Hideo Tokoro

Hideo Tokoro (born August 22, 1977) is a Japanese mixed martial artist who last competed in the Bantamweight division. A professional competitor since 2000, Tokoro has also formerly competed for Vale Tudo Japan, ZST, Shooto, Rings and K-1 Hero's. He is notable for holding the record for most weight divisions competed in by a professional MMA fighter, at seven, ranging from flyweight through to heavyweight.

Mixed martial arts career Tokoro got his first contact with mixed martial arts in 1999, joining Kenichi Yamamoto's Power of Dream gym. He debuted in Titan Fighting Championship in 2000 and moved to multiple promotions, among them Fighting Network Rings, Shooto, ZST and K-1, the latter of which signed him up for its Hero's MMA promotion. Up to that point, as fighting wasn't enough to make a living, Tokoro had worked part-time as a janitor, an aspect which K-1 promoted heavily in order to show him as a humble, hard-working underdog figure.

Hero's Tokoro had his debut in Hero's in 2005 in the Lightweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal. He went against the well regarded Alexandre Franca Nogueira, and shocked pundits by knocking him out with a spinning backfist at the end of a fast-paced, back and forth match. Tokoro advanced round against Shooto veteran Caol Uno, but he was controlled and damaged for a unanimous decision loss.

On December 31, 2005, Tokoro faced Royce Gracie from the Gracie family at the K-1 Premium Dynamite!!! event in a much publicized match. The bout had special stipulations, as Royce had demanded no judge decision and 10-minute rounds, and was fought at openweight, with the Brazilian outweighing Tokoro by 40 lbs. Still, Hideo gave an excellent performance, controlling the stand-up and forcing Gracie to play conservatively on his own field of strength.

Immediately landing a punch combo and a high kick, the Japanese passed the first round in Gracie's guard, slamming him several times and bloodying his opponent's face with ground and pound, while Gracie kept himself active with heel kicks and short hammerfists. At the second, Tokoro fell in bad position upon trying a spinning kick, becoming entangled in a series of reversals both in the clinch and on the ground and being forced to defend a rear naked choke, but he ended the match again attacking Royce's guard. The match ended in a draw as stipulated, but Tokoro was seen by many as a moral victor, which boosted his popularity.

Tokoro also participated in Dynamite!! USA in 2007, submitting Brad Pickett by armbar.

Also in 2007, Tokoro faced Rings legend Kiyoshi Tamura at the Dynamite!!! event. The heavier Tamura capitalized on his striking and wrestling advantage to control the bout, which forced Tokoro to absorb punishment and use every opportunity to scramble to try to get his game. At the third round, Tamura tried a Kimura lock, and although he couldn't twist the arm, he stretched it. Tokoro refused to tap out, but the match was eventually called off by submission.

Dream Tokoro competed in Dream's Featherweight Grand Prix where he lost in the first round to Daiki Hata, but was brought back into the tournament and defeated Abel Cullum in the second round, before losing to Hiroyuki Takaya in the semi-finals.

Tokoro faced Antonio Banuelos in the opening Bantamweight Grand Prix round at Dream 17 at Saitami Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, on Sept. 24. He lost the fight via split decision.

Tokoro lost to Yusup Saadulaev in a tournament reserve bout on December 31, 2011, at Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011 via KO (slam) in the first round.

Vale Tudo Japan Tokoro faced Rumina Sato at Vale Tudo Japan 2012 on December 24, 2012. Tokoro defeated Sato by TKO in the first round.

He then faced Taylor McCorriston at Vale Tudo Japan: VTJ 2nd on June 22, 2013. Tokoro won the fight via heel hook submission.

In his latest fight, Tokoro faced UFC veteran Will Campuzano at Vale Tudo Japan: VTJ 3rd on October 5, 2013. He lost the fight via split decision.

Other promotions Fighting outside of Vale Tudo Japan, Tokoro faced Victor Henry at Grandslam MMA: Way of the Cage on July 13, 2014. He lost the fight via second-round TKO.

Bellator MMA Tokoro made his Bellator debut against LC Davis on March 27, 2015 at Bellator 135. He lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision.

Rizin Fighting Federation In his debut for the Rizin Fighting Federation, Tokoro faced Kizaemon Siaga on December 29, 2015. He won the fight via submission due to an armbar in the first round.

In his second fight for the promotion, Tokoro faced Kron Gracie on September 25, 2016 at Rizin World Grand-Prix 2016: First Round. He lost the fight via submission in the first round.

In his third fight for the promotion, Tokoro faced Erson Yamamoto on December 31, 2016 at Rizin World Grand-Prix 2016: Final Round. He won the fight via submission in the first round.

Rizin FF Bantamweight GP In his next fight for Rizin, Tokoro faced Kyoji Horiguchi in the first round of the 2017 Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix on July 30, 2017 at Rizin 6. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Hiatus and post-GP tenure Tokoro returned to MMA, after a three year hiatus, to fight the Olympic wrestling silver medalist Shinobu Ota at Rizin 26. He won the fight by submission, snatching an armbar midway through the second round.

Tokoro faced Makoto Takahashi at Rizin 37 - Saitama on July 31, 2022, following a two-year absence from the sport. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Tokoro faced John Dodson on December 31, 2022 at Rizin 40. He lost the bout by knockout in the first round via punches.

Tokoro headlined Rizin Landmark 6 against Alan Yamaniha on October 1, 2023. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Fighting style Tokoro uses a style described as "breakneck paced" and "exciting." 2009 Dream Featherweight Grand Prix Semifinalist

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Jinnosuke Kashimura Technical Submission (anaconda choke) Rizin 52

Tokyo, Japan Win

Hiroya Kondo TKO (punch and elbows) Super Rizin 3

Saitama, Japan Loss

Alan Yamaniha Decision (unanimous) Rizin Landmark 6

Nagoya, Japan Loss

John Dodson KO (punches) Rizin 40

Saitama, Japan Loss

Makoto Takahashi Decision (unanimous) Rizin 37

Saitama, Japan Win

Shinobu Ota Submission (armbar) Rizin 26

Saitama, Japan Loss

Kyoji Horiguchi KO (punches) Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: 1st Round

Saitama, Japan Win

Asen Yamamoto Submission (armbar) Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: Final Round

Saitama, Japan Loss

Kron Gracie Submission (rear-naked choke) Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 1st Round

Saitama, Japan Win

Kizaemon Siaga Submission (armbar) Rizin World Grand Prix 2015: Part 1 - Saraba

Saitama, Japan Loss

LC Davis Decision (split) Bellator 135

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Loss

Victor Henry TKO (punches) Grandslam MMA: Way of the Cage

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Will Campuzano Decision (split) Vale Tudo Japan: VTJ 3rd

Tokyo, Japan Win

Taylor McCorriston Submission (inverted heel hook) Vale Tudo Japan: VTJ 2nd

Tokyo, Japan Win

Rumina Sato TKO (punches and elbows) Vale Tudo Japan: VTJ 1st

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Yusup Saadulaev KO (slam) Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011

Saitama, Japan Loss

Antonio Banuelos Decision (split) Dream 17

Saitama, Japan Win

Masakazu Imanari Decision (unanimous) Dream: Japan GP Final

Tokyo, Japan Win

Atsushi Yamamoto Decision (split)

Win

Yoshiro Maeda TKO (corner stoppage)

Win

Kazuhisa Watanabe Submission (armbar) Dynamite!! 2010

Saitama, Japan Loss

Joachim Hansen Submission (triangle choke) Dream 16

Nagoya, Japan Loss

Akiyo Nishiura TKO (punches) Dream 14

Saitama, Japan Win

Kim Jong-man Decision (unanimous) Dynamite!! 2009

Saitama, Japan Loss

Hiroyuki Takaya TKO (punches) Dream 11

Yokohama, Japan Win

Abel Cullum Submission (rear-naked choke) Dream 9

Yokohama, Japan Loss

Daiki Hata Decision (unanimous) Dream 8

Nagoya, Japan Loss

Daisuke Nakamura Submission (armbar) Dynamite!! 2008

Saitama, Japan Loss

Atsushi Yamamoto Decision (unanimous) Dream 6

Saitama, Japan Win

Takeshi Yamazaki Decision (unanimous) Dream 5

Osaka, Japan Win

Darren Uyenoyama Decision (unanimous) Dream 4

Yokohama, Japan Loss

Kiyoshi Tamura Submission (kimura) K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite!!

Osaka, Japan Win

Wataru Inatsu Submission (armbar) K-1 PREMIUM 2006 Dynamite!!

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Kultar Gill TKO (punches) Hero's 9

Yokohama, Japan Win

Brad Pickett Submission (armbar) Dynamite!! USA

Los Angeles, California, United States Win

Kazuya Yasuhiro Submission (armbar) Hero's 8

Nagoya, Japan Win

Royler Gracie Decision (unanimous) K-1 PREMIUM 2006 Dynamite!!

Osaka, Japan Win

Ken Kaneko Submission (armbar) Hero's 7

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Ivan Menjivar Decision (majority) Hero's 6

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Kultar Gill KO (knee and punches) Hero's 5

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yoshinori Ikeda Technical Submission (triangle choke) Hero's 4

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Erikas Petraitis KO (knee) Fighting Network ZST 9

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Royce Gracie Draw (unanimous) K-1 PREMIUM 2005 Dynamite!!

Osaka, Japan Win

Gabe Lemley Submission (triangle choke) K-1 World MAX 2005 Champions Challenge

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Caol Uno Decision (unanimous) Hero's 3

Tokyo, Japan Win

Alexandre Franca Nogueira KO (spinning backfist) Hero's 2

Tokyo, Japan Win

Erikas Petraitis Decision Shooto Lithuania: Chaosas

Vilnius, Lithuania Loss

Masahiro Oishi Decision (split) Fighting Network ZST: Grand Prix 2 Final Round

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Darius Skliaudys Decision Shooto Lithuania: Bushido

Vilnius, Lithuania Win

Shuichiro Katsumura Technical Submission (guillotine choke) Fighting Network ZST: Grand Prix 2 Opening Round

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Naoyuki Kotani Submission (heel hook) Fighting Network ZST 6

Tokyo, Japan Win

Shinya Sato Submission (triangle choke) Fighting Network ZST: Battle Hazard 1

Tokyo, Japan Win

Remigijus Morkevicius Submission (triangle choke) Fighting Network ZST 5

Tokyo, Japan Win

Erikas Petraitis Submission (rear-naked choke) Shooto Lithuania: Vendetta

Vilnius, Lithuania Loss

Tomomi Iwama TKO (head kicks) Fighting Network ZST: Grand Prix Final Round

Tokyo, Japan Win

Masahiro Oishi Submission (armbar) Fighting Network ZST: Grand Prix Opening Round

Tokyo, Japan Win

Taiyo Nakahara Submission (armbar) Fighting Network ZST: The Battlefield 4

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Remigijus Morkevicius KO (knees) Fighting Network ZST: The Battlefield 3

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Antanas Jazbutis Decision (1–0 points) Rings Lithuania: Bushido Rings 7

Vilnius, Lithuania Win

Hidehiko Matsumoto Decision (split) Fighting Network ZST: The Battlefield 2

Tokyo, Japan Win

Atsuhiro Tsuboi Submission (armbar) Fighting Network ZST: The Battlefield 1

Tokyo, Japan Win

Masaya Takita TKO (doctor stoppage) Greatest Common Multiple: Demolition 020908

Yokohama, Japan Win

Takumi Yano Decision (unanimous) Premium Challenge 1

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Naoyuki Kotani Decision (majority) Rings Japan: Battle Genesis Vol. 8

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Takayuki Yamamoto TKO (punches)

Win

Akira Nitagai Submission (heel hook)

Win

Sumio Koyano TKO (punches)

Loss

Masashi Suzuki TKO (punches) Titan FC 3

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Yuji Hisamatsu TKO (punches)

Win

Wataru Yoshikawa Submission (armbar)

Loss

Naoto Ichikawa Submission (rear-naked choke) Titan FC 1

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