Welcome to another edition of “Meet Your UFC Rookies.” This is one of our more popular segments here at PRO MMA© (promma.info) that many have imitated and well… a few have duplicated.
On the next three UFC cards, UFC 98, 99, and 100, there will be five fighters making their UFC debut. There is one rookie at UFC 98 – Tim Hague. UFC 99 has three newbies – Ricky Story, Peter Sobotta, and Todd Duffee. And UFC 100 has one – Yoshihiro Akiyama.
25-year-old Canadian, Tim “The Thrashing Machine” Hague, is a 6’4″ 260-pound heavyweight who has been fighting professionally since 2006. He has a record of 9-1 with his only loss coming by split decision to Miodrag Petkovic in 2007, and he avenged the loss a year later. He is on a four fight win streak and is the current Canadian King of the Cage Heavyweight Champion. Hague has 5(T)KOs, 2 Submissions, and 2 Decision victories. Hague graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Education Degree and is a former school teacher. He will be looking to teach Pat Barry a thing or two when he makes his UFC debut at at UFC 98 in Las Vegas. Tim Hague Highlight Reel
24-year-old Washington native, Rick “The Horror” Story, is a 5’10” welterweight who has been fighting professionally since 2007. He has a record of 7-1, is on a seven fight win streak and has not lost since his first match (loss was by decision). He has 2 (T)KOs, 2 Submissions, and 3 Decision victories. He trains out of Braveheart Fight Club in Vancouver, Washington. He graduated from Southern Oregon University in Health Education. Most of his fights have been in the EWC (Elite Warriors Challenge) in Washington. Rick’s next fight will be against John Hathaway at UFC 99 in Germany. Rick Story Highlight Reel
22-year-old Peter Sobotta is a 6’0″ welterweight from Poland who moved to Balingen, Germany in 1990. He has been fighting professionally since 2004. He has a record of 8-1 and is on a four fight win streak. He has 4(T)KOs and 4 Submission victories. Out of his eight victories, he has only been out of the first round one time. He was the Southern Germany BJJ Champion for 2007/2008, German BJJ Champion 2006/2007, German Submission Wrestling Champion 2008 and the Eastern German MMA Champion 2008. He is quoted as saying, “During my 22nd birthday party on 11th January 2009 I obtained the best present in my life, as my managers unpacked a UCF contract!” His first fight inside the Octagon will be against Paul Taylor at UFC 99 in Cologne, Germany. Peter Sobotta Highlight Reel
23-year-old Todd “The Irish Car Bomb” Duffee is a 6’3″ 260-pound heavyweight training with the Hardcore Gym in Athens, Georgia as well as American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida. Duffee is currently taking a break from his International Business studies at the University of Georgia to prepare for his UFC debut. Duffee has been fighting professionally since 2007 and is 4-0 with all of his wins coming by (T)KO. He has fought in various organizations. His most recent fight was last September against Assuerio Silva at Jungle Fight 11 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. His Octagon debut will be against Mustapha Al Turk at UFC 99 in Germany. Todd Duffee vs. Assuerio Silva video
33-year-old Yoshihiro Akiyama is a 5’10” middleweight from Osaka, Japan. Akiyama is ranked as the number ten middleweight in the world according to the most recent WAMMA rankings. He is a Judo Champion who won gold at the 2002 Asian Games. He has been fighting professional MMA since 2004, amassing a very impressive record of 12-1. He is on an eleven fight win streak (with two “no contests” thrown in for good measure). With 5(T)KOs and 7 submission victories, no one has taken Akiyama out of the second round, much less to a decision. Akiyama gained MMA prominence when became the 2006 K-1 HERO’s Light Heavyweight Tournament Champion. Could he become a future contender to face UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva? Expect fireworks as Akiyama’s first UFC fight will be against Alan Belcher at UFC 100. Yoshihiro Akiyama Highlight Reel
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By: Jack Bratcher