Chris Leben ends 13-year MMA absence for a rematch in Yoshihiro Akiyama's retirement fight
Black Combat has booked the pair for 21 November in Seoul, 16 years after Leben handed Akiyama his first UFC loss with a third-round triangle choke.
Chris Leben will have his first MMA fight since 2013 when he faces Yoshihiro Akiyama at Black Combat 17: Vantablack at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on 21 November.
Black Combat announced the fight as Akiyama's retirement fight, using his Korean name, Choo Sung-hoon: "Chris Leben, the man who handed him a devastating loss just one fight away from a UFC title shot. Now, they meet again for his final retirement fight." Akiyama is 51.
The pair first met at UFC 116 in Las Vegas in July 2010, when Leben submitted Akiyama with a triangle choke in the third round. It was Akiyama's first loss in the UFC. Akiyama's most recent fights have been in ONE Championship.
Leben's last UFC fight came in 2013. A later move to Bellator fell apart over health issues, and after doctors cleared him in 2019 he had three bare-knuckle fights with BKFC, the last in 2021. His last MMA win was his 27-second knockout of Wanderlei Silva in 2011. He has also worked as a judge at UFC events.
On UFC.com's figures, Leben is 22-11 in MMA, stands 5ft 11in and has a 74in reach. Akiyama is 15-6, 5ft 10in, with a 73.5in reach.
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