Akiyama signs for UFC

UFC President Dana White confirmed on Wednesday the signing of Yoshihiro Akiyama.

Akiyama has signed a contract with the UFC that will see him fight in their middleweight division.

He first started of his international sports career in judo and won several titles, including a Goald medal in the 2002 Asian Games.

The 33-year-old has an impressive 12-1 record and his list of victims includes the likes of Denis Kang.

Akiyama, who started with mixed martial arts in 2004, has only lost one fight and that was against Jerome LeBanner, in the second fight of his career.

White believes Akiyama will make an ‘immediate impact’ and become a hit in the UFC.

“I’m excited to bring Akiyama into the UFC and I can see him making an immediate impact in the middleweight division,” said White.

“Besides his great judo and submission game, he’s a finisher, and UFC fans are going to love watching him because he always shows up to fight.”

Akiyama, who was born in Osaka, Japan, of Korean descent, will be presented at press conference in Japan and Korea in the coming days, the UFC have announced.

Tags: Dana White, UFC, Yoshihiro Akiyama