Yoshihiro Akiyama
Yoshihiro Akiyama (Korean: 추성훈, Hanja: 秋成勳) is a judoka and mixed martial artist with the K-1 HERO'S promotion. A fourth-generation ethnic Korean born in Japan, he obtained Japanese nationality as an adult. He was involved in a controversial series of wins during the 2003 World Judo Championships in Osaka. He later moved to mixed martial arts, and is the 2006 K-1 HERO'S Light Heavyweight tournament champion.
Professional career
Judo
2003 World Judo Championships
Akiyama defeated three opponents from France, Mongolia, and Turkey to reach the semi-finals of the 81kg Light Middleweight division.
However, ALL THREE opponents claimed that Akiyama had a slippery judogi.
International Judo Federation referee director Juan Carlos Barcos said an examination of the gi found that the slippery texture was due to high humidity which prevailed in Osaka and a detergent used to wash the uniform. "At any moment, we did not have any doubt about fair play in the case. We are absolutely sure that Mr. Akiyama is correct," since he changed the jacket at the request of the jury, Barcos said. (Mr. Yamashita, the chairman of Japan Judo Association, told Akiyama to wear the reserve gi, because he thought that such "Doubts" never should come up. )
After that, he lost two games in a row (semifinal and 3rd-place match)and missed the medal.
The incident was unheard of in IJF-sanctioned tournaments, Barcos said. But Akiyama was also accused of wearing slippery gear by former world and Olympic champion Kenzo Nakamura when they fought at the world championship trials last April. [1]
Prior to this championship, Akiyama appeared on TV show in Japan on Feb.4, 2003.("Junk Sport" by Fuji Television)
In this show, Akiyama said:
"I make my Judogi slippery in order to get some advantage." "I ask my mother to wash the gi with fablic softner. It's not prohibited."
K-1 HERO'S
Akiyama's mixed martial arts debut was in the K-1 Premium 2004 Dynamite event on December 31, 2004, where he defeated boxer Francois Botha by armbar submission in the first round. His only defeat has been to Jerome LeBanner, who knocked him out with knees in his second fight at the K-1 HERO'S 1 event on March 26, 2005. He has notable wins against Tokimitsu Ishizawa, Taiei Kin, Kestutis Smirnovas and Melvin Manhoef. The match against Manhoef was the K-1 Hero's light-heavyweight Grand Prix 2006 final, and he gained the champion belt.
In K-1 Premium 2006 Dynamite, Akiyama fought Kazushi Sakuraba in the main event. During the match, Sakuraba called to the referee saying "[Akiayama is] Slippery!" Akiayama went to win the match with a referee stoppage. This created a controversy amongst MMA fans in Japan, assuming Akiyama was using some sort of body oil or lubricant, banned in K-1 rules.
On January 11, Akiyama and FEG (the parent company of K-1) held a press conference during which Akiyama said he used Olay lotion prior to the fight.[2] Pre-fight footage also showed Akiyama casually applying lotion to his body in his locker room. As a result, Akiyama was disqualified and his prize money was suspended. Akiyama himself was suspended indefinitely from HERO'S competition six days later.[3] Public outcry against Akiyama did not cease however, as Nike was swamped with complaints when Akiyama was featured on a television commercial in Japan.[4] Though Akiyama has admitted to applying cream to his skin, he has said that the purpose was not to gain an unfair advantage but to treat his dry skin.
After upholding his suspension, FEG announced that Akiyama would return to K-1 Hero's in Seoul, on October 28, 2007. His opponent was Denis Kang, who was the finalist of PRIDE Bushido Grand Prix 2006 and making his debut in HERO'S. Though he was expected as an underdog, Akiyama beat Kang via KO in the first round.