Masakazu Imanari
| Masakazu Imanari | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 10, 1976 |
| Other names | Ashikan Judan |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
| Weight | 134 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st) |
| Division | Bantamweight Featherweight Lightweight |
| Style | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Catch Wrestling |
| Fighting out of | Tokyo, Japan |
| Team | Team Roken |
| Rank | black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 36 |
| Wins | 24 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 15 |
| By decision | 8 |
| Losses | 10 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By decision | 8 |
| Draws | 2 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Masakazu Imanari (今成正和 Imanari Masakazu, born 10 February 1976) 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 24–10–2 with notable victories over Danny Batten, Jorge Gurgel, Mike Brown, Robbie Olivier, Jean Silva and Yoshiro Maeda. He is a veteran of Kingdom, DEEP, ZST, Pride Fighting Championships, and Cage Rage. He also has had a successful career in Combat Wrestling, placing as high as 3rd and 2nd in their All-Japan championship tournaments. He was the final Cage Rage Featherweight Champion, DEEP Bantamweight Champion, the former DEEP Featherweight Champion and DREAM Japan grand-prix Finalist. His nickname Ashikan Judan (足関十段) literally means "10th Dan of Leglocks", but can be roughly translated as "The Master of Leglocks".
Contents |
[edit] Mixed martial arts career
[edit] ZST
Imanari gained popularity during his mixed martial arts career in Japanese promotion ZST fighting the likes of top lightweights including Dokonjonosuke Mishima, Jorge Gurgel and Marcus Aurelio even when he was much smaller in the Featherweight division. He defeated Gurgel, who is a Brazilian Jujitsu black belt former UFC fighter via submission (heel hook) while Imanari was a much lower rank in Brazilian Jujitsu as well as lighter in weight. Imanari also defeated former Cage Warriors Featherweight Champion, Danny Batten. In the first round Batten took Imanari down on the ropes but Imanari attempted a triangle choke. Batten escaped it but Imanari then transitioned to an armbar causing Batten to submit in just over 40 seconds.
[edit] DEEP
Imanari moved on to compete in DEEP where he defeated a top WEC contender and the former WEC Featherweight Champion Mike Brown via submission (heel hook) where Brown's leg became dislocated. Imanari now a top contender in DEEP went on to compete for the title shot against Yoshiro Maeda in which he defeated Maeda via submission (toe hold) to become the new DEEP Featherweight Champion. Imanari made his first KO victory in his first defense for the belt against Takeshi Yamazaki with an up kick.
[edit] Cage Rage
His next fight which was his first fight outside Tokyo, Japan was in London, UK where he became the Cage Rage World Featherweight champion by defeating Robbie Olivier with a flying armbar at Cage Rage 20. This accomplishment made him the only mixed martial artist in the Featherweight division to hold belts in two separate major promotions (DEEP and Cage Rage). He defended his Cage Rage belt for the first time against Jean Silva, winning by reverse heel hook in the first round, injuring Silva's knee in the process. He is known for his proficiency in leglocks and his tendency to constantly pursue them.
[edit] Dream Featherweight Grand Prix
Imanari was a participant in the Dream Featherweight (63 kg / 138 lb) Grand Prix[1] and won his first-round matchup against Atsushi Yamamoto by split decision at Dream 7 but lost to current DREAM Featherweight champion Bibiano Fernandes by unanimous decision at Dream 9.
[edit] Dream Bantamweight Grand Prix
In 2011 Imanari returned to DREAM to take part in the Bantamweight Japan Tournament. He won his first two tournament fights in a single night defeating both Keisuke Fujiwara and Kenji Osawa at Dream: Fight for Japan!. The tournament finals took place at Dream: Japan GP Final where Imanari faced off with Hideo Tokoro. Tokoro defeated Imanari to win the tournament, the second place finish gained Imanari entrance into the Bantamweight Grand Prix. Imanari faced Abel Cullum in the opening round of the Bantamweight Grand Prix at Dream 17 at Saitami Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, on Sept. 24.[2] He won the bout via submission in the third round. In the semifinal round at Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011, Imanari lost to Antonio Banuelos via split decision.
[edit] Team allegiances
Imanari left Paraestra in 2008 and founded Nippon Top Team with Shinya Aoki and Satoru Kitaoka. However, Aoki left for Evolve MMA of Singapore, whereas Kitaoka joined Lotus Paraestra, Setagaya branch of Paraestra. Consequently, Imanari became a member of Team Roken.
Imanari is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Marco Barbosa of Barbosa Jiu-Jitsu.[3]
[edit] Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 36 matches | 24 wins | 10 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 2 |
| By submission | 15 | 0 |
| By decision | 8 | 8 |
| Draws | 2 | |
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 24–10–2 | Antonio Banuelos | Decision (split) | Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011 | December 31, 2011 | 2 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | Dream World Bantamweight Grand Prix Semifinal |
| Win | 24–9–2 | Abel Cullum | Submission (armbar) | Dream 17 | September 24, 2011 | 3 | 0:46 | Saitama, Japan | Dream World Bantamweight Grand Prix Opening Round |
| Loss | 23–9–2 | Hideo Tokoro | Decision (unanimous) | Dream: Japan GP Final | July 16, 2011 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Dream Bantamweight Tournament Final |
| Win | 23–8–2 | Kenji Osawa | Submission (heel hook) | Dream: Fight for Japan! | May 29, 2011 | 2 | 0:58 | Saitama, Japan | Dream Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal. Vacates Deep Bantamweight Title. |
| Win | 22–8–2 | Keisuke Fujiwara | Decision (unanimous) | Dream: Fight for Japan! | May 29, 2011 | 2 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | Dream Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal |
| Loss | 21–8–2 | Hiroshi Nakamura | Decision (unanimous) | Deep: 52 Impact | February 25, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Non-title bout |
| Win | 21–7–2 | Daiki Hata | Decision (majority) | Deep: 50th Impact | October 24, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Non-title bout |
| Win | 20–7–2 | Tomoya Miyashita | Decision (unanimous) | Deep: 49 Impact | August 27, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Defended Deep Bantamweight Title |
| Win | 19–7–2 | Isao Terada | Submission (armbar) | Deep: 47 Impact | April 17, 2010 | 3 | 0:27 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 18–7–2 | Justin Cruz | Submission (omoplata crossface) | Deep: Cage Impact 2009 | December 19, 2009 | 1 | 2:39 | Tokyo, Japan | Fought at 137 lb |
| Win | 17–7–2 | Tomohiko Hori | Decision (unanimous) | Deep: 43 Impact | August 23, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Defended Deep Bantamweight Title |
| Loss | 16–7–2 | Bibiano Fernandes | Decision (unanimous) | Dream 9 | May 26, 2009 | 2 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | Dream Featherweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal |
| Win | 16–6–2 | Atsushi Yamamoto | Decision (split) | Dream 7 | March 8, 2009 | 2 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | Dream Featherweight Grand Prix Opening Round |
| Win | 15–6–2 | Hiroshi Umemura | Submission (heel hook) | Deep: 37 Impact | August 17, 2008 | 1 | 0:29 | Tokyo, Japan | Won Deep Bantamweight Title |
| Loss | 14–6–2 | Dokonjonosuke Mishima | Decision (majority) | Deep: 35 Impact | May 19, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Lost Deep Featherweight Title |
| Win | 14–5–2 | Jean Silva | Submission (heel hook) | Cage Rage 25 | March 8, 2008 | 1 | 2:30 | London, England | Defended Cage Rage Featherweight Title |
| Win | 13–5–2 | Hiroyuki Abe | Submission (toe hold) | Deep: 32 Impact | October 10, 2007 | 3 | 4:32 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 12–5–2 | Kim Jong-Man | Submission (armbar) | Deep: 31 Impact | August 5, 2007 | 1 | 3:28 | Tokyo, Japan | Defended Deep Featherweight Title |
| Win | 11–5–2 | Robbie Olivier | Submission (flying armbar) | Cage Rage 20 | February 10, 2007 | 1 | 0:27 | London, England | Won Cage Rage Featherweight Title |
| Win | 10–5–2 | Takeshi Yamazaki | KO (upkick) | Deep: 26 Impact | October 10, 2006 | 3 | 1:49 | Tokyo, Japan | Defended Deep Featherweight Title |
| Loss | 9–5–2 | Fredson Paixão | Decision (majority) | Deep: 25 Impact | August 4, 2006 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 9–4–2 | Yoshiro Maeda | Submission (toe hold) | Deep: 22 Impact | December 2, 2005 | 3 | 1:31 | Tokyo, Japan | Deep Featherweight Tournament Final. Won Deep Featherweight Title |
| Win | 8–4–2 | Mike Brown | Submission (kneelock) | Deep: 22 Impact | December 2, 2005 | 2 | 3:38 | Tokyo, Japan | Deep Featherweight Tournament Semifinal. Dislocated Brown's leg to the point that his leg was pulled out and to the side of his knee joint. |
| Win | 7–4–2 | Fabio Mello | Decision (unanimous) | Deep: 21st Impact | October 28, 2005 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Deep Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal |
| Loss | 6–4–2 | Joachim Hansen | KO (knee) | Pride Bushido 8 | July 17, 2005 | 1 | 2:34 | Nagoya, Japan | Fought at Lightweight |
| Draw | 6–3–2 | Yoshiro Maeda | Draw (majority) | Deep: 18th Impact | February 5, 2005 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 6–3–1 | Renato Tavares | Submission (heel hook) | Deep: 17th Impact | July 17, 2005 | 2 | 2:36 | Nagoya, Japan | Return to Featherweight |
| Loss | 5–3–1 | Luiz Firmino | Decision (unanimous) | Pride Bushido 5 | October 14, 2004 | 2 | 5:00 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Loss | 5–2–1 | Marcus Aurélio | Decision (split) | Zst: Grand Prix Final Round | January 11, 2004 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 5–1–1 | Jorge Gurgel | Submission (heel hook) | Zst: Grand Prix Opening Round | November 23, 2003 | 1 | 0:32 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 4–1–1 | Dokonjonosuke Mishima | TKO (punches) | Deep: 11th Impact | July 13, 2003 | 2 | 2:58 | Osaka, Japan | Moves up to Lightweight |
| Win | 4–0–1 | Danny Batten | Submission (armbar) | Zst: The Battlefield 3 | June 1, 2003 | 1 | 0:43 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 3–0–1 | Erikas Petraitis | Decision (unanimous) | Zst: The Battlefield 2 | June 1, 2003 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 2–0–1 | Yuji Oba | Decision (majority) | Pancrase: 2002 Anniversary Show | September 29, 2002 | 2 | 5:00 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Win | 1–0–1 | Tokusaburo Iwama | Submission (heel hook) | Premium Challenge | May 6, 2002 | 1 | 3:24 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 0–0–1 | Ryoji Sai | Technical draw | Titan Fighting Championship 1 | September 29, 2000 | 1 | 1:29 | Tokyo, Japan |
[edit] References
- ^ http://mmafighting.com/news/2009/02/05/13-fighters-announced-dream-featherweight-gp
- ^ "Bantamweight Pairings Announced for Grand Prix at Dream 17". MMAWeekly.com. August 05, 2011. http://mmaweekly.com/bantamweight-pairings-announced-for-grand-prix-at-dream-17. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
- ^ Top BJJ Fighters in MMA today, BJJ Heroes
