Kōji Yoshimoto

is a Japanese retired kickboxer and mixed martial artist. A professional competitor between 2000 and 2016, Yoshimoto held the RISE super lightweight title and was the 2007 Pancrase Neo Blood Featherweight Tournament winner.

Kickboxing career RISE Super lightweight champion Yoshimoto was scheduled to fight Yūsuke Sugawara for the inaugural RISE super lightweight title at RISE 60 on November 22, 2009. He won the fight by unanimous decision, after two extra rounds were contested.

After capturing the inaugural title, Yoshimoto faced Naoki in a non-title bout at RISE 63 on April 7, 2010. He lost the fight by split decision, after an extra round was fought. Yoshimoto next faced TURBΦ in another non-title bout at RISE 68 on July 31, 2010. He won the fight by a late second-round knockout, flooring his opponent with a right cross. Yoshimoto faced Yuto Watanabe in his third consecutive non-title bout at RISE 71 on October 3, 2010. He won the fight by majority decision.

Yoshimoto moved down in weight for his next bout, in order to face Yuki for the inaugural RISE lightweight title at RISE 73R on December 19, 2010. He was stopped with low kicks at the 2:09 minute mark of the second round.

Yoshimito faced Yūsuke Sugawara for the second time in his career in his first RISE super lightweight title defense at RISE 74 on February 27, 2011. The fight was ruled a unanimous decision draw.

After making his first title defense, Yoshimoto faced Shohei Asahara at K-1 WORLD MAX 2011 –63 kg Japan Tournament FINAL on June 25, 2011. He won the fight by unanimous decision, after an extra round was fought. Yoshimoto next faced Hiroshi Mizumachi in a non-title bout at RISE 83 on September 23, 2011. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Yoshimoto faced Lee Sung-hyun in another non-title bout at RISE 85 on November 23, 2011. He once again won by unanimous decision.

Yoshimoto faced Yasuomi Soda in his second RISE title defense at RISE 86 on January 28, 2012. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Yoshimoto next beat Raz Sarkisjan by unanimous decision in a non-title bout at RISE/M-1MC ～INFINITY～ on December 2, 2012, before being booked to rematch Yasuomi Soda in his third RISE title defense at RISE 92 on March 17, 2013. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Later RISE career Yoshimoto faced Xie Lei at K-1 WORLD MAX 2013 Final on October 11, 2014. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. Yoshimoto rebounded from this loss with a decision win against Hanji at K-1 CHINA vs JAPAN on February 1, 2015. Yoshimoto extended his winning streak to two fights with a third-round knockout of Daniel Zahra at RISE 105 on May 31, 2015. This winning streak was snapped by Hiroki Shishido at SHOOT BOXING 30th ANNIVERSARY "CAESAR TIME!" on August 22, 2015, who beat him by a fifth-round technical knockout. Yoshimoto faced Zakaria Zouggary in his retirement fight at RISE 109 on January 31, 2016. He won the fight by a third-round technical knockout.

Titles and accomplishments Kickboxing 2005 IKMF Asia Lightweight Championship RISE 2009 RISE Super Lightweight Championship Awards eFight.jp Fighter of the Month (January 2016)

Mixed martial arts 2007 Pancrase Neo Blood Featherweight Tournament Winner

Mixed martial arts record Win

Fanjin Son Decision (Majority) Cage Force EX Eastern Bound

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Mitsuhisa Sunabe Draw (Majority) Pancrase: Rising 6

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yuichi Miyagi Forfeit PANCRASE 2007 RISING TOUR

Tokyo, Japan Wins Neo Blood Featherweight Tournament Win

Takashi Hasegawa KO (Left Cross) PANCRASE 2007 RISING TOUR

Tokyo, Japan Neo Blood Featherweight Tournament Semi Final Loss

Takashi Hasegawa Disqualification (Low Blow) PANCRASE 2007 RISING TOUR

Tokyo, Japan Neo Blood Featherweight Tournament Semi Final Win

Yasutomo Tanaka Decision (Unanimous) PANCRASE 2007 RISING TOUR

Tokyo, Japan Neo Blood Featherweight Tournament Quarter Final Win

Yuki Yamasawa Decision (Majority) PANCRASE 2006 Special Night

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Yuichiro Shirai Decision PANCRASE 2006 BLOW TOUR

Tokyo, Japan Kickboxing record