By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
Choo Sung-hoon (Yoshihiro Akiyama) of Japan will get a chance to fight Wanderlei Cesar da Silva of Brazil in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Choo will have a bout with Silva in UFC 110 or UFC 111 held in February.
Since both competitors try to win by knockout rather than decision, fans will be in for an all-out brawl.
Choo, who was born in Japan to Korean parents (both athletes), debuted in July against Alan Belcher of the United States, and judges declared him the winner of the fierce match.
Silva is considered one of the toughest fighters in the UFC, but was especially dominating when he was in the Pride Fighting Championships, where he earned the Grand Prix and middleweight titles.
Though he hasn't been as impressive since switching to UFC, he still has many avid fans.
One thing that will be interesting to watch is the difference between the Asian and Latin-American fighting styles.
While former judo champion Choo is a boxer, Silva is a traditional infighter.
Choo, who revealed his lack of stamina in his debut match, moved to the "Xtreme Couture" gym to fix the problem.
The middleweight Asian may not back down, but the veteran Brazilian is favored.
First of all, Silva has never lost to an Asian ― defeating all of his opponents from the region with his overwhelming power and strength.
Another reason he is being favored his size.
Silva used to fight in the light heavyweight class. Since dropping down to the middleweight class, he has been one of the heaviest in the division.
One thing's for sure ― the anticipation for the bout between the former Pride Champion and one of Asia's most successful fighters will surely intensify as February approaches.