Jin Akimoto

Jin Akimoto (; born April 7, 1971) is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist. He competed in the Bantamweight and Flyweight divisions. He spent the entirety of his career, barring one fight, in Shooto. Between 2000 and 2004 he was ranked as one of the best bantamweights in the world.

Personal life Jin Akimoto was born in Sagamihara, in the Kanagawa Prefecture of Japan. He is the youngest of three siblings, with an older brother and sister. He graduated from Kanagawa Prefectural Yaei Higashi High School. He moved to Tokyo, where he graduated from Kyorin University. After retiring from martial arts, he pursued a career in politics, as well as opening his own gym.

Martial arts career Akimoto made his debut in 1995 during Shooto - Vale Tudo Access 4 against Kazuyoshi Kudo, whom he beat by rear naked choke. He would achieve two more submission wins over Masataka Kawakami and Yoshinori Haraigawa.

He would then draw against Mitsuhiro Sakamoto. In a rematch he lost a majority decision. In his next fights he accumulated a 2-3-1 record, all decisions. His 5-3-2 record earned him a bantamweight title fight against Mamoru Yamaguchi. He lost a majority decision.

Bouncing back, he fought Yoshinobu Ota and won a unanimous decision and an armbar win against Greg Piper. In a rematch against Mamoru Yamaguchi during Shooto: R.E.A.D. Final he lost a unanimous decision.

Akimoto bounced back with unanimous decision wins over Hiroaki Yoshioka and Takeyasu Hirono, as well as a kneebar win over Alfonso Alcarez and a TKO win over Tomoyuki Tachi.

He subsequently lost his next six fights He then drew twice against Junji Ikoma, and lost against Ryuichi Miki and Ayumu Shioda. Akimoto failed to win a single fight during this five year period, with a record of 0-8-2. He would retire on a win, beating Kenji Hosoya with a guillotine choke during Shooto: Gig Tokyo 4.

Mixed martial arts record Win

Kenji Hosoya Submission (guillotine choke) Shooto: Gig Tokyo 4

Shinjuku Face Tokyo, Japan Loss

Ayumu Shioda Decision (unanimous) Shooto: Shooto Tradition 5

Differ Ariake Arena Tokyo, Japan Loss

Ryuichi Miki Decision (majority) Shooto: Shooting Disco 6: Glory Shines In You

Shinjuku Face Tokyo, Japan Draw

Junji Ikoma Draw Shooto: Shooting Disco 5: Earth, Wind and Fighter

Shinjuku Face Tokyo, Japan Draw

Junji Ikoma Draw Shooto: Back To Our Roots 7

Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Loss

Setsu Iguchi Decision (majority) Shooto: Back To Our Roots 5

Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Loss

Tetsu Suzuki Decision (unanimous) Shooto: Rookie Tournament Final

Shinjuku Face Tokyo, Japan Loss

Masahiro Oishi Technical Submission (armbar) Shooto 2005: 7/30 in Korakuen Hall

Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Loss

Kenji Osawa Decision (majority) Shooto: 5/4 in Korakuen Hall

Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Loss

Marcos Galvao Decision (unanimous) Shooto: 9/26 in Kourakuen Hall

Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Loss

Kentaro Imaizumi Decision (unanimous) Shooto 2004: 5/3 in Korakuen Hall

Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Win

Tomoyuki Tachi TKO (punches) Kingdom Ehrgeiz: Tokyo University Flight

Excitement Space Z-Zone Tokyo, Japan Win

Alfonso Alcarez Submission (kneebar) Shooto: Treasure Hunt 6

Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Win

Takeyasu Hirono Decision (unanimous) Shooto: To The Top 8

Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Win

Hiroaki Yoshioka Decision (unanimous) Shooto: To The Top 3

Kitazawa Town Hall Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan Loss

Mamoru Yamaguchi Decision (unanimous) Shooto: R.E.A.D. Final

Tokyo Bay NK Hall Urayasu, Chiba, Japan Win

Greg Piper Submission (armbar) Shooto: R.E.A.D. 4

Kitazawa Town Hall Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan Win

Yoshinobu Ota Decision (unanimous) Shooto: Gateway to the Extremes

Kitazawa Town Hall Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan Loss

Mamoru Yamaguchi Decision (majority) Shooto: Renaxis 4

Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Draw

Takeyasu Hirono Draw Shooto: Gig '99

Kitazawa Town Hall Tokyo, Japan Win

Masaru Gokita Decision (majority) Shooto: Las Grandes Viajes 5

Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Loss

Hisao Ikeda Decision (unanimous) Shooto: Las Grandes Viajes 1

Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Loss

Kimihito Nonaka Decision (majority) Shooto: Reconquista 3

Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Win

Hisao Ikeda Decision (majority) Shooto: Reconquista 1

Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Loss

Mitsuhiro Sakamoto Decision (majority) Shooto: Let's Get Lost

Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Draw

Mitsuhiro Sakamoto Draw Shooto: Vale Tudo Junction 3

Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Win

Yoshinori Haraigawa Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) Shooto: Vale Tudo Junction 2

Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Win

Masataka Kawakami Submission (rear naked choke) Shooto: Yokohama Free Fight

Japan Win

Kazuyoshi Kudo Submission (rear naked choke) Shooto: Vale Tudo Access 4

Japan