13 of the most humongous fighters in MMA history

#2 Akebono Taro

Akebono was a top Yokozuna for eight years

Height: 6’8”

Weight: 250 Kg

In 1993, Chadwick Haheo Rowan created an epoch by becoming the first sumo of non-Japanese ethnicity to gain the hallowed rank of Yokozuna. Akebono was trained by fellow Hawaiian sumo legend Takamiyama, who agreed to tutor Akebono despite his scepticism that he was too tall for the sport.

Student would make a believer of the master by compensating for his assumed top-heaviness with pure explosiveness – Akebono is still considered one of the most feral sumos in the history of the sport.

The monopoly of the highest echelons of sumo for close to a decade started taking its toll in the mid-90s. Akebono’s body was dogged by injuries and despite the best of therapy, he couldn’t ascend the peaks he once looked down from.

The new millennium rang in an inauspicious phase for Akebono, with him being forced to fight for K-1 to clear his debts. The sumo legend floundered in the kickboxing ring like a beached shark and fans dubbed him “Makebono”, “make” meaning loser in Japanese.

Showmanship followed, with several pro-wrestling houses throwing open their doors for Akebono. He gained infamy for his sumo match against the Big Show at WrestleMania 21, which will at least, be marked as a win.