Japanese welterweight Takashi Sato has signed with the UFC and will face Ben Saunders later this month. The Pancrase veteran is set to make his promotional debut in Florida on April 27th.
Sato (14-2) has been booked for the UFC on ESPN 3 card. He faces Saunders (22-11-2) who is a seasoned veteran and established himself as one of the top fighters on the Bellator roster before signing with the UFC.
Sato has spent virtually his entire career competing for Pancrase. Last year he challenged for the vacant welterweight title but was submitted in the fourth round by Glaico França.
UFC on ESPN 3 is set for the BB&T Center in Fort Lauderdale and will be headlined by a middleweight rematch between top ranked contenders Yoel Romero and Ronaldo Souza.
UFC on ESPN 3, Fort Lauderdale, April 27th
Yoel Romero vs. Ronaldo Souza (Middleweight)
Greg Hardy vs. Dmitrii Smoliakov (Heavyweight)
Glover Teixeira vs. Ion Cuțelaba (Light Heavyweight)
Carla Esparza vs. Lívia Renata Souza (Strawweight)
Andrei Arlovski vs. Augusto Sakai (Heavyweight)
John Lineker vs. Cory Sandhagen (Bantamweight)
Jim Miller vs. Jason Gonzalez (Lightweight)
Court McGee vs. Dhiego Lima (Welterweight)
Jessica Penne vs. Jodie Esquibel (Strawweight)
Takashi Sato vs. Ben Saunders (Welterweight)
