Kazuo Takahashi

Yoshiki Takahashi
Born (1969-03-13) March 13, 1969
Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan[1]
Nationality Japanese
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 93 kg (205 lb)
Division Light Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of Tokyo, Japan
Team Sengoku Training Players (2008-2011)
Years active 1993-2013
Mixed martial arts record
Total 61
Wins 30
By knockout 9
By submission 11
By decision 9
By disqualification 1
Losses 27
By knockout 17
By submission 7
By decision 3
Draws 3
No contests 1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Kazuo Takahashi, ring name Yoshiki Takahashi (born March 13, 1969 in Ichikawa, Chiba) is a Japanese retired mixed martial artist. He has competed in many large MMA promotions, including the UFC, World Victory Road, Pancrase, and Pride Fighting Championships. Takahashi is best known for his incredible toughness, heart, and will to win. He has fought many top fighters in mixed martial arts, including Masakatsu Funaki, Bas Rutten, Valentijn Overeem, Igor Vovchanchyn, Ken Shamrock, Vitor Belfort, and Josh Barnett. His nickname is "Cannibal Yoshiki".

Biography

Takahashi excelled in amateur wrestling, becoming a high school state champion in Japan, and also trained in karate. After graduating from Yachiyo Shoin High School, he began to train in submission. He graduated from Nihon University, and he started in Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi in 1992 but joined Pancrase the following year.

Pancrase

Takahashi debuted in mixed martial arts in Pancrase against legally blind yet decorated amateur wrestler George Weingeroff. The Japanese capitalized on his opponent's unability to see his strikes, and knocked him out twice with roundhouse kicks. However, it was in his second professional fight in which he gained popularity, becoming known for his incredible toughness and desire to win. Fighting Ken Shamrock, Takahashi suffered a broken jaw from a palm strike and knee and ankle damage from a heel hook, but refused to give up. Takahashi was limping badly for the rest of the bout but continued to fight. Eventually, he got caught in a very tight heel hook and could not escape and was forced to tap. Takahashi had to be carried out of the ring after the fight.

In another memorable showing of heart, Takahashi got caught in a heel hook against Bas Rutten which inevitably broke his shin bone in half. Unwilling to stop the match, Takahashi stood up and continued to fight until, upon kicking Rutten with his broken leg, his shin bone completely snapped in half. His shin didn't bend thanks to the kneeboot he was wearing, but the injury was too much and he finally accepted the match was stopped. It would be a year and a half until Takahashi fought again.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In 1997, Takahashi had his debut for Ultimate Fighting Championship at the UFC 12 event, where he was paired with Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Wallid Ismail. The fight would become infamous for its irregularities and disregard of the rules, as Takahashi seemed to be uninformed of the event's ruleset while Ismail intentionally ignore it. Wallid tried to take Kazuo down, but they hit the cage wall and stayed on it, and both of them kept grabbing the fence despite the referee's continious warnings. Shortly after, Yoshiki knocked down Wallid with a right punch which seemed to end the fight, but the Japanese wrestler stood waiting, believing his opponent would receive a 10 count like in Pancrase; when he learned that the match would continue, he tried to kick Ismail, but it happened to be an illegal attack because his wrestling shoes. Recovering the pace, Ismail eye-gouged Kazuo, and the Japanese wrestler asked for time to check it out, which was refused as UFC didn't include it on the rules like Pancrase. Takahashi had also to be informed of the end of the round, as he didn't know its duration. However, the most shocking event of the night came at its end: having been informed that groin attacks were legal, Takahashi slid his hand on Ismail's trunks, tore away his protective cup and started striking his groin, which the Brazilian tried to counter by eye-gouging him again. After the fight, the judges gave the unanimous decision to Takahashi for dominating most of the match with strikes and headbutts, and he advanced round in the event's tournament, but had to pull out for a hand injury, being replaced by alternate Nick Sanzo.

Championships and Accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 30-27-3 (1) Ryo Kawamura TKO (punches) Pancrase 252: 20th Anniversary September 29, 2013 1 1:43 Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Win 30-26-3 (1) Kenichi Yamamoto KO (knee) U-Spirits - U-Spirits Again March 9, 2013 1 6:29 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 29-26-3 (1) Yuji Sakuragi KO (punch) Pancrase - Progress Tour 9 August 5, 2012 1 4:59 Tokyo, Japan
Win 29-25-3 (1) Chang Seob Lee Submission (scarf hold armlock) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku Raiden Championships 15 October 30, 2010 1 2:28 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 28-25-3 (1) Antony Rea TKO (punches) Fury 1: Clash of the Titans May 21, 2010 1 N/A Cotai, Macau
Loss 28-24-3 (1) Valentijn Overeem KO (flying knee) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 4 August 24, 2008 1 2:42 Saitama, Japan
Loss 28-23-3 (1) Fábio Silva KO (knee) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 3 June 8, 2008 2 0:25 Saitama, Japan
Loss 28-22-3 (1) Mark Burch KO (knee) BodogFight: Alvarez vs Lee July 14, 2007 1 3:45 Trenton, New Jersey, United States
Loss 28-21-3 (1) Melvin Manhoef TKO (punches) Hero's 8 March 12, 2007 1 2:36 Nagoya, Japan
NC 28-20-3 (1) Mark Burch No Contest (Accidental Eye Gouge) BodogFight: Costa Rica February 18, 2007 1 1:05 Costa Rica
Loss 28-20-3 Vitor Belfort KO (punch) Pride FC - Critical Countdown Absolute July 1, 2006 1 0:36 Saitama, Japan
Win 28-19-3 Kestutis Arbocius Decision (majority) Pancrase: Spiral 8 October 2, 2005 3 5:00 Yokohama, Japan
Win 27-19-3 Yuji Sakuragi Submission (armlock) Pancrase: Spiral 5 July 10, 2005 2 3:01 Yokohama, Japan
Loss 26-19-3 Igor Vovchanchyn KO (punch) Pride 29: Fists of Fire February 20, 2005 1 1:10 Saitama, Japan
Loss 26-18-3 Heath Herring TKO (punches) PRIDE Total Elimination 2004 April 25, 2004 1 4:53 Saitama, Japan
Loss 26-17-3 Josh Barnett Submission (triangle/armbar) NJPW - Ultimate Crush October 13, 2003 2 Tokyo, Japan For Pancrase Openweight Championship
Win 26-16-3 Tsuyoshi Ozawa TKO (doctor stoppage) Pancrase - 2003 Neo-Blood Tournament Opening Round July 27, 2003 1 5:00 Tokyo, Japan Defended Pancrase Heavyweight Championship
Win 25-15-3 Hideki Tadao Decision (majority) Pancrase: Spirit 6 August 25, 2002 3 5:00 Umeda Stella Hall
Win 24-15-3 Katsuhisa Fujii TKO (punches) Pancrase - Proof 7 December 1, 2001 1 1:12 Yokohama, Japan For inaugural Pancrase Heavyweight Championship
Win 23-15-3 Marcelo Tigre DQ (eye gouging) Pancrase - 2001 Anniversary Show September 30, 2001 1 3:20 Kanagawa, Japan
Win 22-15-3 Hiroya Takada Submission (guillotine choke) Pancrase - 2001 Anniversary Show September 30, 2001 2 0:22 Kanagawa, Japan
Win 21-15-3 Katsuomi Inagaki Technical Submission (arm triangle choke) Pancrase - Proof 5 August 25, 2001 1 1:38 Osaka, Japan
Win 20-15-3 David Frendin TKO (punches) Pancrase - Proof 4 June 26, 2001 1 0:26 Tokyo, Japan
Win 19-15-3 Mitsuyoshi Sato Decision (unanimous) Pancrase - Proof 1 February 4, 2001 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 18-15-3 Sanae Kikuta Submission (arm triangle choke) Pancrase - Trans 7 December 4, 2000 1 7:22 Tokyo, Japan
Win 18-14-3 Masutatsu Yano Decision (unanimous) Pancrase - 2000 Neo-Blood Tournament Second Round August 27, 2000 1 10:00 Osaka, Japan
Loss 17-14-3 Semmy Schilt TKO (strikes) Pancrase - Trans 3 April 30, 2000 1 7:30 Yokohama, Japan For King of Pancrase Openweight Championship
Win 17-13-3 John Cronk Submission (elbows and headbutts) Pancrase - Breakthrough 11 December 18, 1999 1 7:59 Yokohama, Japan
Win 16-13-3 Osami Shibuya Submission (guillotine choke) Pancrase - 1999 Anniversary Show September 18, 1999 1 6:08 Tokyo, Japan
Draw 15-13-3 John Lober Draw Pancrase - Breakthrough 6 June 11, 1999 2 3:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 15-13-2 Omar Bouiche Submission (armbar) Pancrase - Breakthrough 4 April 18, 1999 1 8:47 Yokohama, Japan
Win 14-13-2 Minoru Suzuki TKO (lost points) Pancrase - 1998 Anniversary Show September 14, 1998 1 8:06 Japan
Draw 13-13-2 Katsuomi Inagaki Draw Pancrase - Advance 8 June 21, 1998 2 3:00 Kobe, Japan
Loss 13-13-1 Semmy Schilt TKO Pancrase - Advance 6 May 12, 1998 1 5:44 Tokyo, Japan
Win 13-12-1 Leon Dijk Decision (unanimous) Pancrase - Advance 4 March 18, 1998 2 3:00 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 12-12-1 Osami Shibuya Submission Pancrase - Advance 2 February 6, 1998 1 9:35 Yokohama, Japan
Loss 12-11-1 Yuki Kondo Submission (arm triangle choke) Pancrase - Alive 10 November 16, 1997 1 7:27 Kobe, Japan
Win 12-10-1 Kim Jong Wang KO (knees) Pancrase - Alive 9 October 29, 1997 1 1:06 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 11-10-1 Jason Godsey Submission (rear naked choke) Pancrase - 1997 Anniversary Show September 6, 1997 2 1:20 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 11-9-1 Jason DeLucia Submission (armbar) Pancrase - Alive 5 May 24, 1997 1 5:13 Kobe, Japan
Win 11-8-1 Satoshi Hasegawa TKO Pancrase - Alive 4 April 27, 1997 1 6:20 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 10-8-1 Semmy Schilt TKO Pancrase - Alive 3 March 22, 1997 1 7:00 Nagoya, Japan
Win 10-7-1 Wallid Ismail Decision UFC 12 February 7, 1997 1 15:00 Alabama, United States UFC 12 Lightweight Tournament Semifinals. Pulls out of the finals due to injury
Win 9-7-1 Keiichiro Yamamiya Submission Pancrase - Truth 9 November 9, 1996 1 7:12 Kobe, Japan
Loss 8-7-1 Vernon White KO (kick) Pancrase - 1996 Anniversary Show September 7, 1996 1 19:43 Tokyo, Japan
Win 8-6-1 Ryushi Yanagisawa Decision (lost points) Pancrase - 1996 Neo-Blood Tournament, Round 1 July 22, 1996 1 15:00 Tokyo, Japan
Draw 7-6-1 Manabu Yamada Draw Pancrase - Truth 6 June 25, 1996 1 10:00 Fukuoka, Japan
Win 7-6 Takafumi Ito Decision (unanimous) Pancrase - Truth 5 May 16, 1996 1 10:00 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 6-6 Vernon White Decision (lost points) Pancrase - Truth 3 April 7, 1996 1 10:00 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 6-5 Jason DeLucia KO Pancrase - Truth 2 March 2, 1996 1 3:37 Kobe, Japan
Loss 6-4 Ken Shamrock Decision (lost points) Pancrase - Truth 1 January 28, 1996 1 20:00 Yokohama, Japan
Win 6-3 Scott Bessac KO Pancrase - Eyes Of Beast 6 November 4, 1995 1 2:26 Yokohama, Japan
Win 5-3 Osami Shibuya Submission Pancrase - 1995 Anniversary Show September 1, 1995 1 5:12 Japan
Loss 4-3 Bas Rutten TKO Pancrase - Road To The Championship 1 May 31, 1994 1 1:37 Tokyo, Japan
Win 4-2 Andre Van Den Oetelaar Decision (lost points) Pancrase - Pancrash! 3 April 21, 1994 1 30:00 Osaka, Japan
Win 3-2 Katsuomi Inagaki Submission (rear naked choke) Pancrase - Pancrash! 1 January 19, 1994 1 5:41 Yokohama, Japan
Loss 2-2 Masakatsu Funaki TKO Pancrase - Yes, We are Hybrid Wrestlers 4 December 8, 1993 1 3:09 Japan
Win 2-1 James Mathews Submission Pancrase - Yes, We are Hybrid Wrestlers 3 November 8, 1993 1 1:11 Kobe World Commemoration Hall
Loss 1-1 Ken Shamrock Submission (heel hook) Pancrase - Yes, We are Hybrid Wrestlers 2 October 14, 1993 1 12:23 Nagoya, Japan
Win 1-0 George Weingeroff KO (high kick) Pancrase - Yes, We are Hybrid Wrestlers 1 September 21, 1993 1 1:23 Tokyo, Japan

Mixed rules

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 1–0 Superman Sattasaba Submission (scarf hold) PWFG Stack of Arms October 4, 1992 1 2:37 Tokyo, Japan

References

External links

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