Kiichi Kunimoto

is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the welterweight division. A professional competitor since 2006, he has also competed for the RIZIN, UFC, Bellator, and Pancrase.

Background Born and raised in the Nishinari-ku district Osaka, Japan, Kunimoto was a professional skateboarder from the age of 17 until he was 24, when he began training in mixed martial arts.

Mixed martial art career Early career Kunimoto made his professional debut in 2006 for Pancrase, losing via knockout. However, Kunimoto would go on to compile a record of 14-5-2 with one no contest and captured the HEAT Welterweight Championship, subsequently defending his title twice, before being signed by the UFC.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Kunimoto was originally scheduled to make his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 34 on June 4, 2014, against Hyun Gyu Lim, but instead faced Luiz Dutra Jr. as Lim was promoted to appear in the main event. Kunimoto won via disqualification due to Dutra Jr. landing multiple elbows to the back of Kunimoto's head in the first round.

Kunimoto made his next appearance at UFC 174 on June 14, 2014, facing Daniel Sarafian. Kunimoto won via rear-naked choke submission in the first round, and earned "Performance of the Night" honors for his performance.

Kunimoto then faced Richard Walsh on September 20, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 52. He won the fight via split decision.

Kunimoto faced Neil Magny on February 14, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 60. He lost the fight via rear=naked choke submission in the third round.

Kunimoto was expected to face Li Jingliang on September 27, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 75. However, Kunimoto pulled out of the fight in late August citing injury and was replaced by returning veteran Keita Nakamura.

After an extended hiatus, Kunimoto was expected to face Warlley Alves on June 11, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 110. However, Alves pulled out of the fight on May 19 and was replaced by Zak Ottow. He lost the fight via split decision.

RIZIN Fighting Federation Kunimoto made the move and signed with Rizin Fighting Federation. He made his against Satoru Kitaoka on December 29, 2017, at RIZIN World Grand Prix 2017: 2nd Round in a 75kg catchweight bout. Kunimoto won the fight by unanimous decision.

Bellator MMA In April 2019, news surfaced that Kunimoto had signed a contract with Bellator MMA. In his promotional debut, Kunimoto faced Ed Ruth at Bellator 224 on July 12, 2019 and lost the fight via TKO in the second round.

As the sophomore bout of his Bellator tenure, Kunimoto was expected to face Neiman Gracie at Bellator 236 on December 21, 2019. However, Gracie had to withdraw from the bout due to an injury and was replaced by Jason Jackson. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Rizin FF Kunimoto returned to Rizin in order to face Takahiro Kawanaka on November 28, 2021 at Rizin Trigger 1. He won the bout via first-round submission.

Kunimoto then faced Daichi Abe at Rizin 34 – Osaka on March 20, 2022. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

On April 1, 2023 at Rizin 41 – Osaka, Kunimoto lost to Keita Nakamura via second round TKO stoppage after being dropped with a right straight and getting finished with a soccer kick.

Personal life Kunimoto and his fiancée have a daughter (born 2019).

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts Heat HEAT Welterweight Championship (One time; former) Two successful title defenses Ultimate Fighting Championship Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Daniel Sarafian

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Ibuki Shimada Submission (rear-naked choke) DEEP 130 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yoichiro Sato Decision (unanimous) DEEP 127 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Diego Nunes KO (punches) Fire Cage FC 1

Nilai, Malaysia Loss

Keita Nakamura KO (punches and soccer kick) Rizin 41

Osaka, Japan Loss

Daichi Abe Decision (unanimous) Rizin 34

Osaka, Japan Win

Takahiro Kawanaka Submission (arm-triangle choke) Rizin Trigger 1

Kobe, Japan Loss

Jason Jackson Decision (unanimous) Bellator 236

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Loss

Ed Ruth TKO (knee and punches) Bellator 224

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Win

Ryuichiro Sumimura Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) Rizin 12 |

Nagoya, Japan Win

Satoru Kitaoka Decision (unanimous) Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: 2nd Round

Saitama, Japan Loss

Zak Ottow Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Hunt

Auckland, New Zealand Loss

Neil Magny Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch

Broomfield, Colorado, United States Win

Richard Walsh Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson

Saitama, Japan Win

Daniel Sarafian Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 174

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Win

Luiz Dutra Jr. DQ (elbows to back of the head) UFC Fight Night: Saffiedine vs. Lim

Marina Bay, Singapore Win

Edward Faaloloto Submission (armbar) Heat 27

Hyogo, Japan Win

Fumitoshi Ishikawa Submission (arm-triangle choke) Heat 26

Aichi, Japan Win

Lee Gyu-myung Submission (shoulder choke) Heat 25

Tokyo, Japan Win

Son Seong-won Decision (unanimous) Heat: Heat 23

Hyogo, Japan Loss

Takenori Sato Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Progress Tour 3

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yu Shiroi Submission (guillotine choke) Pancrase: Impressive Tour 12

Osaka, Japan Win

Kengo Ura Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Impressive Tour 4

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Seiki Ryo Draw (unanimous) Pancrase: Passion Tour 7

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Tomoyoshi Iwamiya Draw (unanimous) Pancrase: Passion Tour 2

Osaka, Japan Win

Yoshifumi Dogaki TKO (punches) Pancrase: Changing Tour 7

Osaka, Japan Win

Hiroki Tanaka Decision (unanimous) Powergate: Octave

Osaka, Japan Win

Shingo Suzuki Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) Pancrase: Changing Tour 1

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Tomoyoshi Iwamiya Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Shining 9

Tokyo, Japan NC

Hirotaka Yoshioka NC (Yoshioka cut by accident headbutt) Pancrase: Shining 7

Osaka, Japan Win

Yu Shiori Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Shining 4

Osaka, Japan Loss

Sotaro Yamada Submission (rear-naked choke) Pancrase: Shining 1

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yuta Nakamura TKO (punches) Pancrase: Rising 7

Osaka, Japan Win

Mike O'Malley Submission (triangle choke) Freestyle Combat Challenge 30

Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States Win

Tim Ager Submission (armbar) Freestyle Combat Challenge 29

Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States Loss

Masahiro Toryu Decision (majority) Pancrase: Rising 1

Osaka, Japan Win

Arito Kishimoto Decision (majority) Double R: 3rd Stage

Osaka, Japan

Amateur mixed martial arts record Win

Teruyoshi Aoyama Submission (arm-triangle choke) Pancrase: Blow 8

Osaka, Japan Loss

Masahiro Toryu KO (head kick) Pancrase: Blow 2

Osaka, Japan