Dave Meltzer speculates:
But putting marketing aside, there is another reality to Akiyama. After Akiyama was knocked out cold on December 31, 2007, by Kazuo Misaki, he has not been the same fighter. He is slower to react, which is the kiss of death against top competition. Fighting Entertainment Group, the promotion behind K-1 in Japan, was well aware of this, putting him against two non-fighters in his only matches this past year. Unless his reflexes suddenly snap back to pre-knockout levels, UFC is paying big money for a fighter who may very well be shot. And unlike in Japan, UFC is not going to put fighters who couldn’t even win in minor-league shows against him because he’s a draw.
When it comes to the big stage, the Japanese MMA world is difficult for an American to understand. Although there are championships, they are not really all that important. During the heyday of PRIDE and in K-1 today, nobody in Japan talks or cares about people’s win-loss records. Fighting with honor was considered far more important than winning.
In Japan perhaps he's damaged. In South Korea? There is likely plenty of juice still to be squeezed.
