Michihiro Omigawa has re-signed with the UFC and will return to the cage when he takes on Chad Mendes in either February at UFC 126 or March at UFC 128, according to Versus.com.
The popular Japanese fighter may not sport the most impressive career record at 12-8-1 but he's won his last five fights and is 8-2-1 since dropping down to featherweight in 2008.
Holding wins over such notable fighters as Marlon Sandro, Cole Escovado, LC Davis and Nam Phan, Omigawa is a highly ranked import that is sure to make some noise in the freshly minted UFC 145-pound division.
He was rumored to be in contract negotiations with Zuffa for some time but a reportedly high asking price was holding him back from making a return to the Octagon, where he went an unimpressive 0-2 in his initial run with the organization.
He'll get the chance to earn his "Money" early next year.
Omigawa won't be given an easy match-up in his return to the UFC. Chad Mendes will be making his debut when they lock horns but he'll be coming in on the strength of four consecutive victories with the soon-to-be defunct WEC.
At just 25 years of age, Mendes will come into the fight a whole nine years younger than the veteran from the "Land of the Rising Sun."
As noted before, the bout is expected to take place at either UFC 126 in February, which features a main event of Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva defending his title against number one contender Vitor Belfort, or UFC 128 in March, which is expected to go down in Abu Dhabi and hold the long-awaited light-heavyweight title fight pitting Champion "Shogun" Rua against challenger Rashad Evans.
Stay tuned to MMAMania.com for more on this pending match-up as it becomes available.
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