Yoshihiro Akiyama was scheduled to fight Wanderlei Silva at UFC 116. Silva has broken ribs and an injured knee so he was forced out of the fight. The UFC assigned Chris Leben to take his place. Akiyama has been vocal about finding Leben's samurai back tattoo disrespectful. Apparently the tattoo depicts a samurai holding the severed head of an ancient Korean chef--which Akiyama finds extremely distasteful because of his ancestors being chefs in South Korea. Now Akiyama is threatening to pull out of the fight because he claims Leben is a step down in competition. http://middleeasy.com/index.php?opt...tens-to-pull-out-of-ufc-116&catid=36:fighters
I don't blame him, honestly. I'm surprised more fighters don't pull out after a change in opponent so close to the venue. If Dana doesn't kick him extra $$$, I think he should pull out. Dana will probably cut him for doing it, though.
