For the first time in two years, the UFC is back in Japan this week with a UFC Fight Night event on Friday -- albeit, with a makeshift main event.
Legendary light heavyweight Mauricio "Shogun" Rua was forced to withdraw from his headliner role last week due to injury. His opponent, Ovince Saint Preux now takes on Yushin Okami.
The co-main event actually features higher divisional stakes, as former strawweight title contenders Claudia Gadelha and Jessica Andrade square off in a three-round bout.
Who gets the job done inside historic Saitama Super Arena? ESPN has your full predictions right here.
Ovince St. Preux (20-10) vs. Yushin Okami (34-10), light heavyweight
Odds: St. Preux -450; Okami +325
In 2013, UFC president Dana White explained the UFC had parted ways with Okami because he'd become a "gatekeeper" at 185 pounds. Perhaps if he went out and set the world on fire, he'd be welcomed back.
Well, he's back -- but that probably has more to do with the UFC's main event crisis in Japan than Okami's recent accolades. He's a respectable 5-2 since leaving the UFC, but against some questionable opposition. He failed in his two biggest tests in that span, against David Branch and Jon Fitch.
The majority of those non-UFC bouts were also at 170 pounds. Friday represents a big jump up, obviously, as St. Preux is a healthy-sized 205-pounder.
And really, it might not be any more complicated than that. Okami is more than willing to jump at an opportunity to get back into the UFC, even if that means accepting a fight he has little chance of winning. Okami will be significantly undersized and is not even considered a hard-hitter at welterweight. Worse comes to worse, St. Preux should be able to walk through his striking and take him down.
That seems to be the easy path to victory here for St. Preux, who has struggled mightily at times on his feet but tends to look good when he can take an opponent down. He has always been a good athlete and when he and Okami tie up, which seems likely, his athleticism, physicality and inside/outside trips should be more than enough to put Okami on his back.
St. Preux's striking defense has always been suspect and it's not unusual to see him hang his chin out in the wind, but he's durable and, again, Okami is no knockout artist. Okami is a professional with a whole lot of experience. He brings consistency. But in this case, that may not even be a good thing. This fight is short notice for St. Preux as well, but he knows exactly what he's getting in Okami.
Prediction: St. Preux via submission, first round
Claudia Gadelha (15-2) vs. Jessica Andrade (16-6), strawweight
This probably should have been the main event, even before Rua's withdrawal. If Andrade can stuff a high percentage of Gadelha's takedowns, this could be an edge-of-your-seat co-main event.
Prediction: Andrade via decision
Takanori Gomi (35-13) vs. Dong Hyun Kim (14-8-3), lightweight
"The Fireball Kid," Gomi, continues to sling punches at age 38, on a four-fight skid. He has been finished in all four losses inside the first round, and now faces a former welterweight in Kim.
Prediction: Kim via TKO, second round.
Gokhan Saki (0-1) vs. Henrique da Silva (12-3), light heavyweight
Saki is tough to predict, as he has been inactive the past two years. Da Silva is not a special talent in this division but he's desperate for a win, riding three consecutive losses.
Prediction: da Silva via TKO, third round