Yoshihiro Akiyama has signed with ONE Championship and will be competing in the welterweight division. CEO Chatri Sityodtong broke the news on Facebook earlier today,

The popular, charismatic Korean/Japanese fighter has not competed since his UFC stint came to an end in 2015. However Akiyama’s 14-6-0-2 record is particularly impressive when you consider he has been in with the likes of Jake Shields, Vitor Belfort Michael Bisping and Kazushi Sakuraba.

Akiyama will have the opportunity to fight in Tokyo on two different ONE Championship cards next year. However the promotion’s CEO has stated that he is particularly excited about the prospect of the Korean/Japanese welterweight competing at ONE: ‘Home of Heroes’  in Seoul which is the final event on the 2019 schedule.

The welterweight title is currently the property of Zebaztian Kadestam. Another UFC veteran who could be about to sign for ONE Championship is Sage Northcutt, the American is officially a free agent and was in Singapore earlier this month to discuss terms with Asia’s biggest MMA promotion.