Shinya Aoki
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
mixed martial artist, grappler
, and former police trainee
who is noted for being the DREAM Lightweight Champion and former Shooto Middleweight Champion. Aoki holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
under Yuki Nakai
, as well as a black belt in judo
. He is one of the most prominent fighters out of the Paraestra
Shooting gym. Aoki also trains out of Evolve MMA
under Kru Chatri Sityodtong
in Singapore. He is best known for his excellent flexibility, and submission skills often taking opponents by surprise and earning him the nickname Tōbikan Jūdan (跳関十段), meaning "10th degree black belt or grandmaster of flying submissions." As of 2008, Aoki, along with DEEP champion Masakazu Imanari
, and Sengoku
champion Satoru Kitaoka
have founded the "Nippon Top Team" as a group of elite Japanese grapplers competing in MMA. As well as his MMA credentials, Aoki has garnered several submission grappling accolades including two All Japan Jiu-Jitsu championships, a Japan Open Jiu-Jitsu championship, a Budo Open championship, and an ADCC Japan championship. In mixed martial arts, 19 of Aoki's 29 wins have come via submission.
He was ranked the #4 lightweight fighter in the world by FightMatrix.com as well as the #4 Lightweight by Sherdog.com and #4 by MMAWeekly as of July 2011.
also defeating Akira Kikuchi
to win the Shooto Middleweight Championship. In August 2006, Aoki made his Pride Fighting Championships debut at Pride Bushido 12
, submitting American fighter Jason Black
in under two minutes with a triangle choke
. Following that win, Aoki was booked to face rising lightweight
star Gilbert Melendez
at the following Bushido card, Bushido 13
. However, prior to the fight Melendez received an elbow injury (a burst bursa sac) in training and was forced to pull out of the fight. Aoki's opponent was changed to Clay French. Aoki submitted French in just under four minutes with a triangle choke. Afterwards, Melendez was shown in the crowd with a sling, and announced he would like to face Aoki at Pride Shockwave 2006
on New Year's Eve. Aoki agreed.
For unknown reasons, the proposed fight with Melendez did not take place. Instead, Aoki faced highly ranked lightweight fighter Joachim Hansen
. Aoki submitted Hansen with a gogoplata
—considered the first successful gogoplata in MMA competition.
After his win over Hansen, Aoki was set to rematch Kikuchi in Shooto, with Aoki's Shooto middleweight title (previously won from Kikuchi) on the line. Aoki successfully defended his title against Kikuchi, winning via split decision.
Following his victory, Aoki announced that he was to be the Shooto representative in the forthcoming Pride Lightweight Grand Prix tournament. Aoki's next fight was at Pride 34
, where he faced little known Dutch fighter Brian Lo-A-Njoe. At the event Aoki submitted Lo-A-Njoe in the first round with an armbar. Following the fight, Aoki once again confirmed his participation in the Lightweight Grand Prix. With the purchase of Pride by the majority owners of Zuffa LLC, the Pride Lightweight Grand Prix was cancelled.
On November 21, 2007, Aoki's participation on the New Year's Eve MMA card Yarennoka!
was announced. Originally, his opponent was to be two-time K-1 Hero's Middleweight Grand Prix champion Gesias "JZ Calvan" Cavalcante. Rumors that Cavalcante was injured surfaced only two weeks before the bout, though Cavalcante denied them before eventually admitting the injury and withdrawing from the fight. Aoki defeated Korean Olympic Judo silver medalist Jung Bu-Kyung
, Cavalcante's replacement, via unanimous decision in what was Jung Bu-Kyung
's mixed martial arts debut. Aoki had promised to use a never before seen submission in the match but was unable to finish the debut fighter.
. Here Aoki finally faced Cavalcante on March 15, 2008 at the opening round of the Dream Lightweight Grand Prix tournament. Early in the first round, the referee stopped the action when Cavalcante apparently landed illegal elbow strikes to the back of Aoki's neck. The ringside doctor announced that Aoki was unable to continue due to the injury and Cavalcante apologized for the incident. The fight resulted in a no contest. Elbow strikes to the neck and spine area are illegal under Dream rules. Aoki was later found to have sustained concussion of the cervical vertebra.
They had their rematch at Dream 2 on April 29, 2008. In that match, Aoki defeated Cavalcante via unanimous decision, and shocked the Mixed Martial Arts
and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world with his use of the De La Riva
guard to deliver multiple heel kicks to Cavalcate's Head. He sustained a severely bruised rib and tore cartilage in his costal
area during the match. At Dream 4, Aoki defeated Katsuhiko Nagata via a mounted gogoplata (possibly the first ever in professional competition, later to be dubbed "the Aoki-plata") submission to advance to the semi-finals of the Dream Lightweight Grand Prix. At Dream 5, Aoki defeated Caol Uno by unanimous decision. Later that night, Eddie Alvarez was set to fight Aoki, but had to bow out due to injury from his previous match that evening. Joachim Hansen took his place and defeated Aoki by TKO (punches) at 4:19 round 1 to become the first Dream Lightweight Champion.
At Dynamite!! 2008
on New Year's Eve, Aoki finally squared off against American Eddie Alvarez
. Aoki started quickly, securing Alvarez's back after catching a kick, before being thrown to the canvas by the stronger American. In a scramble, Aoki latched onto the foot of Alvarez and applied a heel hook
. Alvarez fought the hold, but tapped out shortly after Aoki adjusted his grip. Alvarez also suffered ligament damage in his knee.
Aoki defeated David Gardner at the March 8, 2009 featherweight-grand-prix card at Dream 7
at the Saitama Super Arena
in Saitama
, Japan
(this fight is remembered for Gardner waving to the crowd as Aoki was controlling his back and saying "Hello, Japan!", thus allowing Aoki to secure a rear naked choke from that position). Aoki, who is still recognized by Shooto
as its middleweight (168 pounds (76 kg)) champion, also moved back to that weight to fight in Dream's welterweight grand prix at Dream 8
in 2009. His first match in the tournament was a rematch with Hayato Sakurai
. Aoki lost the fight in twenty-seven seconds via TKO due to punches and knees following a Sakurai reversal from a takedown by Aoki. As a result of the match, Aoki did not advance in the DREAM 2009 Welterweight Grand Prix.
Aoki met Fedor Emelianenko
during a five-minute "special exhibition" at an April 29 M-1 Challenge (presented by Affliction) event in Tokyo. Emelianenko made Aoki tap out from an Achilles lock.
Aoki defeated Vitor Ribeiro at Dream 10
on July 20, 2009, which earned him a title fight against Joachim Hansen. Aoki faced Joachim Hansen in a rematch for the DREAM Lightweight Championship at Dream 11
on October 6, 2009. Last time they met, Aoki previously fought a tough match against Caol Uno
on the same night which went on for both two rounds (15 minutes) when Hansen only fought for 2 minutes 35 seconds previously. Aoki ended up defeating Hansen in the second round for the title shot via submission (armbar) to become the new DREAM Lightweight Champion.
On December 22, 2009, it was announced that Aoki would not be taking on fellow DREAM fighter Tatsuya Kawajiri
, but would be fighting Sengoku Lightweight Champion, Mizuto Hirota
. In his pre-fight interview Aoki stated that he felt insulted with the short notice changes as he was looking forward to battling it out with one of the world's other top lightweight competitors in Kawajiri. Aoki's opponent Hirota just came off a spectacular win over long time friend of Aoki's, Satoru Kitaoka
to become the new Sengoku
Lightweight champion. The fight between Aoki and Hirota was considered to be one of the main events of the night along with Satoshi Ishii
vs. Hidehiko Yoshida
and the K-1 bout Masato
vs Andy Souwer
. Aoki defeated Hirota with a brutal submission (hammerlock) that broke Hirota's arm in the first round at 1:17. He then proceeded to get in the face of his downed opponent and give him the finger then, get up and run around the ring doing the same to the crowd before leaving the ring.
Aoki would later apologize for his behavior in his post fight interview:
As a result of his actions following his win, Aoki has been dismissed as an instructor at the Paraestra Kasai gym. However he is still training under Yuki Nakai
and representing Paraestra
when he fights.
debut against current Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez
on April 17, 2010 at Strikeforce: Nashville
. The fight was broadcast live to a North American audience on CBS
. After Aoki's defeat to Gilbert Melendez
in Strikeforce
he has expressed interest to train at Cesar Gracie
's camp in Northern California
.
Aoki successfully defended his Lightweight title against top contender Tatsuya Kawajiri
in just under two minutes of the first round via an achilles lock submission, at Dream 15 on July 10, 2010.
Aoki defeated Marcus Aurelio
by unanimous decision in a non-title bout on September 25, 2010 at Dream 16.
He then competed again at Deep: 50th Impact
on October 24 against former PABA
and WBA
boxing champion Yokthai Sithoar. Aoki won by submission (Keylock) 1:00 into the first round against Sithoar.
After the proposed rematch with Melendez fell through due to contract issues on Melendez's part, Aoki faced K-1 kickboxer Yuichiro "Jienotsu" Nagashima in a special rules exhibition bout at Dynamite!! 2010. In the first 3-minute kickboxing round, Aoki evaded Nagashima's offense by breaking the rules via excessive clinching, falling to the ground, and going for takedowns in order to run out the clock and move onto the 5-minute mixed martial arts round. Aoki was warned repeatedly by the referee, however no points were deducted as there could not be a decision winner. The commentary team of Michael Schiavello and Frank Trigg were openly criticising Aoki for his rule breaking during the first round, while the Japanese crowd uncharacteristically booed him. At 0:04 of the second MMA rules round, Aoki was knocked out immediately as he went for a double leg takedown via flying knee and subsequent grounded strikes. Since the bout was contested as an exhibition, the loss is not reflected on Aoki's professional mixed martial arts record.
Aoki then defeated Lyle Beerbohm
on April 9, 2011 at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley
via neck crank in the first round.
Aoki was expected to face Willamy Freire
on May 29, 2011 at Dream: Fight for Japan!. Freire reportedly had trouble getting a visa, and it then appeared that he would be facing Antonio McKee
instead, but then McKee chose to pull out of the card. It was then announced that Shane Nelson
would fight Aoki, but he was quickly replaced with Rich Clementi
. Aoki defeated Clementi by way of Neck Crank/Rear Naked Choke at the 2:32 minutes mark of the second round.
Aoki defeated Rob McCullough
by neck crank at 4:57 of Round 1 at Dream 17
.
Aoki will fight Satoru Kitaoka
for the DREAM
lightweight title at Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011
.
|Win
|align=center|29–5 (1)
|Rob McCullough
| Submission (neck crank)
| Dream 17
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|4:57
|Saitama, Saitama
, Japan
| Non-title bout.
|-
|Win
|align=center|28–5 (1)
|Rich Clementi
| Submission (neck crank)
| Dream: Fight for Japan!
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|2:32
|Saitama, Saitama
, Japan
| Non-title bout.
|-
|Win
|align=center|27-5 (1)
| Lyle Beerbohm
|Submission (neck crank)
| Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:33
|San Diego, California
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|26–5 (1)
| Yokthai Sithoar
| Submission (keylock)
| Deep: 50th Impact
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:00
|Tokyo
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|25–5 (1)
| Marcus Aurelio
| Decision (unanimous)
| Dream 16
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|5:00
|Nagoya, Japan
| Non-title bout.
|-
|Win
|align=center|24–5 (1)
| Tatsuya Kawajiri
| Submission (achilles lock)
| Dream 15
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:53
|Saitama, Saitama
, Japan
| Defended DREAM Lightweight Championship.
|-
|Loss
|align=center|23–5 (1)
| Gilbert Melendez
| Decision (unanimous)
| Strikeforce: Nashville
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|5:00
|Nashville, Tennessee
, United States
| For Strikeforce Lightweight Championship.
|-
|Win
|align=center|23–4 (1)
| Mizuto Hirota
| Technical Submission (hammerlock)
| Dynamite!! 2009
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:17
|Saitama, Saitama
, Japan
| DREAM vs. Sengoku: Champion vs. Champion; Non-title bout.
|-
|Win
|align=center|22–4 (1)
| Joachim Hansen
| Submission (armbar)
| Dream 11
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|4:56
|Yokohama
, Japan
|Won DREAM Lightweight Championship.
|-
|Win
|align=center|21–4 (1)
| Vitor Ribeiro
| Decision (unanimous)
| Dream 10
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|5:00
|Saitama, Saitama
, Japan
| Return to Lightweight.
|-
|Loss
|align=center|20–4 (1)
| Hayato Sakurai
| KO (knees and punches)
| Dream 8
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:27
|Nagoya, Japan
| DREAM Welterweight Grand Prix Opening Round.
|-
|Win
|align=center|20–3 (1)
| David Gardner
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| Dream 7
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|5:58
|Saitama, Saitama
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|19–3 (1)
| Eddie Alvarez
| Submission (heel hook)
| Dynamite!! 2008
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center|1:32
|Saitama, Saitama
, Japan
| Won inaugural WAMMA Lightweight Championship.
|-
|Win
|align=center|18–3 (1)
| Todd Moore
| Submission (neck crank)
| Dream 6
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:10
|Saitama, Saitama
, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|17–3 (1)
| Joachim Hansen
| TKO (punches)
| Dream 5
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|4:19
|Osaka
, Japan
| DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix Final.
|-
|Win
|align=center|17–2 (1)
| Caol Uno
| Decision (unanimous)
| Dream 5
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|5:00
|Osaka
, Japan
| DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix Semifinal.
|-
|Win
|align=center|16–2 (1)
| Katsuhiko Nagata
| Submission (gogoplata)
| Dream 4
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|5:12
|Yokohama
, Japan
| DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal.
|-
| Win
|align=center|15–2 (1)
| Gesias Cavalcante
| Decision (unanimous)
| Dream 2
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|5:00
|Saitama, Saitama
, Japan
| DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix Opening Round.
|-
| NC
|align=center|14–2 (1)
| Gesias Cavalcante
| NC (Aoki injured by illegal elbows)
| Dream 1
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|3:46
|Saitama, Saitama
, Japan
| DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix Opening Round.
|-
|Win
|align=center|14–2
| Jung Bu-Kyung
| Decision (unanimous)
| Yarennoka!
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|5:00
|Saitama, Saitama
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|13–2
| Brian Lo-A-Njoe
| Submission (armbar)
| Pride 34
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:33
|Saitama, Saitama
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|12–2
| Akira Kikuchi
| Decision (split)
| Shooto: Back To Our Roots 1
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Yokohama
, Japan
| Defended Shooto Middleweight (168 lb) Championship.
|-
|Win
|align=center|11–2
| Joachim Hansen
| Submission (gogoplata)
| Pride Shockwave 2006
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:24
|Saitama, Saitama
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|10–2
| Clay French
| Submission (flying triangle choke)
| Pride Bushido 13
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|3:57
|Yokohama
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|9–2
| George Sotiropoulos
| DQ (groin strike)
| Shooto: Champion Carnival
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 0:05
|Yokohama
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|8–2
| Jason Black
| Submission (triangle choke)
| Pride Bushido 12
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:58
|Nagoya, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|7–2
| Akira Kikuchi
| Decision (unanimous)
| Shooto: The Victory of the Truth
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Tokyo
, Japan
| Won Shooto Middleweight (168 lb) Championship.
|-
|Win
|align=center|6–2
| Kuniyoshi Hironaka
| TKO (cut)
| Shooto 2005: 11/6 in Korakuen Hall
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:10
|Tokyo
, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|5–2
| Hayato Sakurai
| Decision (unanimous)
| Shooto: Alive Road
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Yokohama
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|5–1
| Shigetoshi Iwase
| DQ (low blow)
| Shooto 2005: 7/30 in Korakuen Hall
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center|0:35
|Tokyo
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|4–1
| Keith Wisniewski
| Submission (standing armlock)
| Shooto: 1/29 in Korakuen Hall
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:22
|Tokyo
, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|3–1
| Jutaro Nakao
| KO (punch)
| Deep: 16th Impact
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|4:29
|Tokyo
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|3–0
| Seichi Ikemoto
| Submission (armbar)
| Deep: 15th Impact
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|0:52
|Tokyo
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|2–0
| Yasutoshi Ryu
| Submission (armbar)
| Deep: clubDeep West Chofu
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:51
|Tokyo
, Japan
| clubDeep West Chofu Tournament Final.
|-
|Win
|align=center|1–0
| Dai Okimura
| Submission (armbar)
| Deep: clubDeep West Chofu
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|3:14
|Tokyo
, Japan
| clubDeep West Chofu Tournament Semifinal.
|align=center| 0–2
| Yuichiro Nagashima
| KO (Flying Knee And Strikes)
| Dynamite!! 2010
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 0:04
| Chūō-ku
, Saitama City, Japan
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 0–1
| Fedor Emelianenko
| Submission (Achilles lock)
| M-1 Challenge
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:50
| Tokyo
, Japan
|
|-
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
mixed martial artist, grappler
Grappling
Grappling refers to techniques, maneuvers, and counters applied to an opponent in order to gain a physical advantage, such as improving relative position, escaping, submitting, or injury to the opponent. Grappling is a general term that covers techniques used in many disciplines, styles and martial...
, and former police trainee
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
who is noted for being the DREAM Lightweight Champion and former Shooto Middleweight Champion. Aoki holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
under Yuki Nakai
Yuki Nakai
is a retired Japanese shooto practitioner and mixed martial artist. He currently teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is the president of the Japan Shooto Association. He competed in Vale Tudo Japan 1995, where he was outweighed by every opponent in the tournament...
, as well as a black belt in judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
. He is one of the most prominent fighters out of the Paraestra
Paraestra
Paraestra is a mixed martial arts fighting team and gym headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with multiple gyms throughout Japan, as well as one in Newmarket, Canada. The gym was founded by former Shooto welterweight champion, and Vale Tudo Japan competitor Yuki Nakai...
Shooting gym. Aoki also trains out of Evolve MMA
Evolve MMA
Evolve Mixed Martial Arts is a chain of martial arts academies and home to one of the leading teams in mixed martial arts. It was founded by Chatri Sityodtong in 2008. - Background :...
under Kru Chatri Sityodtong
Chatri Sityodtong
Chatri Sityodtong or Yodchatri Sityodtong is a Muay Thai trainer, fighter, and entrepreneur from the Sityodtong Gym in Pattaya, Thailand. He is a certified senior Muay Thai instructor under Kru Yodtong Senanan of the Sityodtong Camp in Pattaya, Thailand. His last professional fight was in 2008,...
in Singapore. He is best known for his excellent flexibility, and submission skills often taking opponents by surprise and earning him the nickname Tōbikan Jūdan (跳関十段), meaning "10th degree black belt or grandmaster of flying submissions." As of 2008, Aoki, along with DEEP champion Masakazu Imanari
Masakazu Imanari
is a Japanese mixed martial artist best known for his leglocks. He fights out of Team Roken in Kanagawa, Japan. He currently has a professional MMA record of 24–9–2 with notable victories over Danny Batten, Jorge Gurgel, Mike Brown, Robbie Olivier, Jean Silva and Yoshiro Maeda. He is a veteran...
, and Sengoku
World Victory Road
World Victory Road is a defunct Japanese Mixed Martial Arts organization which promoted the Sengoku Raiden Championship in Japan. The organization was formed in 2007 following the purchase of Pride FC by Zuffa. It operated in conjunction with the Japan Mixed Martial Arts Federation...
champion Satoru Kitaoka
Satoru Kitaoka
, is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He has fought the majority of his career as a welterweight for Pancrase, but moved down to lightweight in 2008 when he joined MMA promoter World Victory Road. Kitaoka is renowned for his submission grappling abilities and is the reigning BJJ and No-Gi Open...
have founded the "Nippon Top Team" as a group of elite Japanese grapplers competing in MMA. As well as his MMA credentials, Aoki has garnered several submission grappling accolades including two All Japan Jiu-Jitsu championships, a Japan Open Jiu-Jitsu championship, a Budo Open championship, and an ADCC Japan championship. In mixed martial arts, 19 of Aoki's 29 wins have come via submission.
He was ranked the #4 lightweight fighter in the world by FightMatrix.com as well as the #4 Lightweight by Sherdog.com and #4 by MMAWeekly as of July 2011.
PRIDE Fighting Championships
Aoki began his Pride career following a 7–2–0 record from competing in DEEP and ShootoShooto
Shooto is a mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission. Shooto was originally formed in 1985, as an organization and as a particular fighting system derived from shoot wrestling. Practitioners are referred to as shooters,...
also defeating Akira Kikuchi
Akira Kikuchi
is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist and a former Shooto World Middleweight Champion – commonly known as the welterweight division in the United States and Canada. He trained alongside Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto with the Killer Bee team.-Career:...
to win the Shooto Middleweight Championship. In August 2006, Aoki made his Pride Fighting Championships debut at Pride Bushido 12
PRIDE Bushido 12
-Bushido Rules:* In BUSHIDO fights are two rounds . The first round is ten minutes, and the second round is five minutes. There are no extra rounds. If the fight goes the distance then judges decide on a winner....
, submitting American fighter Jason Black
Jason Black
Jason Black is a retired American mixed martial artist who competed in the lightweight and welterweight divisions. He is a veteran of the King of the Cage, Extreme Challenge, and PRIDE Fighting Championships organizations, a former UCC title holder, and trains with the Miletich Fighting Systems...
in under two minutes with a triangle choke
Triangle choke
A triangle choke, or sankaku-jime in Judo, is a type of figure-four chokehold which strangles the opponent by encircling the opponent's neck and one arm with the legs in a configuration similar to the shape of a triangle...
. Following that win, Aoki was booked to face rising lightweight
Lightweight (MMA)
The lightweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:* The UFC & Strikeforce lightweight division with upper limit at 155 lb...
star Gilbert Melendez
Gilbert Melendez
Gilbert Melendez is an American mixed martial artist of Mexican descent. Currently fighting out of San Francisco, California, he formerly competed in the lightweight division of PRIDE Fighting Championships and now competes in Strikeforce...
at the following Bushido card, Bushido 13
PRIDE Bushido 13
Pride Bushido 13 also known as Pride Bushido Survival Finals was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships.-Background:This event consisted of the semifinal and final rounds of the Bushido Welterweight Grand Prix....
. However, prior to the fight Melendez received an elbow injury (a burst bursa sac) in training and was forced to pull out of the fight. Aoki's opponent was changed to Clay French. Aoki submitted French in just under four minutes with a triangle choke. Afterwards, Melendez was shown in the crowd with a sling, and announced he would like to face Aoki at Pride Shockwave 2006
PRIDE Shockwave 2006
Pride Shockwave 2006 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships on December 31, 2006. In Japan, this event was called...
on New Year's Eve. Aoki agreed.
For unknown reasons, the proposed fight with Melendez did not take place. Instead, Aoki faced highly ranked lightweight fighter Joachim Hansen
Joachim Hansen (MMA)
Joachim "Hellboy" Hansen is a Norwegian mixed martial artist. He began his career fighting for FinnFight before moving on to fight for Shooto where he became the first Scandinavian person to hold an MMA world title after winning the Shooto World Welterweight Championship in 2003 from Takanori Gomi...
. Aoki submitted Hansen with a gogoplata
Gogoplata
A gogoplata is a type of chokehold also called Kagato-Jime in Judo, that is used in grappling and was popularised by practitioners of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.-Execution:...
—considered the first successful gogoplata in MMA competition.
After his win over Hansen, Aoki was set to rematch Kikuchi in Shooto, with Aoki's Shooto middleweight title (previously won from Kikuchi) on the line. Aoki successfully defended his title against Kikuchi, winning via split decision.
Following his victory, Aoki announced that he was to be the Shooto representative in the forthcoming Pride Lightweight Grand Prix tournament. Aoki's next fight was at Pride 34
PRIDE 34
Pride 34: Kamikaze was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships on April 8, 2007 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.-Background:...
, where he faced little known Dutch fighter Brian Lo-A-Njoe. At the event Aoki submitted Lo-A-Njoe in the first round with an armbar. Following the fight, Aoki once again confirmed his participation in the Lightweight Grand Prix. With the purchase of Pride by the majority owners of Zuffa LLC, the Pride Lightweight Grand Prix was cancelled.
On November 21, 2007, Aoki's participation on the New Year's Eve MMA card Yarennoka!
Yarennoka!
Yarennoka! was a mixed martial arts event that took place on December 31, 2007 at the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The event was promoted by the Yarrenoka! Executive Committee, composed of former Pride Fighting Championships executives, and held in association with Fighting and...
was announced. Originally, his opponent was to be two-time K-1 Hero's Middleweight Grand Prix champion Gesias "JZ Calvan" Cavalcante. Rumors that Cavalcante was injured surfaced only two weeks before the bout, though Cavalcante denied them before eventually admitting the injury and withdrawing from the fight. Aoki defeated Korean Olympic Judo silver medalist Jung Bu-Kyung
Jung Bu-Kyung
Jung Bu-Kyung is a South Korean judoka and professional mixed martial artist.- Judo career :...
, Cavalcante's replacement, via unanimous decision in what was Jung Bu-Kyung
Jung Bu-Kyung
Jung Bu-Kyung is a South Korean judoka and professional mixed martial artist.- Judo career :...
's mixed martial arts debut. Aoki had promised to use a never before seen submission in the match but was unable to finish the debut fighter.
Fighting and Entertainment Group
After the purchase of Pride by Zuffa LLC, most Japanese fighters signed to newly created mixed martial arts promotions, with Aoki signing to DreamDREAM (mixed martial arts)
Dream is a mixed martial arts organization promoted by former PRIDE FC executives and K-1 promoter Fighting and Entertainment Group. DREAM replaced FEG's previous-run mixed martial arts fight series, Hero's. The series retains many of the stylistic flourishes and personnel from Pride FC...
. Here Aoki finally faced Cavalcante on March 15, 2008 at the opening round of the Dream Lightweight Grand Prix tournament. Early in the first round, the referee stopped the action when Cavalcante apparently landed illegal elbow strikes to the back of Aoki's neck. The ringside doctor announced that Aoki was unable to continue due to the injury and Cavalcante apologized for the incident. The fight resulted in a no contest. Elbow strikes to the neck and spine area are illegal under Dream rules. Aoki was later found to have sustained concussion of the cervical vertebra.
They had their rematch at Dream 2 on April 29, 2008. In that match, Aoki defeated Cavalcante via unanimous decision, and shocked the Mixed Martial Arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world with his use of the De La Riva
Guard (grappling)
The guard is a ground grappling position where one combatant has their back to the ground, while attempting to control the other combatant using the legs...
guard to deliver multiple heel kicks to Cavalcate's Head. He sustained a severely bruised rib and tore cartilage in his costal
Rib
In vertebrate anatomy, ribs are the long curved bones which form the rib cage. In most vertebrates, ribs surround the chest, enabling the lungs to expand and thus facilitate breathing by expanding the chest cavity. They serve to protect the lungs, heart, and other internal organs of the thorax...
area during the match. At Dream 4, Aoki defeated Katsuhiko Nagata via a mounted gogoplata (possibly the first ever in professional competition, later to be dubbed "the Aoki-plata") submission to advance to the semi-finals of the Dream Lightweight Grand Prix. At Dream 5, Aoki defeated Caol Uno by unanimous decision. Later that night, Eddie Alvarez was set to fight Aoki, but had to bow out due to injury from his previous match that evening. Joachim Hansen took his place and defeated Aoki by TKO (punches) at 4:19 round 1 to become the first Dream Lightweight Champion.
At Dynamite!! 2008
Dynamite!! 2008
Dynamite!! 2008 was the annual kickboxing and mixed martial arts event held by K-1 & DREAM on New Year's Eve, Wednesday, December 31, 2008, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan...
on New Year's Eve, Aoki finally squared off against American Eddie Alvarez
Eddie Alvarez
Eddie Alvarez is an American mixed martial artist, and former Bellator Fighting Championships lightweight champion. Alvarez also competes for the Japanese DREAM promotion, and fought once for ProElite's EliteXC promotion...
. Aoki started quickly, securing Alvarez's back after catching a kick, before being thrown to the canvas by the stronger American. In a scramble, Aoki latched onto the foot of Alvarez and applied a heel hook
Heel hook
Heel hook may refer to:* Heel hook, in grappling* A climbing technique...
. Alvarez fought the hold, but tapped out shortly after Aoki adjusted his grip. Alvarez also suffered ligament damage in his knee.
Aoki defeated David Gardner at the March 8, 2009 featherweight-grand-prix card at Dream 7
Dream 7
Dream.7: Feather Weight Grandprix 2009 1st Round was a mixed martial arts event promoted by Fighting and Entertainment Group's mixed martial arts promotion Dream on March 8, 2009...
at the Saitama Super Arena
Saitama Super Arena
is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Chūō-ku, Saitama City, Saitama, Japan. Its spectator capacity is 37,000 at maximum settings.This main arena capacity is between 19,000-22,500 when events such as basketball, volleyball, tennis, ice hockey, gymnastics, boxing, mixed martial arts and...
in Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(this fight is remembered for Gardner waving to the crowd as Aoki was controlling his back and saying "Hello, Japan!", thus allowing Aoki to secure a rear naked choke from that position). Aoki, who is still recognized by Shooto
Shooto
Shooto is a mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission. Shooto was originally formed in 1985, as an organization and as a particular fighting system derived from shoot wrestling. Practitioners are referred to as shooters,...
as its middleweight (168 pounds (76 kg)) champion, also moved back to that weight to fight in Dream's welterweight grand prix at Dream 8
Dream 8
DREAM.8: Welter Weight Grand Prix 2009 First Round was a mixed martial arts event promoted by Fighting and Entertainment Group's mixed martial arts promotion Dream on April 5, 2009. Unlike Dream's past tournaments, the Welter Weight Grand Prix is only scheduled to have eight participants...
in 2009. His first match in the tournament was a rematch with Hayato Sakurai
Hayato Sakurai
is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He was born in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. He has a professional MMA record of 35-11-2 as of April 5, 2009. Sakurai has been fighting in mixed martial arts since October 1996 and was at one time considered pound for pound one of the greatest fighters...
. Aoki lost the fight in twenty-seven seconds via TKO due to punches and knees following a Sakurai reversal from a takedown by Aoki. As a result of the match, Aoki did not advance in the DREAM 2009 Welterweight Grand Prix.
Aoki met Fedor Emelianenko
Fedor Emelianenko
Fedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko) is a Russian heavyweight mixed martial artist. He has won numerous tournaments and accolades in multiple sports, most notably the Pride 2004 Grand Prix and the World Combat Sambo championship on four occasions, as well as medaling in the Russian national Judo...
during a five-minute "special exhibition" at an April 29 M-1 Challenge (presented by Affliction) event in Tokyo. Emelianenko made Aoki tap out from an Achilles lock.
Aoki defeated Vitor Ribeiro at Dream 10
Dream 10
Dream.10: Welter Weight Grand Prix 2009 Final Round was a mixed martial arts event promoted by Fighting and Entertainment Group's mixed martial arts promotion Dream on July 20, 2009. Dream's welterweight division has a weight limit. The event was broadcast live in North America on...
on July 20, 2009, which earned him a title fight against Joachim Hansen. Aoki faced Joachim Hansen in a rematch for the DREAM Lightweight Championship at Dream 11
Dream 11
Dream 11: Feather Weight Grand Prix 2009 Final Round was a mixed martial arts event promoted by Fighting and Entertainment Group's mixed martial arts promotion Dream held on October 6, 2009....
on October 6, 2009. Last time they met, Aoki previously fought a tough match against Caol Uno
Caol Uno
is a Japanese mixed martial artist, and former Shooto Welterweight Champion. Specifically, Uno is known for his low single leg takedown and rear naked choke. He was born in Kanagawa, Japan...
on the same night which went on for both two rounds (15 minutes) when Hansen only fought for 2 minutes 35 seconds previously. Aoki ended up defeating Hansen in the second round for the title shot via submission (armbar) to become the new DREAM Lightweight Champion.
On December 22, 2009, it was announced that Aoki would not be taking on fellow DREAM fighter Tatsuya Kawajiri
Tatsuya Kawajiri
Tatsuya Kawajiri is a Japanese mixed martial artist and a former Shooto welterweight champion, currently competing in Dream's lightweight division...
, but would be fighting Sengoku Lightweight Champion, Mizuto Hirota
Mizuto Hirota
is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He is a former lightweight champion in World Victory Road's Sengoku-promotion, the former lightweight champion for Cage Force, and the current DEEP lightweight champion...
. In his pre-fight interview Aoki stated that he felt insulted with the short notice changes as he was looking forward to battling it out with one of the world's other top lightweight competitors in Kawajiri. Aoki's opponent Hirota just came off a spectacular win over long time friend of Aoki's, Satoru Kitaoka
Satoru Kitaoka
, is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He has fought the majority of his career as a welterweight for Pancrase, but moved down to lightweight in 2008 when he joined MMA promoter World Victory Road. Kitaoka is renowned for his submission grappling abilities and is the reigning BJJ and No-Gi Open...
to become the new Sengoku
World Victory Road
World Victory Road is a defunct Japanese Mixed Martial Arts organization which promoted the Sengoku Raiden Championship in Japan. The organization was formed in 2007 following the purchase of Pride FC by Zuffa. It operated in conjunction with the Japan Mixed Martial Arts Federation...
Lightweight champion. The fight between Aoki and Hirota was considered to be one of the main events of the night along with Satoshi Ishii
Satoshi Ishii
is a Japanese judoka and mixed martial artist noted for winning a gold medal in Olympic Judo at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, a silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games and two All-Japan Judo Championships...
vs. Hidehiko Yoshida
Hidehiko Yoshida
is a Japanese gold-medalist judoka and retired mixed martial artist. He is a long time veteran of Japan's Pride Fighting Championships, competing in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions, also managing to fight in the semi-finals in the Pride 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix...
and the K-1 bout Masato
Masato
- People :*Masato Hatanaka , Japanese musician*Masato Ichishiki , author of the SD Gundam comics*Masato , Japanese former welterweight kickboxer, won K-1 WORLD MAX kickboxing tournament in 2003, 2008...
vs Andy Souwer
Andy Souwer
Andreas "Andy" Souwer is a Dutch welterweight shoot boxer. He is two time K-1 World MAX champion as well as a three time Shootboxing World tournament champion, fighting out of Mejiro Gym, Amsterdam, Netherlands....
. Aoki defeated Hirota with a brutal submission (hammerlock) that broke Hirota's arm in the first round at 1:17. He then proceeded to get in the face of his downed opponent and give him the finger then, get up and run around the ring doing the same to the crowd before leaving the ring.
Aoki would later apologize for his behavior in his post fight interview:
As a result of his actions following his win, Aoki has been dismissed as an instructor at the Paraestra Kasai gym. However he is still training under Yuki Nakai
Yuki Nakai
is a retired Japanese shooto practitioner and mixed martial artist. He currently teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is the president of the Japan Shooto Association. He competed in Vale Tudo Japan 1995, where he was outweighed by every opponent in the tournament...
and representing Paraestra
Paraestra
Paraestra is a mixed martial arts fighting team and gym headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with multiple gyms throughout Japan, as well as one in Newmarket, Canada. The gym was founded by former Shooto welterweight champion, and Vale Tudo Japan competitor Yuki Nakai...
when he fights.
DREAM and Strikeforce
Aoki lost his USUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
debut against current Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez
Gilbert Melendez
Gilbert Melendez is an American mixed martial artist of Mexican descent. Currently fighting out of San Francisco, California, he formerly competed in the lightweight division of PRIDE Fighting Championships and now competes in Strikeforce...
on April 17, 2010 at Strikeforce: Nashville
Strikeforce: Nashville
Strikeforce: Nashville was a mixed martial arts event held on April 17, 2010 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, United States and broadcast domestically on CBS.-Background:...
. The fight was broadcast live to a North American audience on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
. After Aoki's defeat to Gilbert Melendez
Gilbert Melendez
Gilbert Melendez is an American mixed martial artist of Mexican descent. Currently fighting out of San Francisco, California, he formerly competed in the lightweight division of PRIDE Fighting Championships and now competes in Strikeforce...
in Strikeforce
Strikeforce
Strikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC...
he has expressed interest to train at Cesar Gracie
Cesar Gracie
Cesar Gracie is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who trains a number of top fighters in Pleasant Hill, California. Gracie is a member of the Gracie family, the son of Sonja Gracie-Gronning and not to be confused with his cousin also named Cesar Gracie who is the son of Reylson Gracie.- Biography...
's camp in Northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
.
Aoki successfully defended his Lightweight title against top contender Tatsuya Kawajiri
Tatsuya Kawajiri
Tatsuya Kawajiri is a Japanese mixed martial artist and a former Shooto welterweight champion, currently competing in Dream's lightweight division...
in just under two minutes of the first round via an achilles lock submission, at Dream 15 on July 10, 2010.
Aoki defeated Marcus Aurelio
Marcus Aurelio
Marcus Aurélio Martins is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He formerly fought for the PRIDE Fighting Championship and for the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
by unanimous decision in a non-title bout on September 25, 2010 at Dream 16.
He then competed again at Deep: 50th Impact
Deep: 50th Impact
Deep: 50th Impact was a mixed martial arts event promoted by Deep It took place on October 24, 2010 at the JCB Hall in Tokyo, Japan.-Fight card:...
on October 24 against former PABA
Pan Asian Boxing Association
The Pan Asian Boxing Association also known as PABA is an organisation for professional and amateur boxing in the Central Asia, Oceania, Pan Pacific, Eurasia and Southeast and Far East nations. They have 31 regular member nations and 11 associate member nations...
and WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
boxing champion Yokthai Sithoar. Aoki won by submission (Keylock) 1:00 into the first round against Sithoar.
After the proposed rematch with Melendez fell through due to contract issues on Melendez's part, Aoki faced K-1 kickboxer Yuichiro "Jienotsu" Nagashima in a special rules exhibition bout at Dynamite!! 2010. In the first 3-minute kickboxing round, Aoki evaded Nagashima's offense by breaking the rules via excessive clinching, falling to the ground, and going for takedowns in order to run out the clock and move onto the 5-minute mixed martial arts round. Aoki was warned repeatedly by the referee, however no points were deducted as there could not be a decision winner. The commentary team of Michael Schiavello and Frank Trigg were openly criticising Aoki for his rule breaking during the first round, while the Japanese crowd uncharacteristically booed him. At 0:04 of the second MMA rules round, Aoki was knocked out immediately as he went for a double leg takedown via flying knee and subsequent grounded strikes. Since the bout was contested as an exhibition, the loss is not reflected on Aoki's professional mixed martial arts record.
Aoki then defeated Lyle Beerbohm
Lyle Beerbohm
Lyle Beerbohm is an American professional mixed martial artist who has fought for Strikeforce, EliteXC and King of the Cage. He currently competes in the lightweight division.-Biography:...
on April 9, 2011 at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley
Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley
Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley was a mixed martial arts event held by Strikeforce, the event took place on April 9, 2011, at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California.-Background:This was the first "Arena Series" event under Zuffa management....
via neck crank in the first round.
Aoki was expected to face Willamy Freire
Willamy Freire
Willamy Friere is an Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who has fought for Shooto and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Freire was also the Shooto Welterweight Champion.-Early career:...
on May 29, 2011 at Dream: Fight for Japan!. Freire reportedly had trouble getting a visa, and it then appeared that he would be facing Antonio McKee
Antonio McKee
Antonio McKee is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division and is known for his high number of decision victories.-Early life:McKee grew up with a mother who battled drug addiction....
instead, but then McKee chose to pull out of the card. It was then announced that Shane Nelson
Shane Nelson
Shane Nelson Shane Nelson Shane Nelson (born May 25, 1955 in Mathis, Texas is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for six seasons for the Buffalo Bills. Nelson was discovered at an open trial held by the Dallas Cowboys. He was the only player, out of 1,800, to be...
would fight Aoki, but he was quickly replaced with Rich Clementi
Rich Clementi
Richard Thomas Clementi is a journeyman American mixed martial artist. He holds notable wins over Terry Etim, Sam Stout, Fabio Holanda, Melvin Guillard and Anthony Johnson.-Mixed martial arts career:...
. Aoki defeated Clementi by way of Neck Crank/Rear Naked Choke at the 2:32 minutes mark of the second round.
Aoki defeated Rob McCullough
Rob McCullough
Robert Alexander McCullough IV is an American Muay Thai kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He was a five-time World Muay Thai Champion, and is a former WEC Lightweight Champion. He currently trains out of Huntington Beach, CA at HB Ultimate Training Center...
by neck crank at 4:57 of Round 1 at Dream 17
Dream 17
Dream 17 was a mixed martial arts event held by Fighting and Entertainment Group's mixed martial arts promotion Dream. The event took place on September 24, 2011 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.-Background:...
.
Aoki will fight Satoru Kitaoka
Satoru Kitaoka
, is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He has fought the majority of his career as a welterweight for Pancrase, but moved down to lightweight in 2008 when he joined MMA promoter World Victory Road. Kitaoka is renowned for his submission grappling abilities and is the reigning BJJ and No-Gi Open...
for the DREAM
Dream
Dreams are successions of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. The content and purpose of dreams are not definitively understood, though they have been a topic of scientific speculation, philosophical intrigue and religious...
lightweight title at Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011
Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011
Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011, also known as Fight for Japan. How are you! New Year! 2011 is an upcoming mixed martial arts and kickboxing event and the latest in the annual New Year's Eve event promoted by DREAM and the IGF that is scheduled to take place on December 31, 2011 at the...
.
Mixed martial arts
- DREAMDREAM (mixed martial arts)Dream is a mixed martial arts organization promoted by former PRIDE FC executives and K-1 promoter Fighting and Entertainment Group. DREAM replaced FEG's previous-run mixed martial arts fight series, Hero's. The series retains many of the stylistic flourishes and personnel from Pride FC...
- DREAM Lightweight Championship (1 time, current)
- 2008 DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix runner up
- StrikeforceStrikeforceStrikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC...
- Lightweight Title Challenger (One time)
- World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts
- WAMMA Lightweight Championship (One time; First; Last)
- Professional Shooto JapanShootoShooto is a mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission. Shooto was originally formed in 1985, as an organization and as a particular fighting system derived from shoot wrestling. Practitioners are referred to as shooters,...
- Shooto Middleweight Championship (1 Time)
- DEEP
- DEEP: clubDeep West Chofu Tournament Winner
Wrestling and grappling
- ADCC World Submission Wrestling Championships
- ADCC 2005
- 66–76 kg: Quarter finals
- Absolute: First round exit
- ADCC Japan
- 66–76 kg: 1st place
- Record of opponents:
- Won: Marcos Avellan (pts)
- Lost: Marcelo Garcia (Rear Naked Choke), Roger Gracie (Ankle Lock)
- Other
- Deep X Superfight Champion (2007)
- Shooto Grappling Champion (2006)
- Dumau/Kansai Cup Champion (2005)
- Reversal Cup Champion (2004)
- All Japan Champion (2004-brown belt); (2005-black belt)
- Rickson Gracie's Budo Challenge 2005 Middleweight Champion
- Rickson Gracie Invitational: 1st place
- GI Grappling 05, 1st place
- Top five collegiate Judoka
Mixed martial arts record
|-|Win
|align=center|29–5 (1)
|Rob McCullough
Rob McCullough
Robert Alexander McCullough IV is an American Muay Thai kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He was a five-time World Muay Thai Champion, and is a former WEC Lightweight Champion. He currently trains out of Huntington Beach, CA at HB Ultimate Training Center...
| Submission (neck crank)
| Dream 17
Dream 17
Dream 17 was a mixed martial arts event held by Fighting and Entertainment Group's mixed martial arts promotion Dream. The event took place on September 24, 2011 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.-Background:...
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|4:57
|Saitama, Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
| Non-title bout.
|-
|Win
|align=center|28–5 (1)
|Rich Clementi
Rich Clementi
Richard Thomas Clementi is a journeyman American mixed martial artist. He holds notable wins over Terry Etim, Sam Stout, Fabio Holanda, Melvin Guillard and Anthony Johnson.-Mixed martial arts career:...
| Submission (neck crank)
| Dream: Fight for Japan!
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|2:32
|Saitama, Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
| Non-title bout.
|-
|Win
|align=center|27-5 (1)
| Lyle Beerbohm
Lyle Beerbohm
Lyle Beerbohm is an American professional mixed martial artist who has fought for Strikeforce, EliteXC and King of the Cage. He currently competes in the lightweight division.-Biography:...
|Submission (neck crank)
| Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley
Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley
Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley was a mixed martial arts event held by Strikeforce, the event took place on April 9, 2011, at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California.-Background:This was the first "Arena Series" event under Zuffa management....
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:33
|San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|26–5 (1)
| Yokthai Sithoar
| Submission (keylock)
| Deep: 50th Impact
Deep: 50th Impact
Deep: 50th Impact was a mixed martial arts event promoted by Deep It took place on October 24, 2010 at the JCB Hall in Tokyo, Japan.-Fight card:...
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:00
|Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|25–5 (1)
| Marcus Aurelio
Marcus Aurelio
Marcus Aurélio Martins is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He formerly fought for the PRIDE Fighting Championship and for the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
| Decision (unanimous)
| Dream 16
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|5:00
|Nagoya, Japan
| Non-title bout.
|-
|Win
|align=center|24–5 (1)
| Tatsuya Kawajiri
Tatsuya Kawajiri
Tatsuya Kawajiri is a Japanese mixed martial artist and a former Shooto welterweight champion, currently competing in Dream's lightweight division...
| Submission (achilles lock)
| Dream 15
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:53
|Saitama, Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
| Defended DREAM Lightweight Championship.
|-
|Loss
|align=center|23–5 (1)
| Gilbert Melendez
Gilbert Melendez
Gilbert Melendez is an American mixed martial artist of Mexican descent. Currently fighting out of San Francisco, California, he formerly competed in the lightweight division of PRIDE Fighting Championships and now competes in Strikeforce...
| Decision (unanimous)
| Strikeforce: Nashville
Strikeforce: Nashville
Strikeforce: Nashville was a mixed martial arts event held on April 17, 2010 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, United States and broadcast domestically on CBS.-Background:...
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|5:00
|Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, United States
| For Strikeforce Lightweight Championship.
|-
|Win
|align=center|23–4 (1)
| Mizuto Hirota
Mizuto Hirota
is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He is a former lightweight champion in World Victory Road's Sengoku-promotion, the former lightweight champion for Cage Force, and the current DEEP lightweight champion...
| Technical Submission (hammerlock)
| Dynamite!! 2009
Dynamite!! 2009
Dynamite!! 2009 was a mixed martial arts and kickboxing events promoted by Fighting and Entertainment Group, held in the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on December 31, 2009. The event included bouts that encompass the DREAM, Sengoku Raiden Championship, K-1, and K-1 World MAX banners...
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:17
|Saitama, Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
| DREAM vs. Sengoku: Champion vs. Champion; Non-title bout.
|-
|Win
|align=center|22–4 (1)
| Joachim Hansen
| Submission (armbar)
| Dream 11
Dream 11
Dream 11: Feather Weight Grand Prix 2009 Final Round was a mixed martial arts event promoted by Fighting and Entertainment Group's mixed martial arts promotion Dream held on October 6, 2009....
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|4:56
|Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, Japan
|Won DREAM Lightweight Championship.
|-
|Win
|align=center|21–4 (1)
| Vitor Ribeiro
| Decision (unanimous)
| Dream 10
Dream 10
Dream.10: Welter Weight Grand Prix 2009 Final Round was a mixed martial arts event promoted by Fighting and Entertainment Group's mixed martial arts promotion Dream on July 20, 2009. Dream's welterweight division has a weight limit. The event was broadcast live in North America on...
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|5:00
|Saitama, Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
| Return to Lightweight.
|-
|Loss
|align=center|20–4 (1)
| Hayato Sakurai
Hayato Sakurai
is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He was born in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. He has a professional MMA record of 35-11-2 as of April 5, 2009. Sakurai has been fighting in mixed martial arts since October 1996 and was at one time considered pound for pound one of the greatest fighters...
| KO (knees and punches)
| Dream 8
Dream 8
DREAM.8: Welter Weight Grand Prix 2009 First Round was a mixed martial arts event promoted by Fighting and Entertainment Group's mixed martial arts promotion Dream on April 5, 2009. Unlike Dream's past tournaments, the Welter Weight Grand Prix is only scheduled to have eight participants...
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:27
|Nagoya, Japan
| DREAM Welterweight Grand Prix Opening Round.
|-
|Win
|align=center|20–3 (1)
| David Gardner
David Gardner
David Gardner is one of the three founders of The Motley Fool, established in 1993.He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a Morehead-Cain Scholarship, graduating in 1988. He was a writer for Louis Rukeyser's Wall Street newsletter before joining the Motley Fool...
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| Dream 7
Dream 7
Dream.7: Feather Weight Grandprix 2009 1st Round was a mixed martial arts event promoted by Fighting and Entertainment Group's mixed martial arts promotion Dream on March 8, 2009...
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|5:58
|Saitama, Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|19–3 (1)
| Eddie Alvarez
Eddie Alvarez
Eddie Alvarez is an American mixed martial artist, and former Bellator Fighting Championships lightweight champion. Alvarez also competes for the Japanese DREAM promotion, and fought once for ProElite's EliteXC promotion...
| Submission (heel hook)
| Dynamite!! 2008
Dynamite!! 2008
Dynamite!! 2008 was the annual kickboxing and mixed martial arts event held by K-1 & DREAM on New Year's Eve, Wednesday, December 31, 2008, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center|1:32
|Saitama, Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
| Won inaugural WAMMA Lightweight Championship.
|-
|Win
|align=center|18–3 (1)
| Todd Moore
| Submission (neck crank)
| Dream 6
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:10
|Saitama, Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|17–3 (1)
| Joachim Hansen
| TKO (punches)
| Dream 5
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|4:19
|Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Japan
| DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix Final.
|-
|Win
|align=center|17–2 (1)
| Caol Uno
Caol Uno
is a Japanese mixed martial artist, and former Shooto Welterweight Champion. Specifically, Uno is known for his low single leg takedown and rear naked choke. He was born in Kanagawa, Japan...
| Decision (unanimous)
| Dream 5
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|5:00
|Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Japan
| DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix Semifinal.
|-
|Win
|align=center|16–2 (1)
| Katsuhiko Nagata
Katsuhiko Nagata
is a Japanese olympic wrestler and mixed martial artist, who won the silver medal in 63-69 kg Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2000 Summer Olympics...
| Submission (gogoplata)
| Dream 4
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|5:12
|Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, Japan
| DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal.
|-
| Win
|align=center|15–2 (1)
| Gesias Cavalcante
| Decision (unanimous)
| Dream 2
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|5:00
|Saitama, Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
| DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix Opening Round.
|-
| NC
|align=center|14–2 (1)
| Gesias Cavalcante
| NC (Aoki injured by illegal elbows)
| Dream 1
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|3:46
|Saitama, Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
| DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix Opening Round.
|-
|Win
|align=center|14–2
| Jung Bu-Kyung
Jung Bu-Kyung
Jung Bu-Kyung is a South Korean judoka and professional mixed martial artist.- Judo career :...
| Decision (unanimous)
| Yarennoka!
Yarennoka!
Yarennoka! was a mixed martial arts event that took place on December 31, 2007 at the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The event was promoted by the Yarrenoka! Executive Committee, composed of former Pride Fighting Championships executives, and held in association with Fighting and...
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|5:00
|Saitama, Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|13–2
| Brian Lo-A-Njoe
| Submission (armbar)
| Pride 34
PRIDE 34
Pride 34: Kamikaze was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships on April 8, 2007 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.-Background:...
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:33
|Saitama, Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|12–2
| Akira Kikuchi
Akira Kikuchi
is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist and a former Shooto World Middleweight Champion – commonly known as the welterweight division in the United States and Canada. He trained alongside Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto with the Killer Bee team.-Career:...
| Decision (split)
| Shooto: Back To Our Roots 1
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, Japan
| Defended Shooto Middleweight (168 lb) Championship.
|-
|Win
|align=center|11–2
| Joachim Hansen
| Submission (gogoplata)
| Pride Shockwave 2006
PRIDE Shockwave 2006
Pride Shockwave 2006 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships on December 31, 2006. In Japan, this event was called...
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:24
|Saitama, Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|10–2
| Clay French
| Submission (flying triangle choke)
| Pride Bushido 13
PRIDE Bushido 13
Pride Bushido 13 also known as Pride Bushido Survival Finals was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships.-Background:This event consisted of the semifinal and final rounds of the Bushido Welterweight Grand Prix....
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|3:57
|Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|9–2
| George Sotiropoulos
George Sotiropoulos
George Sotiropoulos is an Australian mixed martial artist who is currently fighting in the UFC in the lightweight division. He is well known for appearing as a fighter on the TV show The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra, fighting on Team Serra...
| DQ (groin strike)
| Shooto: Champion Carnival
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 0:05
|Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|8–2
| Jason Black
Jason Black
Jason Black is a retired American mixed martial artist who competed in the lightweight and welterweight divisions. He is a veteran of the King of the Cage, Extreme Challenge, and PRIDE Fighting Championships organizations, a former UCC title holder, and trains with the Miletich Fighting Systems...
| Submission (triangle choke)
| Pride Bushido 12
PRIDE Bushido 12
-Bushido Rules:* In BUSHIDO fights are two rounds . The first round is ten minutes, and the second round is five minutes. There are no extra rounds. If the fight goes the distance then judges decide on a winner....
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:58
|Nagoya, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|7–2
| Akira Kikuchi
Akira Kikuchi
is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist and a former Shooto World Middleweight Champion – commonly known as the welterweight division in the United States and Canada. He trained alongside Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto with the Killer Bee team.-Career:...
| Decision (unanimous)
| Shooto: The Victory of the Truth
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
| Won Shooto Middleweight (168 lb) Championship.
|-
|Win
|align=center|6–2
| Kuniyoshi Hironaka
Kuniyoshi Hironaka
is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight division.After Mizuto Hirota vacated the Cage Force Lightweight Championship, Kuniyoshi Hironaka defeated Yoshihiro Koyama at Cage Force 12 to become the new belt holder....
| TKO (cut)
| Shooto 2005: 11/6 in Korakuen Hall
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:10
|Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|5–2
| Hayato Sakurai
Hayato Sakurai
is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He was born in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. He has a professional MMA record of 35-11-2 as of April 5, 2009. Sakurai has been fighting in mixed martial arts since October 1996 and was at one time considered pound for pound one of the greatest fighters...
| Decision (unanimous)
| Shooto: Alive Road
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|5–1
| Shigetoshi Iwase
| DQ (low blow)
| Shooto 2005: 7/30 in Korakuen Hall
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center|0:35
|Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|4–1
| Keith Wisniewski
| Submission (standing armlock)
| Shooto: 1/29 in Korakuen Hall
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:22
|Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|3–1
| Jutaro Nakao
| KO (punch)
| Deep: 16th Impact
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|4:29
|Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|3–0
| Seichi Ikemoto
Seichi Ikemoto
is a Japanese mixed martial artist, with a professional MMA record of 20-17-5. He is a veteran of Shooto, PRIDE and DEEP. His speciality is a "double punch", in which he puts his hands together and throws them at his opponent.-Biography and career:...
| Submission (armbar)
| Deep: 15th Impact
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|0:52
|Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|2–0
| Yasutoshi Ryu
| Submission (armbar)
| Deep: clubDeep West Chofu
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:51
|Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
| clubDeep West Chofu Tournament Final.
|-
|Win
|align=center|1–0
| Dai Okimura
| Submission (armbar)
| Deep: clubDeep West Chofu
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|3:14
|Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
| clubDeep West Chofu Tournament Semifinal.
Mixed martial arts exhibition record
| Loss|align=center| 0–2
| Yuichiro Nagashima
Yuichiro Nagashima
is a Japanese welterweight kickboxer, and a Cosplayer, fighting out of Nishinomiya, Hyogo, currently competing at K-1. His rank is black belt of 2nd dan of Nippon Kempo.-Early life:...
| KO (Flying Knee And Strikes)
| Dynamite!! 2010
Dynamite!! 2010
Dynamite!! 2010 was a mixed martial arts and kickboxing event and the latest in the annual New Year's Eve event promoted by Fighting and Entertainment Group that took place on December 31, 2010 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The event included bouts that encompass the DREAM, K-1 and...
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 0:04
| Chūō-ku
Chuo-ku
Chūō-ku is a common ward name in many large Japanese cities. It can be translated to mean "central district."This is a list of Chūō-ku in cities in Japan.* Chūō-ku, Sapporo* Chūō-ku, Saitama* Chūō-ku, Chiba* Chūō, Tokyo...
, Saitama City, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 0–1
| Fedor Emelianenko
Fedor Emelianenko
Fedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko) is a Russian heavyweight mixed martial artist. He has won numerous tournaments and accolades in multiple sports, most notably the Pride 2004 Grand Prix and the World Combat Sambo championship on four occasions, as well as medaling in the Russian national Judo...
| Submission (Achilles lock)
| M-1 Challenge
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:50
| Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
|
|-
See also
- List of current mixed martial arts champions
- List of male mixed martial artists