UFC Signs Top Ranked Featherweight Hatsu Hioki

[WrestlingSmarks News]

The UFC tweeted this morning that it has signed Japanese featherweight Hatsu Hioki. Hioki, currently ranked as the world's #2 featherweight by the USA TODAY/SBNation Consensus MMA Rankings, is by far the most highly regarded fighter to not be signed to a Zuffa promotion.

Here's the tweet from the UFC:

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FYI - guard-smashing savant Hatsu Hioki, a top-ranked featherweight, has been signed to the UFC roster. Welcome!less than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet Reply UFC
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Hioki has an impressive 11-1-1 record as a featherweight with his only loss in the division coming in a controversial decision loss to Michihiro Omigawa. Hioki owns two wins over UFC title challenger Mark Hominick, as well as Jeff Curran, Marlon Sandro, Ronnie Man and Rumina Sato. He is a former Shooto champion with experience fighting for the Sengoku promotion.

Expect Hioki to have to win a fight or two before he gets a crack at the belt currently held by Jose Aldo