Former DEEP interim lightweight champion Juri Ohara will make his Road FC return against Sang Kwon Han at Road FC 078 on August 29 after departing Black Combat.
Former DEEP interim lightweight champion Juri Ohara (“Iron Spider”) has officially signed with Road FC and is set to make his long-awaited return to the promotion when he faces Sang Kwon Han in a lightweight bout at Goobne Road FC 078 on August 29 at Jangchung Arena in Seoul.
The matchup marks a significant addition to Road FC’s lightweight division, bringing one of Japan’s most experienced veterans back to the promotion after more than a decade away.
A Veteran of Japan’s Top MMA Promotions
Ohara began his professional MMA career in DEEP in 2010 and steadily established himself as one of Japan’s premier lightweights. Throughout his career, he has competed against high-level opposition across several major organizations, including RIZIN Fighting Federation, while building a reputation for his aggressive striking and finishing ability.
His accomplishments include capturing the DEEP Interim Lightweight Championship, a milestone that cemented his place among Japan’s top lightweight competitors.
Over the past several years, Ohara also became a familiar name to Korean fans after joining Black Combat, where he quickly emerged as one of the promotion’s marquee international athletes.
Back on Track After Rivalry with Daigo Kuramoto
Ohara enters Road FC riding positive momentum.
His most recent appearance came on May 4, 2026, when he earned a KO/TKO victory over Daigo Kuramoto, decisively closing the chapter on a rivalry that had begun under unfortunate circumstances.
The pair’s first meeting ended in a No Contest after an accidental knee to the groin forced the bout to be stopped just 1:29 into the opening round. Rather than allowing the inconclusive result to define the matchup, Ohara left no doubt in the rematch, finishing Kuramoto to secure an emphatic victory before making the move to Road FC.
A Familiar Promotion, Eleven Years Later
Although many fans associate Ohara with DEEP, RIZIN, and Black Combat, this will not be his first appearance inside the Road FC cage.
His promotional debut came at Road FC 24 Japan in July 2015, where he suffered a loss to Kwang Hee Lee. More than eleven years later, Ohara returns to Road FC with considerably more experience, championship credentials, and a résumé built across multiple premier Asian organizations.
Now 16 years into his professional career, the Japanese veteran has an opportunity to begin a new chapter.
Sang Kwon Han Awaits
Standing opposite Ohara will be Sang Kwon Han, who welcomes one of Asia’s most accomplished lightweight veterans back to Road FC.
For Han, the matchup presents an opportunity to score the biggest victory of his professional career against a former DEEP champion with experience competing on some of the continent’s biggest stages.
For Ohara, it represents the chance to immediately establish himself as a contender in Road FC’s lightweight division and continue the momentum generated by his victory over Kuramoto.
What It Means
Juri Ohara’s signing is another statement move for Road FC.
With championship experience in DEEP, appearances under the RIZIN banner, and a successful stint in Black Combat, Ohara brings credibility and international recognition to an already competitive lightweight division.
At 35, “Iron Spider” remains one of Japan’s most respected veterans, and his recent knockout victory suggests he still has plenty left to offer. If he can make a successful return against Sang Kwon Han, Ohara could quickly find himself in the conversation for a run at Road FC’s lightweight title.
For Road FC, adding a proven veteran with championship pedigree strengthens one of the promotion’s deepest divisions and adds another compelling storyline to Road FC 078.
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