Former UFC middleweight Chris Leben is set to return to mixed martial arts for the first time in almost 13 years when he faces Yoshihiro Akiyama in South Korea next month.
The 46-year-old will meet Akiyama at Black Combat 17: Vantablack on November 21 at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, with the promotion confirming that the contest will serve as Akiyama’s retirement fight.
The matchup is a rematch of their encounter at UFC 116 in July 2010, when Leben stepped in on short notice to face the Japanese fighter. Leben secured a third-round submission victory via triangle choke, handing Akiyama his first defeat in the UFC.
Leben, who holds a professional MMA record of 22-12, last competed in the sport in December 2013, suffering a defeat to Uriah Hall. He announced his retirement the following month and subsequently agreed to a comeback with Bellator in 2016, although those plans were abandoned after medical examinations revealed a serious heart condition.
The American later returned to combat sports through bare-knuckle boxing, most recently competing against Quentin Henry in February 2021. His upcoming appearance will mark his first professional MMA contest since his departure from the UFC.
Akiyama, 16-7 in professional MMA, will bring his career to a close against the opponent who defeated him more than 16 years earlier. The Japanese veteran, also known as ‘Sexyama’, competed in the UFC between 2009 and 2015 before continuing his career in Asia.
