KawajiriAccording to early reports by MMAJunkie.com, Japanese MMA superstar Tatsuya Kawajiri has signed with the UFC.

The PRIDE, DREAM, and ONE FC veteran is expected to make his UFC debut in January, when the organization hosts its first Asian event outside of China or Japan. The January 4th card is set to take place in Singapore, and will be headlined by a welterweight match up between Jake Ellenberger and Tarec Saffiedine.

It’s no secret that the UFC has plans for aggressive expansion in Asian markets, and the signing of Kawajiri, in conjunction with hosting an event in Singapore, sends a clear message to regional powerhouse promotion ONE FC that their market share in Southeast Asia is not entirely safe from Zuffa’s reach.

The 35 year old Kawajiri enters the UFC riding a four fight win streak since his drop to featherweight; however, he has not competed since December of 2012, when he earned a unanimous decision victory over Michihiro Omigawa at DREAM 18.

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