Yoshihiro Akiyama to return at DREAM 5

Yoshihiro Akiyama, who has competed for K-1 his entire career, will continue the trend when he makes his debut with K-1's latest venture, DREAM, on July 21 in Osaka, Japan.

Akiyama (10-2) is the second K-1 Hero's Grand Prix champion named to return on the DREAM 5 card. On Tuesday, DREAM announced that 2005 Lightweight Grand Prix winner Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto will fight one of Urijah Faber's training partner, the undefeated Joseph Benavidez.

In his last fight, the Japanese-born Korean Judoka was knocked out with a knee by Kazuo Misaki at the New Year's Eve "Yarennoka!" event. However, the loss was changed to a no contest after it was ruled that Misaki's kick was illegal because Akiyama was in the four point stance.

Akiyama's opponent for DREAM 5 has not yet been determined.

The DREAM 5 event features the final round of the Lightweight Grand Prix. The matchups to be determined are between Tatsuya Kawajiri, Caol Uno, Eddie Alvarez, and the winner of Shinya Aoki vs. Katsuhiko Nagata.