Yushin Okami vs. Ryan Ford headlines WSOF 21

Former UFC contender Yushin Okami will collide against Canadian veteran Ryan Ford on June 15 in the main event of World Series of Fighting 21, WSOF president Ray Sefo announced on Thursday’s WSOF 18 preliminary card stream.

Okami (30-9) competed in the upper echelon of the UFC’s middleweight division for eight years until late-2013, when he was abruptly handed his walking papers following a first-round TKO loss to Ronaldo Souza.

The 33-year-old has since gone 1-1 inside the WSOF cage, defeating Svetlozar Savov via second-round submission in his promotional debut, but falling short in a Nov. 15 title bid against 185-pound champion David Branch.

Ford (22-5) has likewise split his two WSOF contests, knocking out Joel Powell with a spectacular first-round flurry in his debut, then losing via first-round submission in a roller-coaster match against Jake Shields.

Following the fight, Ford revealed that he competed despite nursing a broken arm. Ford was subsequently suspended six months by the Edmonton Combative Sports Commission for failing to disclose the injury pre-fight.

WSOF 21 takes place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The night’s main card will air live on NBC Sports Network.

Former UFC contender Yushin Okami will collide against Canadian veteran Ryan Ford on June 15 in the main event of World Series of Fighting 21, WSOF president Ray Sefo announced on Thursday’s WSOF 18 preliminary card stream.

Okami (30-9) competed in the upper echelon of the UFC’s middleweight division for eight years until late-2013, when he was abruptly handed his walking papers following a first-round TKO loss to Ronaldo Souza.

The 33-year-old has since gone 1-1 inside the WSOF cage, defeating Svetlozar Savov via second-round submission in his promotional debut, but falling short in a Nov. 15 title bid against 185-pound champion David Branch.

Ford (22-5) has likewise split his two WSOF contests, knocking out Joel Powell with a spectacular first-round flurry in his debut, then losing via first-round submission in a roller-coaster match against Jake Shields.

Following the fight, Ford revealed that he competed despite nursing a broken arm. Ford was subsequently suspended six months by the Edmonton Combative Sports Commission for failing to disclose the injury pre-fight.

WSOF 21 takes place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The night’s main card will air live on NBC Sports Network.