The future is clearer for two of World Series of Fighting’s marquee free agent acquisitions, as UFC veterans Yushin Okami (29-8) and Rousimar Palhares (15-5) are both expected to make their promotional debuts at a March 29 WSOF event.
WSOF executive vice president and matchmaker Ali Abdel-Aziz announced the news on a Thursday conference call, adding that two championship fights are also expected to highlight the card.
Opponents for either fighter have yet to be determined.
Okami racked up a sterling 13-5 record under the UFC umbrella from 2006 to 2013, defeating the likes of Hector Lombard, Alan Belcher (x2), Nate Marquardt, Evan Tanner and Mark Munoz.
Despite being ranked within the UFC’s own top-10 at the time, Okami was cut from the promotion last September after losing via first-round TKO to Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.
Palhares, on the other hand, earned his unceremonious release due to repeated acts of what the UFC deemed to be “unsportsmanlike conduct.”
In 2010, Palhares failed to relinquish a heel hook submission against Tomasz Drwal long after Drwal had tapped out. Palhares then repeated the favor three years later against Mike Pierce.
Additionally, Palhares tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone in late-2012.
“I will not tolerate any of that nonsense that happened before,” WSOF President Ray Sefo warned following WSOF’s signing of Palhares. “If it happens again, he’s gone.”