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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Michihiro Omigawa is returning to the UFC.
The former lightweight turned featherweight superstar in Japan has signed with the organization, according to Ariel Helwani at Versus.com. Per Helwani's report, Omigawa will debut in either February or March against undefeated Team Alpha Male featherweight Chad Mendes.
Omigawa fought twice in the UFC's lightweight division in 2007 and 2008, losing decisions to Matt Wiman and Thiago Tavares, but since dropping to featherweight Omigawa has posted a stellar 8-2-1 record in Japan. Omigawa has won five straight fights, the most recent of which came against former WEC Featherweight Champion Cole Escovedo in September by submission.
Mendes moved his record to 9-0 last month with a unanimous decision victory over Javier Vasquez. The wrestler, teammate of the bantamweights Urijah Faber, Joseph Benavidez and Scott Jorgensen, has won his last four fights in the WEC. This bout will mark his UFC debut with the merger of the two organizations.
Penick's Analysis: I love this news. After suffering knockout losses in his first two career fights, Omigawa has only lost by decision since then. And as a featherweight, he's one of the best in the world, and the UFC's featherweight division is closing in on containing the very best in the world in that division as well. This merger is opening up the doors to the smaller weight Japanese talent, and this is going to be an awesome featherweight fight for early 2011.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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