Once coveted as one of the best middleweight fighters in the world, Yoshihiro Akiyama is now riding a career-worst three-fight skid and is likely seeing his last chance at glory.

Debuting in the UFC in July of 2009, Akiyama made an emphatic entrance to the organization when he bested Alan Belcher in a three-round thriller which garnered both men "Fight of the Night" honors after Akiyama took home the contentious decision victory.

Following the bout, Akiyama next faced the hard-nosed brawler in Chris Leben, who was filling in for an injured Wanderlei Silva. In the end, the Judoka black belt succumbed to a third-round triangle choke from the unheralded submission skills of Leben.

Next, Akiyama took on Michael Bisping, where the two headlined UFC 120 in the Brit's own backyard of London, England. In an exciting battle that was largely dictated by Bisping's ability to step in and out with strikes, "The Count" outpointed Akiyama en route to a clear-cut decision victory.

The Japanese fighter earned no favors when he next faced off against former UFC champion Vitor Belfort, who deftly finished off Akiyama with a first-round knockout, giving the Japanese fighter the most devastating loss of his career.

Needless to say, Akiyama hasn't had the easiest go since entering the UFC, fighting top-level competition throughout his tenure, which is a credit to the level of fighter that many expected him to be.

Now, the former K-1 vet will be returning to the Land of the Rising Sun where his popularity first arose after he defeated the likes of Melvin Manhoef and Denis Kang overseas—picking up the Hero's Light Heavyweight Grand Prix title along the way.

Akiyama, 36, will now meet former Strikeforce champion Jake Shields in his welterweight debut at UFC 144, which takes place at the famed Saitama Super Arena in Japan.

There's no stopping the UFC from giving Akiyama top-level competition time and time again and against a fighter the caliber of Shields—a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under the famed Cesar Gracie—the Judoka will likely find himself on the bad end of a submission or decision defeat, moving his overall UFC record to 1-4 and signalling the end of his exciting albeit unsuccessful Octagon career.