Kazuo Takahashi

, ring name , is a Japanese retired mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 1993 until 2013 (and then once again in 2018), he competed for the UFC, PRIDE Fighting Championships, Pancrase, RINGS, K-1 HERO'S, and World Victory Road. He is the former King of Pancrase Heavyweight Champion.

Early life and education Takahashi excelled in wrestling, becoming a state champion in Japan, and also trained in karate. He graduated from Yachiyo Shoin High School and Nihon University. He started in Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi in 1992 but joined Pancrase the following year.

Pancrase Takahashi debuted in mixed martial arts in Pancrase against legally blind yet decorated Wrestler George Weingeroff. The Japanese capitalized on his opponent's inability to see his strikes, and knocked him out with a roundhouse kick. However, it was in his second professional fight in which he gained popularity, becoming known for his incredible toughness and desire to win. Fighting Ken Shamrock, Takahashi suffered a broken jaw from a palm strike and knee and ankle damage from a heel hook, but refused to give up. Takahashi was limping badly for the rest of the bout but continued to fight. Eventually, he got caught in a very tight heel hook and could not escape and was forced to tap. Takahashi had to be carried out of the ring after the fight.

In another memorable showing of heart, Takahashi got caught in a heel hook against Bas Rutten which inevitably broke his shin bone in half. Unwilling to stop the match, Takahashi stood up and continued to fight until, upon kicking Rutten with his broken leg, his shin bone completely snapped in half. His shin didn't bend thanks to the kneeboot he was wearing, but the injury was too much and he finally accepted the match was stopped. It would be a year and a half until Takahashi fought again.

Ultimate Fighting Championship In 1997, Takahashi had his debut for Ultimate Fighting Championship at the UFC 12 event, where he was pitted against Jiu-Jitsu specialist Wallid Ismail. The fight would become infamous for its irregularities and disregard for the rules, as Takahashi seemed to be uninformed of the event's ruleset while Ismail intentionally ignored it.

Wallid tried to take Kazuo down several times, only for the Japanese to keep balance every time by illegally grabbing the fence despite the referee's continuous warnings. Minutes into the match, Yoshiki knocked down Wallid with a right hook that seemed to end the fight, but the Japanese fighter stood waiting instead of following up, believing his opponent would receive a 10 count like in Pancrase.

Championships and Accomplishments Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling Pancrase Heavyweight Championship (One time; first) One successful title defense 2000 Pancrase Heavyweight Championship Tournament Winner Ultimate Fighting Championship UFC 12 Lightweight Tournament Finalist

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Duško Todorović TKO (punches) RINGS The Outsider 51: 10th Anniversary Road to Las Vegas

Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan Loss

Ryo Kawamura TKO (punches) Pancrase 252: 20th Anniversary

Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan Middleweight debut. Win

Kenichi Yamamoto KO (knee) U-Spirits: U-Spirits Again

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Yuji Sakuragi KO (punch) Pancrase: Progress Tour 9

Tokyo, Japan Win

Chang Seob Lee Submission (scarf hold armlock) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku Raiden Championships 15

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Antony Rea TKO (punches) Fury 1: Clash of the Titans

Cotai, Macau Loss

Valentijn Overeem KO (flying knee) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 4

Saitama, Japan Heavyweight bout. Loss

Fábio Silva KO (knee) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 3

Saitama, Japan Loss

Mark Burch KO (knee) BodogFIGHT: Alvarez vs Lee

Trenton, New Jersey, United States Loss

Melvin Manhoef TKO (punches) HERO'S 8

Nagoya, Japan NC

Mark Burch No Contest (Accidental Eye Gouge) BodogFIGHT: Costa Rica

Costa Rica Loss

Vitor Belfort KO (punch) PRIDE FC: Critical Countdown Absolute

Saitama, Japan Return to Light Heavyweight. Win

Kestutis Arbocius Decision (majority) Pancrase: Spiral 8

Yokohama, Japan Win

Yuji Sakuragi Submission (armlock) Pancrase: Spiral 5

Yokohama, Japan Loss

Igor Vovchanchyn KO (punch) PRIDE 29: Fists of Fire

Saitama, Japan Light Heavyweight bout. Loss

Heath Herring TKO (punches) PRIDE Total Elimination 2004

Saitama, Japan 2004 PRIDE Heavyweight Grand Prix First Round Loss

Josh Barnett Submission (triangle/armbar) NJPW Ultimate Crush II

Tokyo, Japan For the Pancrase Openweight Championship. Win

Tsuyoshi Ozawa TKO (doctor stoppage) Pancrase: 2003 Neo-Blood Tournament Opening Round

Tokyo, Japan Defended the Pancrase Heavyweight Championship.. Win

Hideki Tadao Decision (majority) Pancrase: Spirit 6

Umeda Stella Hall Win

Katsuhisa Fujii TKO (punches) Pancrase: Proof 7

Yokohama, Japan Won the inaugural Pancrase Heavyweight Championship. Win

Marcelo Tigre DQ (eye gouging) Pancrase: 2001 Anniversary Show

Kanagawa, Japan Win

Hiroya Takada Submission (guillotine choke) Pancrase: 2001 Anniversary Show

Kanagawa, Japan Win

Katsuomi Inagaki Technical Submission (arm triangle choke) Pancrase: Proof 5

Osaka, Japan Win

David Frendin TKO (punches) Pancrase: Proof 4

Tokyo, Japan Win

Mitsuyoshi Sato Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Proof 1

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Sanae Kikuta Submission (arm triangle choke) Pancrase: Trans 7

Tokyo, Japan Win

Masutatsu Yano Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: 2000 Neo-Blood Tournament Second Round

Osaka, Japan Loss

Semmy Schilt TKO (strikes) Pancrase: Trans 3

Yokohama, Japan For the Pancrase Openweight Championship. Win

John Cronk Submission (elbows and headbutts) Pancrase: Breakthrough 11

Yokohama, Japan Win

Osami Shibuya Submission (guillotine choke) Pancrase: 1999 Anniversary Show

Tokyo, Japan Draw

John Lober Draw Pancrase: Breakthrough 6

Tokyo, Japan Win

Omar Bouiche Submission (armbar) Pancrase: Breakthrough 4

Yokohama, Japan Win

Minoru Suzuki TKO (lost points) Pancrase: 1998 Anniversary Show

Japan Draw

Katsuomi Inagaki Draw Pancrase: Advance 8

Kobe, Japan Loss

Semmy Schilt TKO Pancrase: Advance 6

Tokyo, Japan Win

Leon Dijk Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Advance 4

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Osami Shibuya Submission Pancrase: Advance 2

Yokohama, Japan Loss

Yuki Kondo Submission (arm triangle choke) Pancrase: Alive 10

Kobe, Japan Win

Kim Jong Wang KO (knees) Pancrase: Alive 9

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Jason Godsey Submission (rear naked choke) Pancrase: 1997 Anniversary Show

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Jason DeLucia Submission (armbar) Pancrase: Alive 5

Kobe, Japan Win

Satoshi Hasegawa TKO Pancrase: Alive 4

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Semmy Schilt TKO Pancrase: Alive 3

Nagoya, Japan Return to Heavyweight. Win

Wallid Ismail Decision UFC 12

Alabama, United States Light Heavyweight debut; UFC 12 Lightweight Tournament Semifinal. Pulled out of the final due to injury. Win

Keiichiro Yamamiya Submission Pancrase: Truth 9

Kobe, Japan Loss

Vernon White KO (kick) Pancrase: 1996 Anniversary Show

Tokyo, Japan Win

Ryushi Yanagisawa Decision (lost points) Pancrase: 1996 Neo-Blood Tournament, Round 1

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Manabu Yamada Draw Pancrase: Truth 6

Fukuoka, Japan Win

Takafumi Ito Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Truth 5

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Vernon White Decision (lost points) Pancrase: Truth 3

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Jason DeLucia KO Pancrase: Truth 2

Kobe, Japan Loss

Ken Shamrock Decision (lost points) Pancrase: Truth 1

Yokohama, Japan Win

Scott Bessac KO Pancrase: Eyes Of Beast 6

Yokohama, Japan Win

Osami Shibuya Submission Pancrase: 1995 Anniversary Show

Japan Loss

Bas Rutten TKO Pancrase: Road To The Championship 1

Tokyo, Japan Win

Andre Van Den Oetelaar Decision (lost points) Pancrase: Pancrash! 3

Osaka, Japan Win

Katsuomi Inagaki Submission (rear naked choke) Pancrase: Pancrash! 1

Yokohama, Japan Loss

Masakatsu Funaki TKO Pancrase: Yes, We Are Hybrid Wrestlers 4

Japan Win

James Mathews Submission Pancrase: Yes, We Are Hybrid Wrestlers 3

Kobe World Commemoration Hall Loss

Ken Shamrock Submission (heel hook) Pancrase: Yes, We Are Hybrid Wrestlers 2

Nagoya, Japan Win

George Weingeroff KO (high kick) Pancrase: Yes, We Are Hybrid Wrestlers 1

Tokyo, Japan Mixed rules Win

Superman Sattasaba Submission (scarf hold) PWFG Stack of Arms

Tokyo, Japan