Yoshihiro ‘Sexyama’ Akiyama Signs with ONE Championship

Veteran welterweight Yoshihiro Akiyama aka ‘Sexyama’ has signed an exclusive deal to begin competing for ONE Championship in 2019.

ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced the signing on Thursday.

Akiyama was a mainstay in many of the top promotions in Japan when he first started competing with fights in DREAM and K-1 Hero’s.

Akiyama eventually ended up in the UFC but he never found the same level of success competing there as he had earlier in his career.

Akiyama ended up with a 2-5 record overall with the UFC while dealing with injuries that kept him out of action for more than a year twice during his career there.

Akiyama last fought in 2015 in a split decision loss to Alberto Mina.

Now the 43-year old veteran will take his talents to ONE Championship as the promotion prepares to expand into new territories in 2019 including planned shows in Japan and South Korea.