Yoshiyuki Yoshida
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| Yoshiyuki Yoshida | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Nickname | Zenko |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Weight | 167 lb (76 kg) |
| Nationality |  Japanese |
| Born | May 10, 1974 |
| Fighting out of | Tokyo, Japan |
| Town of birth | Tokyo, Japan |
| Primary fighting style | Judo |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Wins | 10 |
| By knockout | 6 |
| By submission | 2 |
| Losses | 3 |
| Draws | 0 |
Yoshiyuki "Zenko" Yoshida (吉田善行 Yoshida "Zenko" Yoshiyuki) (born May 10, 1974) is a Japanese mixed martial artist competing in the welterweight division. A student of former Shooto competitor Noboru Asahi[1], he has competed in Shooto and Cage Force - and presently the UFC. On December 1, 2007, he became the first Cage Force welterweight tournament winner.
Contents |
[edit] Career
In 2007, Yoshida was entered into a Cage Force welterweight tournament sponsored by the Worldwide Cage Network. In the opening round of the tournament, Yoshida defeated two-time interim Pancrase champion Katsuya Inoue by knockout. He went on to defeat Matt Cain in the quarterfinals and former Shooto champion Akira Kikuchi in the semi-finals of the tournament. In the finals, Yoshida defeated Dan Hardy by disqualification after being struck by a kick to the groin, becoming the first Cage Force welterweight tournament winner.[2]
Since the tournament's closing, Yoshida has been offered a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It was originally speculated that the winners of the Cage Force tournaments were to be selected to compete in the UFC's active roster.[3] Yoshida made his debut in the UFC at UFC 84, defeating The Ultimate Fighter 6 contestant Jon Koppenhaver by Anaconda choke submission. He was scheduled to meet Karo Parisyan in September at UFC 88 but Parisyan pulled out of the bout only two hours before the weigh-ins citing an injury. Yoshida then faced Josh Koscheck at UFC: Fight for the Troops on December 10th, 2008, a fight which he lost by 1st round knockout. UFC reported, "Tokyo’s Yoshida, who remained on the canvas while being tended to by commission doctors, was removed from the Octagon on a stretcher as a precautionary measure. He was later treated and released from a local hospital for a concussion".
Yoshida won his last fight against Brandon Wolff at UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida on May 23rd, 2009 by guillotine choke in the first round.
[edit] Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 13 matches | 10 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 1 |
| By submission | 2 | 0 |
| By decision | 1 | 2 |
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 11-3 |  Brandon Wolff |
Submission (Guillotine Choke) | UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida | May 23, 2009 | 1 | 2:24 | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
|
| Loss | 10-3 | Josh Koscheck |
KO (Punch) | UFC: Fight for the Troops | December 10, 2008 | 1 | 2:15 | Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA |
|
| Win | 10-2 | Jon Koppenhaver |
Technical Submission (Anaconda Choke) | UFC 84: Ill Will | May 24, 2008 | 1 | 0:56 | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
|
| Win | 9-2 |  Dan Hardy |
DQ (Low Blow) | GCM - Cage Force 5 | December 1, 2007 | 2 | 0:04 | Tokyo, Japan |
GCM welterweight final |
| Win | 8-2 | Akira Kikuchi |
TKO (Elbows) | GCM - Cage Force 4 | September 8, 2007 | 1 | 4:33 | Tokyo, Japan |
GCM welterweight semi-final |
| Win | 7-2 |  Matt Cain |
TKO (Punches) | GCM - Cage Force EX Eastern Bound | May 27, 2007 | 1 | 2:59 | Tokyo, Japan |
GCM welterweight quarter-final |
| Win | 6-2 | Katsuya Inoue |
KO (Punches) | GCM - Cage Force 2 | March 17, 2007 | 1 | 1:45 | Tokyo, Japan |
GCM welterweight qualifier |
| Win | 5-2 | Asato Hashimoto |
TKO (Elbow Injury) | GCM - Cage Force 1 | November 25, 2006 | 1 | 0:35 | Tokyo, Japan |
|
| Win | 4-2 | Hossein Ojaghi | Submission (Armbar) | GCM - D.O.G. 7 | September 9, 2006 | 2 | 3:36 | Tokyo, Japan |
|
| Win | 3-2 |  Luis Sapo |
TKO (Corner Stoppage) | Kokoro - Kill Or Be Killed | August 15, 2006 | 1 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan |
|
| Win | 2-2 |  Mindaugas Smirnovas |
TKO (Punches) | Shooto 2006 - 3/24 in Korakuen Hall | March 24, 2006 | 1 | 4:00 | Tokyo, Japan |
|
| Loss | 1-2 | Keita Nakamura |
Technical Decision (Majority) | Shooto 2005 - 12/17 in Shinjuku Face | December 17, 2005 | 2 | 4:06 | Tokyo, Japan |
|
| Loss | 1-1 | Yoshitaro Niimi |
Decision (Majority) | Shooto - Shooter's Summer | July 14, 2005 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan |
|
| Win | 1-0 | Akihiro Yamazaki |
Decision (Unanimous) | Shooto 2005 - 2/6 in Kitazawa Town Hall | February 6, 2005 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan |
[edit] References and footnotes
- ^ Breen, Jordan (2007-05-24). "Koubousen Companion: Japan News". Sherdog.com. http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=7637. Retrieved on 2007-09-08.
- ^ Loiseleur, Tony (2007-12-01). "Oumakhanov Claims Cage Force Tourney". Sherdog.com. http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=10191. Retrieved on 2007-12-02.
- ^ Breen, Jordan (2008-01-11). "Yoshiyuki Yoshida to UFC". Sherdog.com. http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=10770. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
