Akira Shoji

Akira Shoji (小路晃) (born January 31, 1974) is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. He is most known as being a regular in almost all the beginning Pride Fighting Championship Shoji was in Pride 1 to Pride 7, and was part of the first Pride open weight Grand Prix in 2000. Shoji was consistently a regular in Pride, and moved from Heavyweight to Light Heavyweight (Middleweight in Pride) due to his smaller stature.

Despite his losing record, Shoji was a constant favourite of the audience, and was nicknamed "Mr. Pride" for his popularity and adherence to the mixed martial arts promotion. He was known for his mic performance, die hard spirit, stellar submission escapes, razor sharp armbar and a fighting spirit demonstrated by his willingness to take on all comers. According to fight commentator Stephen Quadros and John Hyams, director of the documentary "The Smashing Machine", Shoji cleaned his house and prepared his will before every competition in case he is killed during the fight.

At the Pride Grand Prix 2000 tournament, Shoji was first pitted against luta livre practitioner Ebenezer Fontes Braga, getting a unanimous decision victory. He advanced round, but he was then eliminated by the eventual winner Mark Coleman.

Shoji's last match in Pride would be in its very last event in 2007, fighting Gilbert Yvel and losing by TKO after a brief grappling exchange.

Retirement While working as a fighting referee in Dream, Shoji considered a final retirement match. He got his will at DEEP 53 in a match against Kazuo Misaki, which he lost by TKO in the second round. Both Misaki and Shoji broke out in tears after the fight, overwhelmed by emotions, knowing it was Shoji's final match.

Professional wrestling career

Hustle (2008–2009) In 2008, Shoji began working in professional wrestling company Hustle, hosted by Dream Stage Entertainment along with Pride, and became a regular roster of the promotion. He debuted as a participant the Hustle Grand Prix tournament, being invited by famous idol Yuko Ogura and granted the ring name of "Ko♥Ri♥Ta♥N", but he was defeated by Osaka Pro Wrestling representative Zeus after getting hit with a frying pan.

Shoji then joined Generalissimo Takada's villainous faction Takada Monster Army, invited by Yuji Shimada, and he changed his name to "Private Shimada". In 2009, after losing a match to Wataru Sakata and Kurodaman, he was put on a trial by Shimada and threatened with expulsion if he lost a next singles match against Sakata, which eventually became a 3-way match with fellow Monster Army member Commander An Jo. Shoji have his best, but Shimada and An Jo crashed the match and made him lose. Kicked out of Takada's faction, Akira joined Sakata and got his revenge over Anjo, defeating him and Rey Ohara in a tag team match. remained as his ally until the end of the promotion.

Smash (2010–2011) After Hustle's closure, Shoji joined Smash, a new promotion founded by Yoshihiro Tajiri and several former officials and wrestlers of Hustle. On January 30, 2011, Shoji lost to Yusuke Kodama in his final match before retiring from professional wrestling.

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Hideki Sekine TKO (elbows) Roots of Martial Arts Network 4

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Kazuo Misaki TKO (punches) DEEP 53 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Gilbert Yvel TKO (punches) Pride 34

Saitama, Japan Win

Carlos Toyota Decision (majority) clubDEEP Toyama: Barbarian Festival 5

Toyama, Japan Loss

Kyacey Uscola KO (punches) KOTC: All Stars

Reno, Nevada, United States Win

Todd Medina Decision (unanimous) KOTC: Rapid Fire

San Jacinto, California, United States Loss

Kazuo Misaki Technical Submission (guillotine choke) DEEP 23 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Mark Weir KO (head kick) Cage Rage 14

London, England Loss

Dean Lister Submission (triangle choke) Pride Bushido 6

Yokohama, Japan Loss

Paulo Filho Decision (split) Pride Bushido 4

Nagoya, Japan Win

Yukio Kawabe TKO (punches) Pride Bushido 3

Yokohama, Japan Loss

Murilo Rua KO (flying knee) Pride Shockwave 2003

Saitama, Japan Loss

Maurício Rua KO (punches) Pride Bushido 1

Saitama, Japan Win

Dustin Denes Decision (unanimous) Absolute FC 4

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States Win

Alex Stiebling Decision (split) Pride 25

Yokohama, Japan Loss

Paulo Filho Submission (armbar) Pride 22

Nagoya, Japan Win

David Roberts Submission (armbar) KOTC: Revolution

Reno, Nevada, United States Loss

Jeremy Horn Decision (unanimous) Pride 18

Fukuoka, Japan Loss

Semmy Schilt TKO (knees and punches) Pride 16

Osaka, Japan Loss

Dan Henderson TKO (punches and knees) Pride 14

Yokohama, Japan Loss

Ricardo Almeida Decision (unanimous) Pride 12

Saitama, Japan Win

Herman Renting Submission (armbar) Pride 10

Osaka, Japan Win

John Renken Submission (armbar) Pride 9

Nagoya, Japan Loss

Mark Coleman Decision (unanimous) Pride Grand Prix 2000: Finals

Tokyo, Japan Win

Ebenezer Fontes Braga Decision (unanimous) Pride Grand Prix 2000: Opening Round

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Ryushi Yanagisawa Draw Pancrase: 1999 Anniversary Show

Urayasu, Japan Win

Larry Parker Decision (unanimous) Pride 7

Yokohama, Japan Win

Guy Mezger Decision (split) Pride 6

Yokohama, Japan Loss

Igor Vovchanchyn Decision (unanimous) Pride 5

Nagoya, Japan Win

Wallid Ismail TKO (punches) Pride 4

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Adriano de Souza Draw Greatest Common Multiple: Vale Tudo

Nagasaki, Japan Draw

Daijiro Matsui Draw Pride 3

Tokyo, Japan Win

Juan Mott Submission (rear naked choke) Pride 2

Yokohama, Japan Draw

Renzo Gracie Draw Pride 1

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Kaichi Tsuji Decision (unanimous) Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '97 Heavyweight Tournament

Tokyo, Japan Win

Vidal Serradilla TKO (submission to punches) Japan Extreme Challenge Vale Tudo Open

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Manabu Ohara Draw KP X WK: Koppo vs. Keisyukai

Tokyo, Japan Submission grappling record Result Opponent Method Event Date Round Time