Naoki Inoue (Japanese: 井上直樹; born 14 June 1997) is a Japanese mixed martial artist competing in the bantamweight…Naoki Inoue (Japanese: 井上直樹; born 14 June 1997) is a Japanese mixed martial artist competing in the bantamweight division of Rizin Fighting Federation, where he is a former Rizin Bantamweight champion. A professional mixed martial artist since 2014, Inoue has also competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Kai Asakura (朝倉 海, Asakura Kai; born 31 October 1993) is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the…Kai Asakura (朝倉 海, Asakura Kai; born 31 October 1993) is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He previously competed in Rizin Fighting Federation, where he was the Rizin Bantamweight Champion. A professional since 2012, he also competed for Road Fighting Championship, Fighting Network Rings and DEEP.
Goiti Yamauchi (山内ゴイチ, Yamauchi Goichi; born January 5, 1993) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competed in the…Goiti Yamauchi (山内ゴイチ, Yamauchi Goichi; born January 5, 1993) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competed in the Welterweight division for Bellator MMA and currently competes in the same division for the Professional Fighters League.
Takasuke Kume (Japanese: 久米 鷹介, Kume Takasuke; born April 28, 1985) is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competes in…Takasuke Kume (Japanese: 久米 鷹介, Kume Takasuke; born April 28, 1985) is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division.
Hiroaki Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木 博昭; born December 6, 1984) is a Japanese shoot boxer and mixed martial artist currently…Hiroaki Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木 博昭; born December 6, 1984) is a Japanese shoot boxer and mixed martial artist currently signed to Rizin Fighting Federation. He has also competed for ONE Championship. In shoot boxing, Suzuki is a former SHOOT BOXING World Champion, S-cup World Tournament Champion, and two-time SHOOT BOXING Japan Champion. As of April 2015 he was ranked No. 6 Featherweight kickboxer in the world by Liverkick.
Yuya Shirai (born April 2, 1980) is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the…Yuya Shirai (born April 2, 1980) is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division. A professional competitor since 2003, Shirai has fought for ONE FC, DEEP, BAMMA, Glory World Series, M-1 Global, Pancrase, DREAM, and is a former DEEP Welterweight Champion.
Eiji Mitsuoka (Japanese: 光岡 映二, Mitsuoka Eiji; born January 1, 1976) is a retired Japanese professional mixed martial…Eiji Mitsuoka (Japanese: 光岡 映二, Mitsuoka Eiji; born January 1, 1976) is a retired Japanese professional mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 2001 until 2012, Mitsuoka fought for the UFC, DREAM, World Victory Road, PRIDE, Shooto, Cage Force, DEEP and King of the Cage promotions. Mitsuoka's nickname Kanaami no Mōshigo (金網の申し子), which translates as "The Heaven-sent Child of the Cage" was given in reference to his earlier career in King of the Cage and his performance in Cage Force.
Wataru Sakata (坂田 亘, Sakata Wataru; born March 11, 1973 in Inazawa, Aichi, Japan) is a Japanese retired mixed martial…Wataru Sakata (坂田 亘, Sakata Wataru; born March 11, 1973 in Inazawa, Aichi, Japan) is a Japanese retired mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. A professional MMA competitor from 1994 until 2016, Sakata fought for Fighting Network RINGS, Pride FC, Deep and Rizin Fighting Federation, and holds notable victories over RINGS King of Kings 2000 Tournament runner up Valentijn Overeem, UFC 23 Middleweight Tournament winner Kenichi Yamamoto, ADCC bronze medallist and RINGS Light Heavyweight title contender Chris Haseman, and NCAA All-American and UFC veteran Branden Lee Hinkle.
Hiromitsu Kanehara (Japanese: 金原弘光, Kanehara Hiromitsu; born Kim Wang-hong on October 5, 1970 in Owariasahi, Aichi) is…Hiromitsu Kanehara (Japanese: 金原弘光, Kanehara Hiromitsu; born Kim Wang-hong on October 5, 1970 in Owariasahi, Aichi) is a former Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler of Korean descent. A professional MMA competitor from 1998 until 2012, he found success in Fighting Network RINGS, gaining notable victories over Valentijn Overeem, Alexandre Ferreira, former King of the Cage Light Heavyweight Champion Jeremy Horn, former RINGS Light-Heavyweight Champion Masayuki Naruse and former UFC Middleweight Champion Dave Menne. He later competed for PRIDE Fighting Championships, DEEP, Pancrase and K-1 HERO'S to mixed success. Kanehara also once competed in professional kickboxing. Kanehara initially started his career as a professional wrestler and competed mostly in shoot style wrestling with UWF International and its successor Kingdom. He later made appearances for Pro Wrestling Zero1 and Real Japan Pro Wrestling before retiring in 2020.
Takashi Sugiura (杉浦 貴, Sugiura Takashi; born May 31, 1970) is a Japanese professional wrestler and former freestyle…Takashi Sugiura (杉浦 貴, Sugiura Takashi; born May 31, 1970) is a Japanese professional wrestler and former freestyle wrestler. As of 2000, he is signed to Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah). Known mostly as the "Killing Machine", he is a four-time, longest reigning and most successfully-defensive GHC Heavyweight Champion. He is currently a member of Team 2000X. Sugiura, an accomplished amateur wrestler, joined the AJPW dojo in 1999, and later the Noah dojo after the exodus, making his professional debut on December 23, 2000, and thus becoming the first wrestler to make their debut in Noah. He has also competed in mixed martial arts with a notable victory over Giant Silva. Sugiura wrestled as a junior heavyweight in his earlier pro career and is a former GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion. Sugiura moved up to heavyweight and became the second longest reigning GHC Heavyweight Champion in his first reign, having held the title for 581 days between December 2009 and July 2011.
Hiroyuki Abe (Japanese: 阿部裕幸, Abe Hiroyuki; born February 9, 1970), also known as Abe Ani, is a Japanese mixed martial…Hiroyuki Abe (Japanese: 阿部裕幸, Abe Hiroyuki; born February 9, 1970), also known as Abe Ani, is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently fighting in the featherweight division for Shooto as well as teaching at his gym, Abe Ani Combat Club. Abe is most notable for training female mixed martial arts veteran and Bellator Fighting Championships finalist, Megumi Fujii. Abe has fought in many high-level MMA organizations, including Shooto, Pride FC, Deep, King of the Cage and Cage Rage. He has also competed at ADCC. He holds notable bouts against UFC standouts Urijah Faber and Brad Pickett, as well as Pride veteran Luiz Firmino. He made his return to Shooto after 5 years on September 30, 2012, vs. Shigeki Osawa. He lost the bout via TKO.
Hidehiko Yoshida (吉田 秀彦, Yoshida Hidehiko; born September 3, 1969) is a Japanese gold-medalist judoka and retired mixed…Hidehiko Yoshida (吉田 秀彦, Yoshida Hidehiko; born September 3, 1969) is a Japanese gold-medalist judoka and retired mixed martial artist. He is a longtime veteran of Japan's PRIDE Fighting Championships, competing in the middleweight (93kg) and heavyweight divisions. He won gold at the 1992 Summer Olympic Games at –78 kg. Yoshida also had two famous fights with MMA pioneer Royce Gracie that resulted in a win by technical knockout and a time-limit draw.
Mikuru Asakura (朝倉 未来, Asakura Mikuru; born 15 July 1992) is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competes in the…Mikuru Asakura (朝倉 未来, Asakura Mikuru; born 15 July 1992) is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competes in the featherweight division of Rizin Fighting Federation. He also competed for Road Fighting Championship, Fighting Network Rings and DEEP. He is a former Fighting Network Rings 143-pound and 154-pound champion. Along with his mixed martial arts career, he is also a popular YouTuber in Japan. He is the older brother of Kai Asakura.
