Makoto Takahashi

, also known as , is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist who competes in the flyweight division of Rizin, where he is the Rizin Flyweight Champion. A professional since 2016, he has also competed in Bellator MMA, Pancrase, Deep, where he is a former Deep Flyweight Champion, and the Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC), where he is a former Cage Fury Flyweight Champion.

Mixed martial arts career Deep After graduating, Takahashi turned professional and made his mixed martial arts debut at Pancrase 277 on April 24, 2016, winning by unanimous decision. He then rose to prominence with a seven-bout undefeated streak.

On April 28, 2018, Takahashi faced defending champion Ryuko Wada in a DEEP flyweight title match at DEEP 83 IMPACT. He lost his first bout by unanimous decision.

On June 29, 2019, Takahashi faced Yuya Shibata for the DEEP interim flyweight championship match. He won the bout by unanimous decision to win the interim title and become the youngest champion in DEEP history at the age of 18.

Deep and Rizin Making his Bellator and Rizin debut, Takahashi faced Yusaku Nakamura December 29, 2019, at Bellator 237. He won the bout by unanimous decision.

Takahashi fought Seiichiro Ito on August 10, 2020, at Rizin 23, which was his first appearance in the RIZIN main tournament. After a fierce match, he won the bout by guillotine choke in the 2nd round.

Takahashi faced interim champion Yamato Fujita on May 8, 2022, at DEEP 107 IMPACT's DEEP flyweight championship unification match. He won the bout with a ninja choke in the third round, successfully defending the title for the first time and unifying the title.

Takahashi faced Hideo Tokoro at Rizin 37 - Saitama on July 31, 2022. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Takahashi faced Diego Paiva for the Cage Fury Flyweight Championship on November 10, 2022, at CFFC 114. He won the bout with a ninja choke in the 4th round, and succeeded in winning the CFFC championship. The finish of this fight was named Submission of the Year among all fights broadcast on UFC Fight Pass at the 2022 UFC Fight Pass Awards.

Takahashi faced Daichi Kitakata on April 1, 2023, at Rizin 41 – Osaka. He won the bout in the second round by arm-triangle choke.

Takahashi competed for the inaugural Bellator Flyweight World Championship at Bellator MMA x Rizin 2 on July 30, 2023, in Saitama, Japan where he faced Kyoji Horiguchi. The bout was declared a no contest after Horiguchi accidentally poked Takahashi in the eye which prevented him from continuing.

Takahashi rematched against Horiguchi, at Rizin 45, on December 31, 2023, this time for the inaugural Rizin Flyweight Championship. He lost the bout via submission in the second round.

Takahashi faced Lee Jung-hyun at Rizin 46 on April 29, 2024, submitting him via arm-triangle choke at the end of the first round.

Takahashi faced Hiromasa Ougikubo on July 28, 2024 at Super Rizin 3, and lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Takahashi faced Kenta on November 4, 2024, at DEEP 122 Impact. He won the bout by split decision.

Takahashi faced Jose Torres on December 31, 2024, at Rizin 49. He lost the bout by split decision.

Takahashi faced Yuki Ito on May 4, 2025, at Rizin: Otoko Matsuri. He won the bout by unanimous decision.

Takahashi faced Erson Yamamoto in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Rizin Flyweight Grand Prix, which were held at Super Rizin 4 on July 27, 2025. He won the fight by submission in the first round.

Takahashi faced Yuki Motoya in the tournament semifinals, held at Rizin 51 on September 28, 2025. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Takahashi faced Hiroya Kondo at Rizin: Shiwasu no Cho Tsuwamono Matsuri on December 31, 2025. He won the bout by unanimous decision.

Rizin Flyweight Champion Takahashi faced Hiromasa Ougikubo for the Rizin Flyweight Championship on June 6, 2026, at Rizin Landmark 14. He won the title by unanimous decision.

Championships and accomplishments Cage Fury Fighting Championships Cage Fury Flyweight Championship (One time) DEEP DEEP Flyweight Championship (One time) Rizin Fighting Federation Rizin Flyweight Championship (One time, current) Cageside Press 2022 Asian Prospect of the Year

Mixed martial arts record Win

Hiromasa Ougikubo Decision (unanimous) Rizin Landmark 14

Sendai, Japan Win

Nkazimulo Zulu Submission (kimura) Rizin Landmark 13

Fukuoka, Japan Win

Hiroya Kondo Decision (unanimous) Rizin: Shiwasu no Cho Tsuwamono Matsuri

Saitama, Japan Loss

Yuki Motoya Decision (unanimous) Rizin 51

Nagoya, Japan Win

Erson Yamamoto Submission (guillotine choke) Super Rizin 4

Saitama, Japan Win

Yuki Ito Decision (unanimous) Rizin: Otoko Matsuri

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Jose Torres Decision (split) Rizin 49

Saitama, Japan Win

Kenta Hayashi Decision (split) DEEP 122 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Hiromasa Ougikubo Decision (unanimous) Super Rizin 3

Saitama, Japan Win

Lee Jung-hyun Submission (arm-triangle choke) Rizin 46

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Kyoji Horiguchi Submission (rear-naked choke) Rizin 45

Saitama, Japan NC

Kyoji Horiguchi NC (accidental eye poke) Bellator MMA x Rizin 2

Saitama, Japan Win

Daichi Kitakata Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) Rizin 41

Osaka, Japan Win

Diego Paiva Submission (guillotine choke) Cage Fury FC 14

Tampa, Florida, United States Win

Hideo Tokoro Decision (unanimous) Rizin 37

Saitama, Japan Win

Yamato Fujita Submission (ninja choke) DEEP 107 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Ryuya Fukuda Decision (unanimous) DEEP 104 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Seiichiro Ito Submission (flying guillotine choke) Rizin 23

Yokohama, Japan Win

Yusaku Nakamura Decision (unanimous) Bellator 237

Saitama, Japan Win

Yuya Shibata Decision (unanimous) DEEP 90 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Chikara Shimabukuro Decision (unanimous) DEEP 88 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Haruki Nakayama Decision (unanimous) DEEP 86 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Tatsumitsu Wada Decision (unanimous) DEEP 83 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Kota Ishibashi Decision (split) DEEP 82 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Hiroki Yamashita Decision (unanimous) Pancrase vs. DEEP: Osaka

Amagasaki, Japan Win

Yuto Nakamori Decision (majority) DEEP 79 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Yasutaka Ishigami Draw (majority) DEEP Cage Impact 2017

Tokyo, Japan Win

Takuya Maruoka Decision (unanimous) DEEP Cage Impact 2016: DEEP vs. WSOF-GC

Tokyo, Japan Win

Hidemasa Soga Decision (unanimous) DEEP 77 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Shinichi Maeno Decision (unanimous) Pancrase 277

Tokyo, Japan