together. Yushin is a very tough yet sometimes “boring” fighter. Who better to bring the fight out of him then Evan Tanner who has never been in a boring fight in his life.
Good Match up!
[quote comment="246780"]wow. I cant believe this is even a mix. Tanner is going to submit or TKO Okami first round. No doubt about it. You see the new pic of Tanner yet?
http://www.evantanner.net/journal
the dude is back to stay![/quote]
Good call. The man looks ready to go today and he has over 2 more months to get ready.
I really would like to see Evan get back into the mix and I hoe he wins.
I think that the division would be better off with an Okami win so that they would have a deserving opponent for Silva coming up.
I’d like to see Tanner pull off a couple of wins befor sniffing a title shot.
No way Okami finish’s Tanner by getting mauled in the third round or by submission.
Okami wins by decision…..yawn…lay and pray….
Plz knock Okami out…he’s almost as boring as sean sherk
“We should see a MW grand prix..throw everyone in the mix even the scrubs..have a tourney..the winnerof the Grand prix gets a shot at the winner of Silva/Henderson. Maybe this can jump start the rest of the division.”
I agree, its a good idea but i would only really like to see this tourney if The Spyder defeats Hendo in their match. If Hendo loses then i don’t really know who deserves the next shot at the title, so a tourney would be a good solution.
THAT being said i also think that one of the “twists” to the new TUF show,that Dana referred to MIGHT be a MW tourney almost like the TUF 4 “Comeback” but with all MW fighters
JUST THROWIN IT OUT THERE
a man can dream can’t he…haha
Tanner is the MAN! i have nothin but respect for the guy. he is ALWAYS warrior in the octagon and more so in life. an honest and respectible humanbeing… we could use more ppl like that.
WAR TANNER!!
“BELIVE”
“BELIEVE”
my bad
Tanner’s got his hands full.
This should go three rounds and end with a late stoppage.
I could see Okami via G N P or Tanner strapping on a triangle choke w/ elbows like with the Levins fight. If Okami gets lazy on the ground he will get set up into a submission. If he stays busy and keeps dropping well placed bombs he should get the tko.
WELCOME BACK TANNER.
I really think it could be another ‘Okami Boring’ fight. Neither of them will push the pace in this fight but Okami has better striking than tanner, so I would give it to Okami. Besides Okami said he has been working on his striking to ‘FINISH’ his fight maybe he will since tanner’s been drinking his training away.
Very good to hear, I really think this is a good test for tanner to see if he’s still got it and if he wins that puts him right in title contintion, well anyways im going with tanner all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
evan tanner looses by submission (kidney failure) 2:45 into round 2.
no but seriously, i hope the ‘captain’ brings his career back afloat. man im full of it tonight.
I would put my money on tanner in this one, isn’t matt hammill gonna be fighting on this card? I’ve heard nothing about his status lately…
MMAmania should really stop tagging their stories with (EXCLUSIVE!) It makes the site seem really amateurish.
Wow. So much for feeding Tanner a can for his return.
I hope he likes his “Welcome back,” loss. Okami will not lose this fight. Whether it be by TKO or lame decision, Okami wins.
Bye Evan!
Should have been Leben. I love watching that dude lose.
if the evan tanner who’s in his prime, he would beat yuushin okami,no question.. but as of now tanner tooks a long time off from fighting, ufc should give him a lesser opponent.
anyway its a big boost up for tanner if he pull off this one.
[quote comment="246969"]MMAmania should really stop tagging their stories with (EXCLUSIVE!) It makes the site seem really amateurish.[/quote]
Go fuck your dog, hater. Create your own Web site and you’ll understand the reason for it. Widespread plagiarism and thievery is perhaps beyond your comprehension.
Okami is probably gonna have his way with Tanner. He’s too strong. Hopefully he’ll do something exciting with that strength for once. The guy needs to learn some technique.. badly. Somebody teach him how to box and pass guards.
[quote comment="246986"][quote comment="246969"]MMAmania should really stop tagging their stories with (EXCLUSIVE!) It makes the site seem really amateurish.[/quote]
Go fuck your dog, hater. Create your own Web site and you’ll understand the reason for it. Widespread plagiarism and thievery is perhaps beyond your comprehension.[/quote]
haha lol..
I vote that “quote of the day”..
…you should just give yourself a prize for that one Mania.
[quote comment="247059"]Okami is probably gonna have his way with Tanner. He’s too strong. Hopefully he’ll do something exciting with that strength for once. The guy needs to learn some technique.. badly. Somebody teach him how to box and pass guards.[/quote]
I disagree..
I think Okami is very strong, but Tanner is much stronger and he fights at such an agressive pace. Unlike Okami who is strong, but fights slow and boring, not letting it out until the 3rd round and still not finishing fights.
Tanner will wear Okami out with dominant ground and pound, then TKO, or submit him late 2nd round or early 3rd..(IMO)
Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope Tanner woops his ass !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Waaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrr TTTTTTTTTTttttaaaaaaannnneerrrr !!!
no one wins in this fight. the winner fights franklin and loses. franklin cannot beat silva…..silva will dominate this class until he is 84. anyone else in this weight class is just wasting their time. gain weight or lose weight to have a chance.
THIS IS SILVA’S ERA.
[quote comment="246986"][quote comment="246969"]MMAmania should really stop tagging their stories with (EXCLUSIVE!) It makes the site seem really amateurish.[/quote]
Go fuck your dog, hater. Create your own Web site and you’ll understand the reason for it. Widespread plagiarism and thievery is perhaps beyond your comprehension.[/quote]
this is why i continue to read this site.
I’m surprised tanner would take this fight. Okami is a beast. Nevertheless, I won’t be the one surprised when tanner wins…somehow.
Okami by 3rd rd stoppage.
[quote comment="247116"][quote comment="246986"][quote comment="246969"]MMAmania should really stop tagging their stories with (EXCLUSIVE!) It makes the site seem really amateurish.[/quote]
Go fuck your dog, hater. Create your own Web site and you’ll understand the reason for it. Widespread plagiarism and thievery is perhaps beyond your comprehension.[/quote]
haha lol..
I vote that “quote of the day”..
…you should just give yourself a prize for that one Mania.
[/quote]
Damn that was straight up in the ass…LOL
Okami will probably win and then get a chance for the belt. However, he’ll probably lose that one, and then the UFC will use him as a measuring stick for other contenders/pretenders for his last two fights on his contract.
Best of luck to Evan Tanner for a successful comeback fight. Been away too long Tanner!
[quote post="4333"]evan tanner looses by submission (kidney failure) 2:45 into round 2.
no but seriously, i hope the “captain’ brings his career back afloat. man im full of it tonight. [/quote]
LOL LOL LOL
Okami will be looking to ’sink’ in a submission on Tanner.
Hopefully Evan comes prepared and doesn’t have any ‘holes’ in his game.
If Evan Tanner wins, don’t expect to see him “showboating” around in the octagon.
HAHAHAHAHAHA
[quote comment="246986"][quote comment="246969"]MMAmania should really stop tagging their stories with (EXCLUSIVE!) It makes the site seem really amateurish.[/quote]
Go fuck your dog, hater. Create your own Web site and you’ll understand the reason for it. Widespread plagiarism and thievery is perhaps beyond your comprehension.[/quote]
Get em Mania!!!!
[quote comment="246924"]evan tanner looses by submission (kidney failure) 2:45 into round 2.
[/quote]
I spit water everywhere when I read that. LOL.
is Going for Tanner all the way
[quote comment="247536"][quote post="4333"]evan tanner looses by submission (kidney failure) 2:45 into round 2.
no but seriously, i hope the “captain’ brings his career back afloat. man im full of it tonight. [/quote]
LOL LOL LOL
Okami will be looking to ’sink’ in a submission on Tanner.
Hopefully Evan comes prepared and doesn’t have any ‘holes’ in his game.
If Evan Tanner wins, don’t expect to see him “showboating” around in the octagon.
HAHAHAHAHAHA[/quote]
maybe he can steer his career back on course with this fight.
Sick, i hope he rapes okami. Be sick to see him come back.