WSOF inks former UFC title challenger Yushin Okami

World Series of Fighting didn’t hide its interest in Yushin Okami after the UFC surprisingly released the former title challenger this past month. Now the organization has announced his signing.

WSOF President Ray Sefo made the announcement Sunday evening.

“Welcome to the team @OkamiYushin great to have you as part of #WSOF,” Sefo tweeted.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Okami (29-8 MMA, 13-5 UFC), ranked No. 7 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie.com MMA middleweight rankings, had won three consecutive fights before a TKO loss to Ronaldo Souza in his most recent bout, at UFC Fight Night 28. Despite his 18-fight run in the organization, the loss dashed Okami’s hopes of a second title shot, and UFC President Dana White said it wasn’t worth keeping around someone who merely had “gatekeeper” status.

“It’s time for Yushin Okami to go out and test himself outside the UFC, get some wins and maybe come back, and it’s time for some other guys to fight in that division,” White said. “Yushin Okami’s had every opportunity in the world, taking on all the best. He even got a title shot and didn’t win. It is what it is. It’s no different than the NFL, soccer or any other sport. There comes a time when a team moves on and does other things, no matter where the guy ranks.”

WSOF, though, was quick to tweet words of encouragement for the 32-year-old Japanese fighter. While Bellator MMA was noncommittal about a potential future in the organization, WSOF immediately announced it was “in talks” with the fighter after the UFC confirmed his release.

While Okami’s wrestling-heavy style isn’t the fan-friendliest, there’s no denying his accomplishments. Okami owns wins over the likes of Hector Lombard, Alan Belcher, Nate Marquardt and Mark Munoz in recent years. Currently, the WSOF middleweight roster has some notable names, including David Branch, Elvis Mutapcic, Jesse Taylor and Danillo Villefort. The organization’s events air on NBC Sports Network and could soon head overseas, the organization recently announced.

Okami is expected to make his WSOF debut in early 2014.

For more on WSOF’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.