Tatsuya Kawajiri signs with Rizin FF

Tatsuya Kawajiri is going home.

The Japanese veteran has signed a new deal with Rizin FF, MMA Fighting has learned. Kawajiri's promotional debut hasn't been finalized just yet, but he is currently expected to fight in one of Rizin's year-end shows on either Dec. 29 or 31.

Kawajiri, 38, asked the UFC to release him earlier this month, and the UFC obliged. He leaves the organization with a 3-3 record inside the Octagon, however, he lost his last two fights, most recently to Cub Swanson via unanimous decision in August. Overall, Kawajiri is 35-10-2 since making his MMA debut in April 2000.

A staple of Shooto, PRIDE FC and DREAM, Kawajiri hasn't fought in his home country of Japan since 2012.