Mamoru Yamaguchi

Mamoru Yamaguchi (born May 29, 1977) is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competes in Pancrase. He is the former Shooto Bantamweight (123 lb) Champion, former Shooto Featherweight (132 lb) Champion, former Pancrase Flyweight Champion, as well as a former King of the Cage Junior Flyweight Champion. Mamoru is known for his counter striking and his trilogy with the former Shooto Bantamweight Champion Shinichi Kojima.

He has been consistently ranked as one of the top flyweight in the world by Sherdog's Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings. He is considered, by Fight Matrix, to be the third best flyweight in the history of mixed martial arts.

His afro is a tribute to Japanese boxing legend, Yoko Gushiken.

Martial arts career Yamaguchi made his professional debut in 1999 during Shooto - Renaxis 2, against Shuichiro Katsumura.

After making his debut, Yamaguchi went on a five fight unbeaten streak. He earned a decision win over Jin Akimoto, a submission win over Ryan Diaz, a TKO win over Baret Yoshida, a draw against Masaru Gokita and a knee KO win over Yoshinobu Ota. These victories entitled win a fight for the inaugural Shooto Featherweight (132 lb) Championship, in a rematch against Jin Akimoto. Yamaguchi won a unanimous decision.

After defeating Gildo Lima by an armbar, Yamaguchi was to defend his title against Masahiro Oishi. He lost through a triangle armbar.

Yamaguchi would drop down to bantamweight and accumulate a 2-1 record. He was given a chance to win the inaugural Shooto Bantamweight (123 lb) Championship, when he faced Yasuhiro Urushitani. He won a unanimous decision, winning a Shooto title in two different weight classes. This was the first fight where he wore his iconic afro.

He beat Hiroaki Yoshioka in a rematch with a knee to the body, and defended his bantamweight title in a rematch against Robson Moura. He went on a four fight winning streak, most notably beating Junji Ikoma, before defending the bantamweight title for the second time against Shinichi Kojima. This would be the beginning of their rivalry.

Afterwards he TKO'd Setsu Iguchi and Erikas Suslovas, before rematching Shinichi Kojima. He lost in by way of rear naked choke in the first round. Achieving three wins in his next four fights, he fought Shinichi Kojima for the third time. He lost by way of guillotine choke.

Moving to King of the Cage he won the junior flyweight title by defeating Frank Baca with a rear naked choke. He fought Greg Guzman next, but the fight wasn't a title defense, as his opponent missed weight.

Returning to Japan, he fought mainly in Vale Tudo Japan. He won three fights, most notably against Yosuke Saruta, lost four and drew twice. He found greater success in Pancrase winning three of his next four fights. Interestingly, all four fights were split decisions. He was then scheduled to fight Ryuichi Miki during Pancrase: 285. He won through a split decision, winning his fourth major career title.

He lost the title after dropping a unanimous decision to Senzo Ikeda. He fought once in 2018, losing by way of TKO to Yuya Wakamatsu, and once in 2019, losing a unanimous decision to Toru Ogawa.

Championships and Accomplishments Shooto Shooto Bantamweight (123 lb) Championship (One time) Two successful title defenses Shooto Featherweight (132 lb) Championship (One time) King of the Cage King of the Cage Junior Flyweight Championship (One time) Pancrase Pancrase Flyweight Championship (One time) Fight Matrix 1999 Rookie of the Year

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Toru Ogawa Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: 305

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Yuya Wakamatsu TKO (punches) Pancrase: 297

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Senzo Ikeda Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: 289

Tokyo, Japan Win

Ryuichi Miki Decision (split) Pancrase: 285

Tokyo, Japan Win

Luis Nogueira Decision (split) Pancrase: 281

Tokyo, Japan Win

Senzo Ikeda Decision (split) Pancrase: 277

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Yuki Yasunaga Decision (split) Pancrase: 273

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yusuke Kitago Decision (split) Pancrase: 269

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Kosuke Suzuki Draw (split) Shooto: Mobstyles 15th Anniversary Tour Fight & Mosh

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yosuke Saruta TKO (doctor stoppage) Vale Tudo Japan: VTJ 6th

Ota, Tokyo, Japan Loss

Czar Sklavos Submission (rear-naked choke) Vale Tudo Japan: VTJ 4th

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Yoshiro Maeda Draw (majority) Deep: Tribe Tokyo Fight

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Mikihito Yamagami Decision (majority) Vale Tudo Japan: VTJ 2nd

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Darrell Montague Decision (split) Vale Tudo Japan: VTJ 1st

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Jussier da Silva Decision (unanimous) Tachi Palace Fights 10

Lemoore, California, United States Win

Kevin Dunsmoor KO (punch) TPF 9: The Contenders

Lemoore, California, United States Win

Fumihiro Kitahara KO (head kick) Shooto: The Way of Shooto 6: Like a Tiger, Like a Dragon

Tokyo, Japan Win

Greg Guzman TKO (elbows) KOTC: Sniper

San Bernardino, California, United States Win

Frank Baca Submission (rear-naked choke) KOTC: Toryumon

Okinawa, Japan Win

Kiyotaka Shimizu Decision (majority) Shooto: Revolutionary Exchanges 3

Tokyo, Japan Win

Jesse Taitano TKO (punches) Vale Tudo Japan 2009

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Shinichi Kojima Submission (guillotine choke) Shooto: Shooto Tradition 2

Tokyo, Japan Win

Masaaki Sugawara Decision (unanimous) Shooto: Back To Our Roots 8

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yuki Shoujou Decision (unanimous) Shooto: Shooting Disco 4: Born in the Fighting

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Yasuhiro Urushitani Decision (unanimous) Shooto: Back To Our Roots 5

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yusei Shimokawa Decision (unanimous) Shooto: Shooting Disco 1: Saturday Night Hero

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Shinichi Kojima Technical submission (rear naked choke) Shooto: Champion Carnival

Tokyo, Japan Win

Erikas Suslovas TKO (punches) Shooto 2006: 9/8 in Korakuen Hall

Tokyo, Japan Win

Setsu Iguchi TKO (cut) Shooto: The Devilock

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Shinichi Kojima Draw Shooto: 3/24 in Korakuen Hall

Tokyo, Japan Win

Daiji Takahashi Decision (unanimous) Shooto: 12/17 in Shinjuku Face

Tokyo, Japan Win

Pat Seidel Submission (rear naked choke) Shooto: 9/23 in Korakuen Hall

Tokyo, Japan Win

Stonnie Dennis KO (kick) Shooto: 5/4 in Korakuen Hall

Tokyo, Japan Win

Junji Ikoma Decision (unanimous) Shooto: 1/29 in Korakuen Hall

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Robson Moura Draw Shooto: 9/26 in Kourakuen Hall

Tokyo, Japan Win

Hiroaki Yoshioka KO (knee to the body) Shooto 2004: 5/3 in Korakuen Hall

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yasuhiro Urushitani Decision (unanimous) Shooto: Year End Show 2003

Tokyo, Japan Win

Homare Kuboyama Decision (unanimous) Shooto: 3/18 in Korakuen Hall

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Robson Moura Decision (unanimous) Shooto: Treasure Hunt 10

Tokyo, Japan Win

Hiroaki Yoshioka Decision (unanimous) Shooto: Wanna Shooto 2002

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Masahiro Oishi Submission (triangle/armbar) Shooto: To The Top 10

Tokyo, Japan Win

Gildo Lima Submission (armbar) Shooto: To The Top 2

Tokyo, Japan Win

Jin Akimoto Decision (unanimous) Shooto: R.E.A.D. Final

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yoshinobu Ota KO (knee) Shooto: R.E.A.D. 9

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Masaru Gokita Draw Shooto: R.E.A.D. 2

Tokyo, Japan Win

Baret Yoshida TKO (punches) Superbrawl 15

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Win

Ryan Diaz Submission (armbar) Shooto: Gateway to the Extremes

Tokyo, Japan Win

Jin Akimoto Decision (majority) Shooto: Renaxis 4

Tokyo, Japan Win

Shuichiro Katsumura Decision (unanimous) Shooto: Renaxis 2

Tokyo, Japan Kickboxing record