Beijing Gold Medalist Satoshi Ishii Joins Card for Inaugural M-1 Challenge in China

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Japanese heavyweight Satoshi Ishii is set to return to the site of his 2008 Olympics judo gold medal conquest, this time as a mixed martial artist.

Russian organization M-1 Global on Monday announced that Ishii will compete against an opponent to be announced at “M-1 Challenge in China,” its Nov. 11 show at MasterCard Center in Beijing. The event, which M-1 says will be the first of 10 annual visits to China, will be headlined by Sergei Kharitonov in a separate heavyweight bout.

Ishii transitioned to MMA in 2009 and has compiled a professional record of 12-2-1 while competing mostly in his native Japan. When stateside, Ishii trains primarily under Josh Barnett at CSW in Fullerton, Calif.

The 27-year-old judoka has not lost since being knocked out by Fedor Emilianenko in December 2011 and is currently riding an eight-fight winning streak which includes victories over the likes of Jeff Monson, Pedro Rizzo and Tim Sylvia. Before returning to the M-1 ring in November, Ishii will meet “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic on Aug. 23 at Inoki Genome Fight 2 in Tokyo.

Editor’s note: This item was updated Aug. 18 at 2:54 p.m. PT. The article originally stated that Ishii competes out of Reign Training Center, where he has trained previously.