Hatsu Hioki, one of the top three ranked featherweights in the world, has vacated his Shooto world title, according to Head Kick Legend. 

MMAJunkie.com later confirmed the news and also reported that Hioki will be attending UFC 131 to possibly discuss a contract with the UFC. 

Hioki, the now former Shooto title holder and current Sengoku title holder, has been looking to fight stateside recently. With the collapse of Japanese mixed martial arts, Hioki was left with few options back in his home country. A jump to the United States would provide him a plethora of options and a whole new market to conquer. 

Hioki, 24-4-2, is considered by many to be the number two featherweight in the world behind Jose Aldo. Hioki grabbed that spot with his absolute domination of highly regarded featherweight Marlon Sandro on December 30. The defeat of Sandro sits atop Hioki's list of achievements which include victories over Ronnie Mann, Takeshi Inoue, Jeff Curran and two over former UFC title challenger Mark Hominick. The only recent defeat for the Japanese fighter came via split decision to current UFC featherweight Michihiro Omigawa in 2009.

After Hioki expressed his desire to fight stateside, many felt that the only barrier preventing a foray into the UFC was his Shooto world championship. Hioki remained very loyal to the Shooto organization and was hoping to be able to defend his Shooto title as well as fight in the United States. With the UFC's exclusive contracts that simply wasn't a possibility. 

Now with him vacating the belt, a move to the UFC opens up.

The Japanese fighter is still under contract with Sengoku and their parent company World Victory Road. World Victory Road is in dire conditions and may never return to the mixed martial arts scene again. Multiple fighters from the organization, including Jorge Santiago and Dave Herman, have already requested and been granted their release from the promotion this year.