Yoshihiro Akiyama to face Chris Leben in retirement rematch

Mixed martial artist Yoshihiro Akiyama will fight his final professional match against Chris Leben at Black Combat 17: Vantablack. The event is scheduled for November 21, 2026, at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea.

The matchup serves as a rematch of their 2010 encounter at UFC 116, where Leben secured a victory via a third-round triangle choke submission. This bout marks a significant return for Leben, who is 46 years old and has been away from MMA for nearly 13 years following his departure from the UFC in 2013. His previous attempts at a comeback were hindered by the discovery of a heart condition in 2016.

Akiyama, 51, enters the fight with a professional record of 16-7. Following his tenure in the UFC, he competed in ONE Championship before this final retirement bout.