2011 Formula Drift champion Daijiro Yoshihara shocks the world to become the first champion professional drift driver to make a career move to mixed martial arts (MMA). The Japanese native Yoshihara has been training with former MMA champion Josh Barnett for some time now. Daijiro has competed in Formula Drift since 2004 and became the series champion in 2011. He was turned onto MMA when he met Barnett who is an avid drifting fan. "I was totally hooked. Drifting is exciting and where my roots are but I think MMA is where my future is." Yoshihara states
