Kazuhiro Nakamura

Kazuhiro Nakamura ( , born July 16, 1979) is a Japanese retired mixed martial artist who competed as a middleweight in DREAM, and is a former DEEP middleweight champion. He fought out of the Yoshida Dojo and also competed in the Pride Fighting Championships, the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the Sengoku Raiden Championship. His primary style was judo, in which he holds a third dan black belt under Hidehiko Yoshida.

Career Starting judo at 10 years old, Nakamura went to train under Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki and enter the Fukuyama University team. He became a professional judoka under the sponsorship of Keiyo Gas and competed at national and international level, placing third at the Japanese championships at 100+. His career in judo lasted until 2002, when he met Hidehiko Yoshida and became a member of his Yoshida Dojo.

PRIDE Fighting Championships Nakamura made his MMA debut at PRIDE 25 against Antônio Rogério Nogueira, losing by submission in the second round. He has also lost to Nogueira in a rematch at PRIDE Bushido 4. His career in PRIDE was notable for fighting many of PRIDE's top fighters, including Wanderlei Silva, Maurício Rua, Dan Henderson, and Josh Barnett. His final fight in PRIDE was a decision loss to Maurício Rua at PRIDE Shockwave 2006. He was known for his flashy entrances, often coming to the ring wearing sunglasses and accompanied by penguin mascots. Kazuhiro would protest the results, but it was not revoked.

Nakamura was defeated by Ken Hasegawa via majority decision on March 22, 2014, at DEEP: 65 Impact.

On July 21, 2014, Nakamura faced Seigo Mizuguchi at DEEP: Cage Impact 2014 and won via second round corner stoppage.

Nakamura faced Yoshiyuki Nakanishi on December 21, 2014, in DEEP. He lost the fight by unanimous decision and retired from MMA competition after the fight.

Professional wrestling On February 22, 2014, Nakamura made a one-off professional wrestling appearance for the Wrestle-1 promotion, teaming with Masakatsu Funaki, Manabu Soya and Seiya Sanada in an eight-man tag team match, where they defeated Desperado (Masayuki Kono, Kazma Sakamoto, René Duprée and Ryouji Sai).

Championships and accomplishments DEEP DEEP Middleweight Championship (1 time) Sengoku 2008 Sengoku Middleweight Gran Prix Runner Up PRIDE FC 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix Quarterfinalist

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Yoshiyuki Nakanishi Decision (unanimous) Deep: 70 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss DEEP Middleweight Championship. Win

Seigo Mizuguchi TKO (corner stoppage) Deep: Cage Impact 2014

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Ken Hasegawa Decision (majority) Deep: 65 Impact

Tokyo, Japan For the DEEP Megaton Championship. Win

Yuji Sakuragi Submission (arm-triangle choke) Deep: Cage Impact 2013

Tokyo, Japan Win

Henry Miller KO (punch) Deep: 63 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Daijiro Matsui KO (knee and punches) Deep: King Kaz Fight in Fukuyama

Hiroshima, Japan Win

Young Choi Decision (unanimous) Deep: 61 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Won vacant DEEP Middleweight Championship. Win

Ryuta Sakurai Decision (majority) Deep: 60 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Gerald Harris Decision (split) Dream 17

Saitama, Japan Win

Karl Amoussou Decision (unanimous) Dream 15

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Win

Hidehiko Yoshida Decision (unanimous) Astra: Yoshida's Farewell

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Kazuo Misaki Technical Submission (guillotine choke) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 9

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Loss

Jorge Santiago TKO (punches) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 6

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Sengoku Middleweight Grandprix 2008 Final Round. Win

Yuki Sasaki Decision (unanimous) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 6

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Sengoku Middleweight Grandprix 2008 Semifinal Round. Win

Paul Cahoon Decision (unanimous) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 5

Tokyo, Japan Sengoku Middleweight Grandprix 2008 Opening Round. Drops to Middleweight. Loss

Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou TKO (leg injury) UFC 84

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Lyoto Machida Decision (unanimous) UFC 76

Anaheim, California, United States Loss

Maurício Rua Decision (unanimous) Pride FC - Shockwave 2006

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Win

Travis Galbraith TKO (knee and punches) Pride 32 - The Real Deal

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Yoshihiro Nakao Decision (unanimous) Pride FC - Final Conflict Absolute

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Win

Evangelista Santos Submission (americana) Pride FC - Critical Countdown Absolute

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Loss

Josh Barnett Submission (rear-naked choke) Pride 31 - Dreamers

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Heavyweight bout. Win

Yuki Kondo Decision (unanimous) PRIDE Shockwave 2005

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Win

Igor Vovchanchyn Decision (unanimous) PRIDE Final Conflict 2005

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Loss

Wanderlei Silva TKO (punches) PRIDE Critical Countdown 2005

Saitama, Saitama, Japan PRIDE 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal. Win

Kevin Randleman Decision (unanimous) PRIDE Total Elimination 2005

Osaka, Japan PRIDE 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix Opening Round. Win

Stefan Leko TKO (punches) PRIDE 29

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Loss

Dan Henderson TKO (shoulder injury) PRIDE 28

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Win

Murilo Bustamante Decision (unanimous) PRIDE Final Conflict 2004

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Loss

Antônio Rogério Nogueira Decision (split) PRIDE Bushido 4

Nagoya, Japan Win

Chalid Arrab Submission (armbar) PRIDE Bushido 3

Yokohama, Japan Win

Dos Caras Jr. Decision (unanimous) PRIDE 27

Osaka, Japan Win

Daniel Gracie Decision (unanimous) PRIDE Bushido 1

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Loss

Antônio Rogério Nogueira Submission (armbar) PRIDE 25

Yokohama, Japan