Yoshihiro Akiyama will cap his professional mixed martial arts career in Seoul where the promotion announced a 13-bout fight card for BLACK COMBAT 17: VANTABLACK featuring five championship matches and a high-profile retirement main event. The event is scheduled for November 21, 2026, at the Gocheok Sky Dome in South Korea.
Anatomizing the Retirement Rematch at Gocheok Sky Dome
The main event features Akiyama facing Chris Leben in an 89-kilogram catchweight bout scheduled for three five-minute rounds. Akiyama, fighting out of Team Cloud at 51 years of age, enters the bout following a contract conclusion with ONE Championship and an Instagram post declaring his readiness with the message Let’s go!
Leben, 46, returns to MMA for the first time since December 2013, stepping back into the cage nearly 13 years after his UFC 168 bout against Uriah Hall.
Chris Leben Returns to MMA for Yoshihiro Akiyama’s Retirement Rematch #MMA @ChrisLebenMMA https://t.co/5ezPaFKzgK
The two fighters previously met on July 3, 2010, at UFC 116, where Leben secured victory via a third-round triangle choke. While Leben transitioned through bare-knuckle fighting after his initial retirement and currently works as a referee, judge, and coach, Akiyama brings a decorated grappling background that includes a gold medal at the 2002 Asian Games in the 81kg judo division prior to launching his professional MMA career at the end of 2004.
Five Championship Bouts Shape the November Fight Card
Alongside the retirement headliner, the promotion booked five distinct title fights across the bantamweight, featherweight, middleweight, lightweight, and flyweight divisions.
In the bantamweight division, reigning titleholder Kim Jae-ung defends his belt against Kang Kyung-ho. Kim captured the championship in December 2024 by defeating Seigo Yamamoto and successfully defended it in January 2026 against Daichi Takenaka. Kang enters BLACK COMBAT for the first time following a tenure in the UFC where he compiled an 8-5 record with one no-contest.
The featherweight championship showcases an undefeated titleholder as Pan Song-hyeok puts his unblemished 8-0 professional record on the line against challenger Kim Tae-gyun. Pan earned the belt in May 2025 and defended it in January 2026 against Lucas Venturim. Kim earned his shot following a run through various international promotions including PFL and BRAVE CF.
In the middleweight division, champion Oh Il-hak meets challenger Park Jung-min. Oh rebounded from consecutive TKO losses by securing a first-round stoppage against Patrick Carvalho in August 2026, while Park earned his title opportunity on the strength of a three-fight winning streak.
The lightweight championship features titleholder Jeong Han-guk defending against Park O-jin. Jeong claimed the belt in January 2026 by defeating Flavio Santos, whereas Park secured his challenge by submitting Seung Ha Lee in August 2026.
Finally, flyweight champion Woo Sung-hoon faces Brazilian challenger Gabriel Rodrigues. Woo captured the title in July 2026 by defeating Takahada Komagome, while Rodrigues earned a second opportunity at the belt after stopping Tae Ho Park in May 2026.
Ticketing and Broadcast Arrangements for November 2026
Local ticket sales for the November 21 event open on November 2, 2026, at 18:00 local time through the South Korean lifestyle e-commerce platform 29CM. Fans can view the event live via the BLACK COMBAT official YouTube channel through its VANTABLACK membership tier.
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