It is now being reported that UFC may make its way into Japan next spring, one season earlier than previous reports.

Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta made some other announcements as well.

Confirming some news I uncovered nearly one year ago, Dana White mentioned a number of Japanese fighters he is interested in having as part of the next UFC Japan:

Kazushi Sakuraba

Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto

Hidehiko Yoshida

Takanori Gomi

They would like these four to face UFC fighters in their respective divisions.

"The fans would like to know whether it's the UFC fighters or other fighters that are the strongest." [translation of Dana White's words, same below]

They are concentrating on putting on possibly the first of many events between March and May of next year in or near the capital of Tokyo.

Dana White mentioned the following possible matchups:

"Kid" Yamamoto vs. Urijah Faber

Gomi vs. B.J. Penn

"I'm thinking I really want to put on a card with 'Kid'. Isn't Gomi wasting time? The UFC is the #1 organization collecting fighters of his level."

The UFC's "theme" for next year is to concentrate on the US while expanding the market globally. Japan is just one stop along that path. They plan to negotiate with DREAM and Sengoku, which could very well result in an entire reorganization of the MMA world.