Yoshihiro Akiyama

Yoshihiro Akiyama (秋山 成勲), also known as Choo Sung-hoon (추성훈) and by his nickname Sexyama, is a Japanese mixed martial artist and judoka of Korean descent who won the gold medal at the 2001 Asian Championships for South Korea and for Japan at the 2002 Asian Games.

A fourth-generation Japanese of Korean descent, he acquired Japanese nationality in 2001.

He is the former K-1 HERO's Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament Champion.

Before his professional mixed martial arts career, Akiyama was a decorated Judoka.

He began training in Judo at the age of three.

He has also trained karate, boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and also submission wrestling with Greg Jackson.

Representing South Korea, Choo won the gold medal at the 2001 Asian Judo Championships.

Representing Japan, Akiyama won the gold medal at the 2002 Asian Games defeating Ahn Dong-Jin of South Korea in the finals.

Akiyama defeated three opponents from France, Mongolia and Turkey to reach the semi-finals of the 81 kg Light Middleweight division.

However, all three opponents claimed that Akiyama had a slippery judogi.

Wearing a reserve gi, Akiyama lost two games in a row (semifinal and 3rd-place match) and missed the medal.

International Judo Federation referee director Juan Carlos Barcos said an examination of the gi found that the slippery texture was due to high humidity which prevailed in Osaka and a detergent used to wash the uniform.

"At any moment, we did not have any doubt about fair play in the case. We are absolutely sure that Mr. Akiyama is correct," since he changed the jacket at the request of the jury, Barcos said.

Akiyama was also accused of wearing slippery gear by former world and Olympic champion Kenzo Nakamura when they fought at the world championship trials in 2002.

Akiyama's mixed martial arts debut was in the K-1 Premium 2004 Dynamite event on December 31, 2004, where he defeated boxer Francois Botha by armbar submission in the first round.

His first defeat was to Jerome LeBanner, who knocked him out with knees in his second fight at the HERO'S 1 event on March 26, 2005, although LeBanner is a heavyweight that came into the fight at 262 pounds (119 kg), while Akiyama came into the fight at 189.5 pounds (86 kg).

He has notable wins against Tokimitsu Ishizawa, Taiei Kin, Kestutis Smirnovas and Melvin Manhoef.

Akiyama defeated Melvin Manhoef at the Hero's light-heavyweight Grand Prix 2006 final round, and gained the champion belt.

In K-1 Premium 2006 Dynamite, Akiyama fought the legendary Kazushi Sakuraba in the main event.

During the match, Sakuraba called to the referee saying "[Akiyama is] Slippery!"

Akiyama went on to win the match with a referee stoppage.

This created a controversy amongst MMA fans in Japan, assuming Akiyama was using some sort of body oil or lubricant, banned in K-1 rules.

But at this moment, Akiyama answered to questions about the oil in the interview as follows: "I have no idea why Sakuraba felt slippery. It may be my sweat, as I sweat a lot always and it often drips off my body."

On January 11, Akiyama and FEG (the parent company of K-1) held a press conference during which Akiyama said he used Olay lotion prior to the fight claiming that the lotion was used to treat a worn gi.

Pre-fight footage also showed Akiyama casually applying six bottles of lotion to his body in his locker room.

As a result, Akiyama was disqualified and his prize money was suspended.

Akiyama himself was suspended indefinitely from HERO'S competition six days later.

Public outcry against Akiyama did not cease however, and Nike was swamped with complaints when Akiyama was featured on a television commercial in Japan.

Though Akiyama has admitted to applying cream to his skin, he has said that the purpose was not to gain an unfair advantage but to treat his dry skin.

The fight was ruled a "No Contest".

His opponent was Denis Kang, who was the finalist of PRIDE Bushido Grand Prix 2006 and making his debut in Hero's.

Though he was an underdog, Akiyama beat Kang by KO in the first round.

Akiyama was cleared from his FEG-induced suspension and FEG announced that Akiyama would return to K-1 Hero's in Seoul, on October 28, 2007.

On December 31, 2007, Akiyama faced Kazuo Misaki at Yarennoka!.

The rules of the match stated that kicks to the head of a downed opponent would not be allowed.

Late in the first round Misaki knocked down Akiyama with left hook, and as Akiyama struggled to his feet, Misaki delivered a lunging kick to the face which knocked Akiyama out.

The match was ruled a knockout victory for Misaki, but Akiyama contended that one or both of his hands were on the mat at the time of the kick, which would make the kick a foul under the Yarennoka!

rules.

After reviewing video of the knockout, the Yarennoka!

executive committee agreed; the official result was changed to a no contest.