Hatsu Hiokis Future with the UFC Uncertain After Third Consecutive Loss

It has been a drastic turn of fortune for UFC featherweight Hatsu Hioki.

In less than two years time, the Japanese veteran has gone from being considered one of the top 145-pound fighters in the world, to hanging on to the fringes of employment with the UFC.The former Shooto and Sengoku featherweight champion jumped off to a solid start under the UFC banner as he collected victories in his first two showings inside the Octagon. After defeating former WEC veteran Bart Palaszewski at UFC 144 in February of 2012, there was talk of the 30-year-old challenging featherweight king Jose Aldo for the 145-pound title.

While the opportunity was there for the taking, Hioki didnt feel he was ready to face Aldo and decided to travel a different route. That decision has proved to be a costly one as Hioki has come out on the losing end of his past three outings.

His most recent defeat came against Darren Elkins at Fight…

continue reading at … Hatsu Hiokis Future with the UFC Uncertain After Third Consecutive Loss | Bleacher Report.