Kenji Kawaguchi

) is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He competed in the Welterweight division.

Career Vale Tudo Japan After a 10–0–4 career in Shooto, Kawaguchi represented the promotion in the event Vale Tudo Japan in July 1994, where he was pitted against French karateka Jan Lomulder. Kawaguchi charged for a takedown, but Lomulder kept himself standing by grabbing the ring ropes and scored multiple strikes on the back of Kawaguchi's head, both being legal tactics under that ruleset. Kawaguchi eventually took him down, only for Lomulder to answer with rabbit punches that forced the wrestler out of the ring. A controversial moment happened when Kawaguchi tried to return to the ring, as the referee didn't stop the action, meaning Lomulder could freely score soccer kicks and stomps while he did so.

The Shooto wrestler repeated the takedown, but Lomulder grabbed the ropes again and landed multiple elbow strikes to the back of the head, and then followed with and more soccer kicks and stomps. After a restart, Kawaguchi tried to come back with a kneebar, but Lomulder blocked the technique and landed a heavy kick on the face, leading the referee to stop the match.

Kawaguchi returned to Vale Tudo Japan in 1995, where he submitted American fighter Tommy Walkingstick via armbar.

Three years after their first encounter in Vale Tudo Japan, Lomulder and Kawaguchi rematched in the Vale Tudo Japan edition of 1997. This time, the match lasted three rounds, and it saw the Japanese shoot wrestler eventually taking Lomulder down and executing a rear naked choke for the victory.

Kawaguchi's last VTJ appearance was in 1998, when he fought Russian mixed martial artist Vladimir Matyushenko and lost by KO.

Championships and accomplishments Shooto Shooto Light Heavyweight Championship (One time) Four successful title defenses

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Yuki Kondo KO (punch) Pancrase: 271

Tokyo, Japan Open Weight bout. Win

Deividas Petrauskas TKO (punches) Shooto: The Devilock

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Carlos Newton Submission (armbar) Shooto - 10th Anniversary Event

Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan Loss

Vladimir Matyushenko KO (punches) Vale Tudo Japan 1998

Urayasu, Chiba, Japan Win

Ante Jurisic Submission (heel hook) Shooto - Las Grandes Viajes 4

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Masanori Suda Submission (armbar) Shooto - Las Grandes Viajes 2

Tokyo, Japan Win

Jan Lomulder Submission (rear-naked choke) Vale Tudo Japan 1997

Urayasu, Chiba, Japan Loss

Erik Paulson Submission (toe hold) Shooto - Vale Tudo Junction 3

Tokyo, Japan Win

Tommy Walkingstick Submission (armbar) Vale Tudo Japan 1995

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Erik Paulson Technical Submission (armbar) Shooto - Vale Tudo Access 2

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Jan Lomulder TKO (soccer kick) Vale Tudo Japan 1994

Urayasu, Chiba, Japan Win

Yasunori Okuda Submission (guillotine choke) Shooto - Shooto

Tokyo, Japan Win

Tomokazu Fukaya Submission (kneebar) Shooto - Shooto

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Satoshi Honma Draw Shooto - Shooto

Tokyo, Japan Win

Manabu Yamada Submission (kneebar) Shooto - Shooto

Tokyo, Japan Win

Satoshi Honma Decision (unanimous) Shooto - Shooto

Osaka, Japan Draw

Kazuhiro Kusayanagi Draw Shooto - Shooto

Tokyo, Japan Win

Manabu Yamada Submission (kneebar) Shooto - Shooto

Tokyo, Japan Win

Naoki Sakurada Submission (guillotine choke) Shooto - Shooto

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yuji Ito KO (punches) Shooto - Shooto

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Yasuto Sekishima Draw Shooto - Shooto

Tokyo, Japan Win

Naoki Sakurada TKO (punches) Shooto - Shooto

Tokyo, Japan Win

Mitsuo Fujikura Submission (armbar) Shooto - Shooto

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Yuji Ito Draw Shooto - Shooto

Tokyo, Japan Win

Tadashi Yokoyama Submission (kneebar) Shooto - Shooto

Tokyo, Japan