Flashback! ‘Sexyama’ books retirement fight against retired (and infamous) UFC knockout artist

Former UFC middleweight Yoshihiro Akiyama, known as "Sexyama," will compete in his retirement MMA bout against Chris Leben. The rematch is scheduled for BLACK COMBAT 17: VANTABLACK on November 21, 2026, at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea.

The contest marks a rematch of their UFC 116 meeting in July 2010, which Leben won by submission. The 46-year-old Leben returns to MMA for the first time since December 2013, while the 51-year-old Akiyama will officially conclude his professional combat sports career.