World Series of Fighting signs Yushin Okami

[keithlewis]

World Series of Fighting signs top-ranked middleweight Yushin Okami; Japanese standout expected to make promotional debut in early 2014


World Series of Fighting officials are happy to announce the addition of perennial top-ranked middleweight Yushin Okami (29-8) to the company's roster.

The 32-year-old "Thunder" Okami recently signed a multi-fight deal with the Las Vegas-based World Series of Fighting promotion, and he's expected to make his first appearance for the company in early 2014.

"We're extremely excited to announced that Yushin Okami as the newest member of our middleweight division," World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo said. "MMA fans around the world know Yushin has long been among the best 185-pound fighters in the sport, and we're happy to have him as a member of the World Series of Fighting family."

A judo black belt, Okami has been competing professionally since 2002. After building an impressive 16-3 record competing largely in his native Japan, Okami in 2006 debuted for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He would go on to fight 18 times for the UFC, including an August 2011 bid for the promotion's middleweight title.

Okami's career record includes wins over MMA notables Alan Belcher, Dean Lister, Hector Lombard, Nate Marquardt, Mark Munoz, Anderson Silva, Mike Swick and Evan Tanner, among others.

While Okami's debut date and opponent have not yet been officially determined, he could prove an immediate title contender in World Series of Fighting's 185-pound division. The company will crown its first middleweight champion in early 2014, as the winner of World Series of Fighting 7's Elvis Mutapcic vs. Jesse Taylor bout moves on to meet David Branch in the finals of the company's four-man middleweight tournament.