Sherdog’s Top 10: Japanese Fighters

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10. Caol Uno

Some American fans might remember Uno as the guy who was obliterated by B.J. Penn at UFC 34 in November 2001. When the Hawaiian knocked him cold, eyes staring into the abyss, in just 11 seconds, it become one of the most sensational and violent finishes in Ultimate Fighting Championship history. However, those few seconds have painted an unfair picture of Uno, one of the top fighters to ever come out of Japan.

A silver medalist at the 1999 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships, Uno was a submission machine at his best, with more than half of his 32 career victories coming via tapout. Though his UFC record was spotty, he flourished in K-1 Hero’s, Vale Tudo Japan and Shooto, where he captured the organization’s lightweight crown. Not every fighter can say he holds wins over Rumina Sato, Dennis Hallman, Yves Edwards and Mitsuhiro Ishida or drew with Penn and Tatsuya Kawajiri. One unfortunate fact regarding Uno’s career: He never got the opportunity to compete in Pride Fighting Championships.

Number 9 » He wanted to win above all else, to be sure, but he was known for showboating and wild, choreographed entrances. It was not out of the ordinary to see him performing cartwheels mid-fight and taking his foes out of their game.