We are just two months into the year 2019, and yet another trade from the UFC to ONE Championship has come to pass. ONE’s most recent addition to the roster came on Tuesday in the form of Japanese ace mixed martial artist, Yushin Okami. Okami has been a competitor in the professional arena since the year 2002. After participating with various other MMA promotions such as PRIDE, Pancrase, and M-1 Global, Okami had already gained a plethora of experience before moving to the UFC in 2006.
Following a near four-year separation from the UFC, Okami returned in the year 2017 to face Ovince Saint Preux after an exit in 2014. This return did not prove fruitful for Okami as he suffered two losses in his total of three fights for the UFC.
On February 20th, 2019, ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced the signing of ex-UFC middleweight Yushin Okami to the ONE family. Although the contract is legitimate, details regarding weight class and debut opponent for Okami are yet to be revealed by ONE. This has been a busy past one year for the ONE management, with three UFC signees in Demetrious Johnson, Eddie Alvarez, and Sage Northcutt. Now, with the inclusion of Yushin Okami, ONE fans can be sure to witness a whole new spectrum of elite martial art skill and prowess.