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In addition to a Lightweight Championship bout between Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson, the UFC has revealed the second confirmed fight for their February event in Japan, as Yoshihiro Akiyama will make his welterweight debut against Jake Shields on the card.
Shields will be out to rebound from consecutive losses to Georges St-Pierre and Jake Ellenberger in 2011, while Akiyama hopes to break a three-fight skid to Chris Leben, Michael Bisping, and Vitor Belfort in the middleweight division.
Akiyama will return to his home country for the first time since entering the UFC in 2008. Unquestionably a star in Japan prior to his UFC run, the organization is likely hoping there's some star power left in his name for the event.
Shields will fight in Japan for the first time since 2004. The longtime veteran has competed in the country three times before. The event will take place on February 26 at 10AM local time in order to air live on pay-per-view in the U.S. on Saturday, February 25.
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