Yoshihiro Akiyama leaning on technique, emotion ahead of ONE Championship 109

Asian MMA icon Yoshihiro Akiyama returns to action in Singapore at “ONE Championship 109: King of the Jungle” as he looks to secure his first win in five and a half years.

Akiyama (14-7 MMA) came out of retirement and signed with ONE Championship last year, and now, at age 44, “Sexyama” is hoping to get back into the win column with a victory over Egypt’s Sherif Mohamed at Singapore Indoor Stadium on Feb. 28.

Despite being firmly in the veteran stage of his career, Akiyama isn’t concerned with his age, and says he’ll always face fighters significantly younger than him at this stage in his career.

“I’m 44 years old but it will not affect me,” he said. “All my opponents are younger than me. It will be like fighting with my son. I feel better than my first bout. My condition is very good.”

Akiyama said he switched things up for his most recent training camp as he headed to South Korea to train, instead of his usual training base in Japan. For the former UFC fan favorite, the adage “a change is as good as a rest” applies.

“My training partners are different, I train at a different times and the kimchi is delicious” he grinned.

Akiyama will take on Mohamed (9-5), who has finished all of his victories inside the distance. The Egyptian’s power is something the former judoka said he is quite aware of, as he explained how his skill will be more important than his power on fight night.

“My opponent’s strength is his power,” he explained. Even in mount position, I won’t be able to punch, as Sherif is strong. So I am not going to win this bout with power, but I will try to win with technique.”

While Akiyama is excited to return to action once again, he admitted that enthusiasm was tinged with a little sadness that his family would not be there to watch him live. The coronavirus has meant that the event will be held behind closed doors in Singapore, with no fans allowed into the building.

That means Akiyama’s nearest and dearest will have to watch on TV or online as he takes on “The Shark,” and Akiyama says he will use the emotion of missing his family to inspire him to secure the victory.

“Every time I fight my family is with me, especially my mother,” he said. “So I am a little bit nervous because I always feel that. My family is my protection, but this time I will win for them.”