A bantamweight bout is being reported for UFC 144, as Takeya Mizugaki (15-6-2) and Chris ‘Kamikaze’ Cariaso have reportedly made verbal agreements for the Japanese event.
The report comes from MMAWeekly.com who learned of the bout from sources “close to the match-up”.
UFC 144 is expected to take place on February 25th at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. No word on what portion of the card the bout might take place was provided.
Mizugaki will fight for the first time in his native homeland in three years, having last fought in Japan back in December 2008 at a Cage Force event. After that win, Mizugaki signed with the WEC and has fought stateside since then. He has since spent that time trading wins for losses, including his three Octagon appearances this year which has seen him go 2-1. Mizugaki’s last fight took place in September, earning a second round TKO finish of Cole Escovedo at UFC 135.
Cariaso has fought twice outside of the States, his most recent in Birmingham, England where he earned a split decision over Vaughan Lee at UFC 138. That victory was ‘Kamikaze’s’ second in the Octagon, losing a split decision to Michael McDonald at UFC 130 last May, and winning his debut, a decision victory against Will Campuzano at the Fight for the Troops 2 event, last January.