Kazuo Misaki

Kazuo Misaki (, born April 25, 1976) is a retired Japanese professional mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 2001 until 2013, he was the 2006 PRIDE Welterweight (183 lbs) Grand Prix Champion, and also competed in Sengoku, Pancrase, DEEP, and Strikeforce. His 2010 bout with Jorge Santiago for the Sengoku Middleweight Championship was InsideMMA's "Fight of the Year."

Mixed martial arts career Early career Misaki started training judo in middle school. He later added kickboxing training in the Katori Dojo, and was finally introduced to mixed martial arts by Sanae Kikuta as part of his Grabaka team.

PRIDE En route to the 2006 PRIDE Welterweight Grand Prix finals he defeated Phil Baroni and Dan Henderson in a non-title bout. Misaki was eliminated in the semifinals by Paulo Filho, but Filho injured his knee during the contest and was unable to continue to the finals. Misaki was named as his replacement and defeated Denis Kang by split decision.

His last fight in PRIDE was a unanimous decision loss to Frank Trigg at PRIDE 33 on February 24, 2007.

Post-PRIDE At the Yarennoka event on New Year's Eve 2007, he fought Yoshihiro Akiyama. The original result of the match was a knockout victory for Misaki, but Akiyama protested the finish. The knockout kick came as Akiyama attempted to get back to his feet after being knocked down by Misaki. and won by guillotine choke at 2:02 of the second round.

His next fight was at Sengoku 3 on June 8, 2008, where he beat Logan Clark by unanimous decision.

He then signed with Strikeforce in 2008, where he was scheduled to fight Joe Riggs but was forced to pull out due to injury.

Misaki then faced off against MWGP winner Jorge Santiago to determine WVR's first MW champion. Misaki was utilizing striking to keep Santiago at a distance, countering his kicks and punches. Misaki was dominating the fight until he got taken down and submitted in the final round.

On November 8, 2009 Misaki announced he was leaving his long-time gym GRABAKA.

Misaki recently lost to K-1 fighter Melvin Manhoef via a controversial stoppage at Dynamite!! 2009. Misaki was dropped by a punch from Manhoef and the referee stopped the fight before Manhoef could follow him to the ground.

Strikeforce In his Welterweight debut, Misaki faced Paul Daley at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. He won the fight via split decision.

Retirement After beating Paul Daley, Misaki retired from MMA competition.

Personal life Legal troubles On March 19, 2009, Misaki was pulled over by a police officer for talking on his cellphone while driving, when pulling over Misaki attempted to flee the scene, knocking into the arresting officers' car. On June 26, the Tokyo District Court sentenced him to one year of prison, which has been suspended for three years.

Misaki fought and beat Kazuhiro Nakamura at Sengoku 9, however he did not receive pay, and went on immediate indefinite suspension after the fight.

Championships and accomplishments PRIDE Fighting Championships 2006 PRIDE Welterweight Grand Prix Champion Sherdog 2010 Fight of the Year vs. Jorge Santiago Inside MMA 2010 Bazzie Award for Fight of the Year vs. Jorge Santiago Bleacher Report 2010 Fight of the Year

Mixed martial arts record Win

Paul Daley Decision (split) Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey

Columbus, Ohio, United States Welterweight debut. Win

Akira Shoji TKO (punches) DEEP: 53 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Mike Seal TKO (punches) World Victory Road Presents: Soul of Fight

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Jorge Santiago TKO (corner stoppage) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku Raiden Championships 14

Tokyo, Japan For the Sengoku Middleweight Championship; Fight of the Year. Loss

Melvin Manhoef TKO (punches) Dynamite!! 2009

Saitama, Japan Win

Kazuhiro Nakamura Technical Submission (guillotine choke) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 9

Saitama, Japan Loss

Jorge Santiago Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku no Ran 2009

Saitama, Japan For the Sengoku Middleweight Championship. Win

Joe Riggs TKO (punches) Strikeforce: At The Mansion II

Beverly Hills, California, United States Win

Logan Clark Decision (unanimous) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 3

Saitama, Japan Win

Siyar Bahadurzada Submission (guillotine choke) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku First Battle

Tokyo, Japan NC

Yoshihiro Akiyama No Contest Yarennoka

Saitama, Japan Originally knockout win; Akiyama was hit with illegal soccer kick. Loss

Frank Trigg Decision (unanimous) PRIDE 33

Nevada, United States Win

Denis Kang Decision (split) PRIDE Bushido 13

Yokohama, Japan Won PRIDE 2006 Welterweight Grand Prix; replaced Filho. Loss

Paulo Filho Submission (armbar) PRIDE Bushido 13

Yokohama, Japan PRIDE 2006 Welterweight Grand Prix Semifinal. Win

Dan Henderson Decision (unanimous) PRIDE Bushido 12

Nagoya, Japan PRIDE 2006 Welterweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal. Win

Phil Baroni Decision (unanimous) PRIDE Bushido 11

Saitama, Japan PRIDE 2006 Welterweight Grand Prix Opening Round. Loss

Dan Henderson Decision (unanimous) PRIDE Bushido 10

Tokyo, Japan Win

Akira Shoji Technical Submission (guillotine choke) DEEP: 23 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Daniel Acacio Decision (Unanimous) PRIDE Bushido 8

Nagoya, Japan Win

Flavio Luiz Moura Submission (north-south choke) Pancrase: Spiral 2

Yokohama, Japan Loss

Nate Marquardt Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Brave 10

Tokyo, Japan For the vacant Pancrase Middleweight Championship. Win

Ed Herman Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) Pancrase: 2004 Neo-Blood Tournament Final

Tokyo, Japan Win

Jorge Patino Decision (unanimous) PRIDE Bushido 3

Yokohama, Japan Win

Kiuma Kunioku TKO (doctor stoppage) Pancrase: Brave 1

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Jake Shields Draw Pancrase: Hybrid 10

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Ricardo Almeida Decision (majority) Pancrase: 10th Anniversary Show

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yuji Hisamatsu Submission (rear-naked choke) Pancrase: Hybrid 5

Yokohama, Japan Draw

Yuji Hisamatsu Draw Pancrase: Hybrid 3

Tokyo, Japan Win

Joe D'Arce TKO (punches) Pancrase: Hybrid 1

Tokyo, Japan Win

Masaya Kojima Submission (armbar) Pancrase: Spirit 8

Yokohama, Japan Win

Kousei Kubota Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: 2002 Anniversary Show

Yokohama, Japan Loss

Nate Marquardt TKO (broken arm) Pancrase: Spirit 3

Tokyo, Japan Win

Ryuki Ueyama Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Spirit 2

Umeda Stella Hall Loss

Chris Lytle Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Proof 7

Yokohama, Japan Win

Takaku Fuke KO (punches) Pancrase: Proof 6

Tokyo, Japan Win

Hiroki Nagaoka Submission (guillotine choke) Pancrase: 2001 Neo-Blood Tournament Second Round

Tokyo, Japan Win

Seiki Ryo Decision (split) Pancrase: 2001 Neo-Blood Tournament Second Round

Tokyo, Japan Win

Hikaru Sato Submission (rear naked choke) Pancrase: 2001 Neo-Blood Tournament Opening Round

Tokyo, Japan Middleweight debut. Win

Kenichi Serizawa Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: 2001 Neo-Blood Tournament Eliminations

Osaka, Japan