Yushin Okami Returns to Japan, Meets Ryuta Sakurai in Pride Rematch at Deep 75
Former UFC middleweight title contender Yushin Okami will compete on the Japanese fight circuit for the first time since 2006 when he makes his Deep debut next month.
The organization on Wednesday announced that Okami will square off against Ryuta Sakurai in a rematch of a 2004 bout from Pride FC. The three-round welterweight affair is slated to co-headline “Deep 75 Impact,” which takes place Feb. 27 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
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Sakurai, Deep’s original middleweight champion, will fight at welterweight for the first time in his 20-year, 50-fight career. The 44-year-old journeyman has not earned a victory since 2013, dropping four straight to the likes of Mamed Khalidov and Svetlozar Savov.
Topping the bill for Deep’s 75th numbered card is the ceremonial retirement match of former Deep welterweight champ Yuya Shirai, who will tangle with a slimmed-down Ikuhisa Minowa at 170 pounds.
Two reigning Deep champions will compete in non-title undercard bouts, as bantamweight ace Takafumi Otsuka takes on Daisuke Endo and flyweight titlist Tatsumitsu Wada meets Jae Nam Yoo.
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