Sherdog’s Top 10: Japanese Fighters

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8. Tatsuya Kawajiri

Not a whole lot of people have beaten Kawajiri, one of the fiercest fighters in Japanese MMA history. “Crusher” in his prime brutalized opponents with a mix of well-rounded skills, and he has continued to evolve well into his 30s. Kawajiri arrived in the UFC in 2014 and has gone 2-1 since, proving he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level.

Kawajiri cut his teeth in Shooto before making a splash in Pride Fighting Championships. Even though he came up short, his memorable war with Takanori Gomi at Pride Bushido 9 was one for the ages. “Crusher” has posted plenty of high-profile wins during his 15-year career, having toppled Yves Edwards, Vitor Ribeiro, Joachim Hansen (twice) and Josh Thomson.

Number 7 » With wrestling and judo as his base skills, he used a special combination of technique and brute strength to control and overwhelm his foes. He bounced around Pride Fighting Championships, Pancrase and K-1 Hero’s before putting down roots in the UFC. There, he hit his stride and quickly emerged as a legitimate contender for the title at 185 pounds.