A new hero has just joined ONE Championship.
ONE, the largest global sports media property in Asian history, has signed Korean-Japanese judoka Yoshihiro Akiyama.
Akiyama is a welterweight who has amassed a 14-6-2 record.
“I am pleased to announce that we have added Yoshihiro Akiyama to our elite ONE Championship roster,” shared ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong. “Akiyama is a true representative of Asian martial arts and it is an honor to welcome him to the global stage of competition. He is an absolute legend in the sport, impressing audiences with his supreme martial arts skill and unwavering will to win.”
After winning gold during the 2002 Asian Games, Akiyama transitioned to mixed martial arts. He had a 12-1(2) record before being signed by the UFC.
In the UFC, he went 2-5 but was only finished twice. Moreover, he won Fight of the Night honors thrice.
Though 43, Akiyama still has a lot left in his tank.
Akiyama will also be pivotal in ONE’s plans of entering the Japanese and Korean market in 2019.
