The Rebirth of Japanese MMA

PRIDE used to be the face of MMA in Japan. But when the promotion dissolved, a void was left in a normally thriving market. Fortunately, the UFC is returning to Tokyo, giving millions of eager fans the opportunity to once again watch the top tier of mixed martial artists go head-to-head in their own country. It all happens on September 20th, at the Saitama Super Arena, a massive 20,000-seat arena in the heart of Japan. Mark Hunt and Roy Nelson will headline the event—in what promises to be one of the most exciting heavyweight contests ever.

Watch VICE Japan follow UFC fans Shizuka Sugiyama and Brittany Decker through the streets of Tokyo to find out how popular MMA is in East.