Sean Sheehan 
The Saitama Super Arena, arguably the most famous MMA venue in the history of the sport, plays host to the UFC’s return to the sports and entertainment mad country of Japan this Friday night. Originally, PRIDE legend Mauricio “Shogun” Rua was due to headline the card against Ovince St-Preux but after Rua pulled out last week Japan’s own Yushin Okami now steps in to face the American. A wonderful fight between Claudia Gadelha and Jessica Andrade is the outstanding contest on the night while kickboxing stand-out Gökhan Saki UFC debut will also be intriguing to watch.
Here are quick picks for the event.
Main Card
Light Heavyweight: Ovince Saint Preux vs. Yushin Okami – Size and power should see OSP through.
Women’s Strawweight: Cláudia Gadelha vs. Jéssica Andrade – Really a tough one to pick but I’m going for Gadelha to win a decision
Lightweight: Takanori Gomi vs. Dong Hyun Kim – Have to go Kim here with Gomi well past his best
Light Heavyweight: Gökhan Saki vs. Henrique da Silva – Saki is a great kickboxer, but this is MMA. I’m going da Silva.
Featherweight: Teruto Ishihara vs. Rolando Dy – Close decision for Ishihara.
Featherweight: Mizuto Hirota vs. Charles Rosa – Rosa inside the distance.
Preliminary Card
Welterweight Keita: Nakamura vs. Alex Morono – Morono
Flyweight: Jussier Formiga vs. Ulka Sasaki – Formiga
Women’s Strawweight: Syuri Kondo vs. Chan-Mi Jeon – Kondo
Welterweight: Shinsho Anzai vs. Luke Jumeau – Jumeau
Welterweight: Daichi Abe vs. Hyun Gyu Lim – Lim
BET OF THE WEEK
I’m going with an evens treble of OSP, Gadelha and Formiga.
START TIMES (Friday Night)
Prelims: 1am on BT Sport/Fight Pass.
Main Card: 3am on BT Sport
