Turkish kick-boxing star Gokhan Saki announces himself in style to MMA fans in action-packed UFC Japan card

Former world kick-boxing champion Gokhan “The Rebel” Saki’s huge left and right hands sent shock waves through the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s light heavyweight division on Saturday morning in Japan, just as they did through the skull of opponent Henrique da Silva.

The Turkish star’s UFC debut left the veteran Brazilian (12-4) down and out on the canvas at 4.45 of the first round and Saki’s explosive style will have woken a division dismayed by former champion’s Jon Jones’ drug problems and pretty much in disarray.

“This is my house,” Saki declared on victory. “I’m here in the octagon.”

The UFC has returned to Asia in a huge way this year, following their card in Singapore in June, with this morning of mayhem.

Brazilians Jessica Andrade (17-6) and Claudia Gadelha (15-3) waged all out war in their strawweight co-main event which must go down as one of the fights of the year. It wasn’t pretty – deep cuts on the foreheads of both fighters had the claret flowing – but it was brilliant in terms of the battle witnessed Andrade got the referees’ nod.

But first to the Turk.