At a press conference Tuesday in Tokyo, K-1 and HERO'S parent company Fight Entertainment Group announced that Kazushi Sakuraba (Pictures) would return to action on the promotion's 154-pound tournament finale on Sept. 17 in Yokohama against recent pro-wrestling convert Katsuyori Shibata (Pictures).
The bout will be the first for the 39-year-old since his loss to Royce Gracie (Pictures) at June 2's K-1 "Dynamite!! USA." Gracie later was suspended for one year and fined $2,500 by the California State Athletic Commission for violating its policy on anabolic steroids.
Shibata is also coming off of a defeat, having been submitted via armbar this past July by the debuting Ralek Gracie (Pictures).
There was much recent speculation that Sakuraba would face divisional stalwart Denis Kang (Pictures), however Kang's management responded to the rumors by saying that negotiations between FEG and Kang were ongoing, casting doubt on the bout being made official.
FEG also announced another 187-pound bout between PRIDE veterans Zelg Galesic (Pictures) and Dong Sik Yoon (Pictures).
After a five-fight win streak concluded with the Croatian prospect nabbing the Cage Rage British middleweight championship against Mark Weir (Pictures), the once highly-touted Galesic suffered defeat against Olympic gold medal judoka Makoto Takimoto (Pictures) this past April at the final Dream Stage Entertainment-promoted PRIDE card.
The 35-year-old Yoon will be making his second appearance in FEG-promoted ventures, having finally secured his first career MMA win this past June against Holland's heavy hitting Melvin Manhoef (Pictures) at the LA Coliseum.
FEG also revealed that MMA cult hero "Minowaman" Ikuhisa Minowa (Pictures) will not be facing upstart Ralek Gracie (Pictures) as was previously announced. Reasons for Gracie's withdraw were not disclosed.
Minowa will instead face Rickson Gracie student Kevin Casey in an open-weight contest. It will be the pro mixed martial arts debut of Casey, who has gained a measure of infamy in the grappling community for his feud with Cobra Kai Jiu-Jitsu leader Marc Laimon.
The bout will be the first for the 39-year-old since his loss to Royce Gracie (Pictures) at June 2's K-1 "Dynamite!! USA." Gracie later was suspended for one year and fined $2,500 by the California State Athletic Commission for violating its policy on anabolic steroids.
Shibata is also coming off of a defeat, having been submitted via armbar this past July by the debuting Ralek Gracie (Pictures).
There was much recent speculation that Sakuraba would face divisional stalwart Denis Kang (Pictures), however Kang's management responded to the rumors by saying that negotiations between FEG and Kang were ongoing, casting doubt on the bout being made official.
FEG also announced another 187-pound bout between PRIDE veterans Zelg Galesic (Pictures) and Dong Sik Yoon (Pictures).
After a five-fight win streak concluded with the Croatian prospect nabbing the Cage Rage British middleweight championship against Mark Weir (Pictures), the once highly-touted Galesic suffered defeat against Olympic gold medal judoka Makoto Takimoto (Pictures) this past April at the final Dream Stage Entertainment-promoted PRIDE card.
The 35-year-old Yoon will be making his second appearance in FEG-promoted ventures, having finally secured his first career MMA win this past June against Holland's heavy hitting Melvin Manhoef (Pictures) at the LA Coliseum.
FEG also revealed that MMA cult hero "Minowaman" Ikuhisa Minowa (Pictures) will not be facing upstart Ralek Gracie (Pictures) as was previously announced. Reasons for Gracie's withdraw were not disclosed.
Minowa will instead face Rickson Gracie student Kevin Casey in an open-weight contest. It will be the pro mixed martial arts debut of Casey, who has gained a measure of infamy in the grappling community for his feud with Cobra Kai Jiu-Jitsu leader Marc Laimon.