Issei Tamura

is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Featherweight division of Pancrase. A professional competitor since 2008, he has competed for the UFC and Shooto.

Mixed martial arts career Early career Tamura made his professional MMA debut in June 2008 for the Shooto organization. Prior to signing with the UFC, all of his fights have taken place in this promotion where he amassed a record of 6 wins and 2 losses.

Tamura trains out of the Krazy Bee camp alongside former top-ranked fighter Kid Yamamoto.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Tamura was signed to the UFC in February 2012. In his debut he fought Zhang Tiequan at UFC 144, filling in for an injured Leonard Garcia. Tamura won via KO at 0:32 seconds into the second round.

Tamura dropped down to bantamweight and faced Raphael Assunção on July 11, 2012, at UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. Weidman Tamura lost to Assunção via second round TKO.

Tamura was expected to face Mitch Gagnon on March 16, 2013, at UFC 158. However, Gagnon was forced out of the bout with an injury and was replaced by T.J. Dillashaw. Tamura was defeated by Dillashaw in the second round via KO and was subsequently released from the promotion.

ROAD FC On July 18, 2013, Korean MMA promotion ROAD FC announced that they had signed Issei Tamura to their roster. He debuted at ROAD FC 13 on October 12, 2013, against Min Jung Song. He lost the fight via submission.

Pancrase After three straight losses in Road FC, Tamura signed with Pancrase.

Racking two straight victories in Pancrase, Tamura earned a title shot for the vacant Pancrase Interim Featherweight Championship against Juntaro Ushiku at Pancrase 277 on April 24, 2016. He claimed the interim championship via third-round knockout.

Tamura was then expected to face reigning champion Andy Main in the title unification bout at Pancrase 282 on November 13, 2016. However, Tamura withdrew from the bout due to fractured nose.

He was then set to face Nazareno Malegarie for the Pancrase Featherweight Championship at Pancrase 285 on March 12, 2017. He lost the bout via first-round submission. However, the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the bout was scrapped.

Tamura was then scheduled to face Yuki Takahashi at Pancrase 317 on August 23, 2020, but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tamura next faced Akira Okada at Pancrase 319 on October 25, 2020. He lost the fight via second-round knockout.

Tamura faced Hirotaka Nakada at Pancrase 321 on May 30, 2021. He lost the bout after his corner threw in the flag and stopped the fight in the first round.

Tamura faced Kisa Miyake at Pancrase 327 on April 29, 2022. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Tamura faced Ryo Asami on December 25, 2022, at Pancrase 330, winning the bout via unanimous decision.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts Shooto' Lightweight 2008 Rookie of the Year 2007 All Japan Championship Welterweight runner-up Pancrase King of Pancrase Interim Featherweight Championship (1 Time, former)

Mixed martial arts record Win

Ryo Asami Decision (unanimous) Pancrase 330

Yokohama, Japan Win

Kisa Miyake Decision (unanimous) Pancrase 327

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Hirotaka Nakada TKO (corner stoppage) Pancrase 321

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Akira Okada KO (punch) Pancrase 319

Tokyo, Japan Win

Katsushi Sugiyama KO (punch) Pancrase 308

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Kazumasa Majima Submission (arm-triangle choke) Pancrase 305

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Taichi Nakajima Decision (unanimous) Pancrase 299

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yoshinori Horie TKO (punches) Pancrase 294

Tokyo, Japan Win

Takumi Suzuki Decision (unanimous) Pancrase 291

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Nazareno Malegarie Submission (rear-naked choke) Pancrase 285

Tokyo, Japan Win

Juntaro Ushiku KO (punch) Pancrase 277

Tokyo, Japan Win

Takumi Nakayama Decision (unanimous) Pancrase 273

Tokyo, Japan Win

Hikaru Hasumi Decision (unanimous) Pancrase 269

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Yeong Seung Cho Submission (rear-naked choke) Road Fighting Championship 22

Seoul, South Korea Loss

Soo Chul Kim Submission (rear-naked choke) Road Fighting Championship 15

Wonju, South Korea Loss

Min-Jung Song Submission (rear-naked choke) Road Fighting Championship 13

Gumi, North Gyeongsang, South Korea Loss

T.J. Dillashaw KO (head kick & punches) UFC 158

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Loss

Raphael Assunção TKO (punches) UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. Weidman

San Jose, California, United States Win

Zhang Tiequan KO (punch) UFC 144

Saitama, Japan Loss

Guy Delumeau Decision (majority) Shooto: Shooto the Shoot 2011

Tokyo, Japan Win

Katsuya Toida KO (punches) Shooto: Gig Tokyo 7

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Taiki Tsuchiya Decision (majority) Shooto: The Way of Shooto 4: Like a Tiger, Like a Dragon

Tokyo, Japan Win

Gustavo Falciroli Decision (unanimous) Shooto: Revolutionary Exchanges 3

Tokyo, Japan Win

Hayate Usui Decision (unanimous) Shooto: Gig Tokyo 2

Tokyo, Japan Win

Naohiro Mizuno Decision (unanimous) Shooto: The Rookie Tournament 2008 Final

Tokyo, Japan Win

Takumi Ota Decision (majority) Shooto: 10/13 in Kitazawa Town Hall

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yasuhiro Kanayama Decision (unanimous) Shooto: 6/26 in Kitazawa Town Hall

Tokyo, Japan