Masakazu Imanari

is a Japanese mixed martial artist and submission wrestler. He currently competes in the Bantamweight division of Rizin Fighting Federation. A professional competitor since 2000, he is a veteran of ONE Championship, DEEP, ZST, Pancrase, PRIDE Fighting Championships, and Cage Rage. He was in the final Cage Rage Featherweight Champion, DEEP Bantamweight Champion, two-time DEEP Featherweight Champion and DREAM Japan Grand Prix Finalist.

Imanari is a successful submission wrestler, placing as runner-up twice at the All-Japan Combat Wrestling Championship.

Mixed martial arts career After a childhood marked by a spinal condition which required surgery three times, Masakazu had his first contact with combat sports at age 18, training kickboxing and catch wrestling at the Fujiwara Dojo by Satoru Sayama's mediation. He later moved to Antonio Inoki's Universal Fighting-Arts Organization, and then Kingdom Ehrgeiz, where he trained shoot fighting (a fighting style based on catch wrestling) and MMA with Hidetada Irie before doing his amateur debut.

ZST Imanari gained popularity during his mixed martial arts career in Japanese promotion ZST fighting the likes of top Lightweights including Dokonjonosuke Mishima, Jorge Gurgel and Marcus Aurélio despite being a much smaller Featherweight. He defeated Gurgel, who is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt former UFC fighter via catch wrestling staple submission (heel hook) while being lighter in weight. Imanari also defeated former Cage Warriors Featherweight Champion Danny Batten. In the first round Batten took Imanari down on the ropes but Imanari attempted a triangle choke. Batten escaped it but Imanari then transitioned to an armbar causing Batten to submit in just over 40 seconds.

DEEP Imanari moved on to compete in DEEP where he defeated a top WEC contender and the former WEC Featherweight Champion Mike Brown via submission (heel hook) where Brown's leg became dislocated. Imanari now a top contender in DEEP went on to compete for the title shot against Yoshiro Maeda in which he defeated Maeda via submission (toe hold) to become the new DEEP Featherweight Champion. Imanari made his first KO victory in his first defense for the belt against Takeshi Yamazaki with an up kick.

Cage Rage His next fight, which was his first fight outside Japan, was in London, England where he became the Cage Rage World Featherweight Champion by defeating Robbie Olivier with a flying armbar at Cage Rage 20. This accomplishment made him the only mixed martial artist in the Featherweight division to hold belts in two separate major promotions (DEEP and Cage Rage). He defended his Cage Rage belt for the first time against Jean Silva, winning by reverse heel hook in the first round, injuring Silva's knee in the process.

DREAM DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix Imanari was a participant in the Dream Featherweight (63 kg / 138 lb) Grand Prix and won his first-round matchup against Atsushi Yamamoto by split decision at DREAM 7 but lost to current DREAM Featherweight Champion Bibiano Fernandes by unanimous decision at DREAM 9.

DREAM Bantamweight Grand Prix In 2011 Imanari returned to DREAM to take part in the DREAM Bantamweight Japan Tournament. He won his first two tournament fights in a single night defeating both Keisuke Fujiwara and Kenji Osawa at Dream: Fight for Japan!. The tournament finals took place at Dream: Japan GP Final where Imanari faced off with Hideo Tokoro. Tokoro defeated Imanari to win the tournament, the second-place finish gained Imanari entrance into the Bantamweight Grand Prix. Imanari faced Abel Cullum in the opening round of the Bantamweight Grand Prix at Dream 17 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, on Sept. 24. He won the bout via submission in the third round. In the semifinal round at Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011, Imanari lost to Antonio Banuelos via split decision.

ONE Fighting Championship On January 31, 2012 it was announced that Imanari would be fighting for ONE Fighting Championship, who have a partnership with DREAM which allows both organizations to share fighters. He faced unbeaten URCC Flyweight Champion Kevin Belingon at ONE Fighting Championship 3 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on March 31. He won the fight via submission in the first round.

After over a year away from the sport, Imanari returned to face Yuta Nezu at Road to ONE 3: Tokyo Fight Night on September 10, 2020. Imanari lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Rizin Fighting Federation Imanari faced Kenta Takizawa in the opening round of the Bantamweight Grand Prix at Rizin 29 on May 30, 2021. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Imanari faced Takeshi Kasugai on October 10, 2021 at Rizin Landmark Vol.1. He won the bout via armbar in the first round.

Imanari faced Chihiro Suzuki at Rizin Landmark 4 on November 6, 2022. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Imanari faced Kazumasa Majima in the co-main event of Rizin Landmark 8 on February 24, 2024. He won the fight by submission in the second round.

Submission wrestling career

Imanari competed at the 6th All Japan Combat Wrestling Championship on March 20, 2000 in Tokyo. He placed second in the 69 kg division behind Kazuya Abe.

He then faced Kenta Iwamoto in the main event of Battle Hazard 8 on November 22, 2020. He lost the match by submission after Iwamoto caught him in an arm-triangle choke.

Imanari competed against Mikey Musumeci in a submission grappling match at ONE 156 on April 22, 2022. Musumeci submitted him with a rear-naked choke at 4:09 that earned a $50,000 'Performance Bonus'.

Imanari challenged Takuma Sudo for the featherweight title at Level-G Pro on June 16, 2024. He lost the match by submission.

Imanari competed against Marcelo Garcia at ONE 170 on January 24, 2025. He lost the match by submission with a north-south choke.

Team allegiances Imanari left catch wrestling-based team Team Roken in 2008 and founded Nippon Top Team with Shinya Aoki and Satoru Kitaoka. However, Aoki left for Evolve MMA of Singapore, whereas Kitaoka joined Lotus Paraestra, Setagaya branch of Paraestra. Consequently, Imanari founded his own team, Imanari Jiu JItsu.

Imanari is an A-level shoot wrestler (better known as catch wrestling in the west) under Yuki Nakai. He was later also presented a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt by Marco Barbosa.

Fighting style Imanari is primarily a grappler, and is universally known for his skill and preference for leglocks, which gained him the nickname of "Ashikan Judan" ("The Great Master of Leg Submissions"). Though his striking game is considered inferior, or by way of ashi garami. He stands out for his dexterity in toehold and heel hook variations, and is an avid user of the 50/50 guard in order to transition between submission attempts.

The "Imanari Roll" (rolling from a stand up position into a leglock) and the "leggy neck choke" (a combination of an omoplata and a rear naked choke) are grappling moves named after him due to his usage of them.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts Cage Rage Cage Rage World Featherweight Championship (One time, only) One successful title defense DEEP DEEP Bantamweight Championship (One time; first) Two successful title defenses DEEP Featherweight Championship (Two times, first) One successful title defense DREAM 2011 Japan Bantamweight Grand Prix runner-up 2011 World Bantamweight Grand Prix semifinalist

Submission wrestling

Japan Combat Wrestling Association 6th All Japan Combat Wrestling Championship (2000) - 69kg, 2nd place 7th All Japan Combat Wrestling Championship (2001) - 76kg, 2nd place

Mixed martial arts record Win

Kazumasa Majima Submission (armbar) Rizin Landmark 8

Saga, Japan Loss

Chihiro Suzuki Decision (unanimous) Rizin Landmark 4

Nagoya, Japan Loss

Takahiro Ashida Decision (unanimous) Deep: 109 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Takeshi Kasugai Submission (armbar) Rizin Landmark 1

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Kenta Takizawa Decision (unanimous) Rizin 29

Osaka, Japan Loss

Yuta Nezu Decision (unanimous) Road to ONE 3: Tokyo Fight Night

Tokyo, Japan Win

Kwon Won-il Submission (heel hook) ONE: Call to Greatness

Kallang, Singapore Win

Radeem Rahman Submission (armbar) ONE: Pursuit of Greatness

Yangon, Myanmar Loss

Kim Dae-hwan Decision (unanimous) ONE: Heroes of Honor

Manila, Philippines Loss

Yusup Saadulaev Decision (unanimous) ONE: Kings of Courage

Jakarta, Indonesia Win

Juri Ohara Submission (leglock) DEEP 78 Impact: Welterweight GP 2nd Round

Tokyo, Japan Win

Tatsunao Nagakura Decision (split) DEEP Cage Impact 2016: DEEP vs. WSOF-GC

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yoshihiko Shinzato Submission (heel hook) DEEP: Cage Impact 2016

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Byeon Jae-eun Decision (Majority) DEEP: 77 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Nam Phan Submission (heel hook) DEEP Cage Impact 2016

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Kazunori Yokota Decision (unanimous) DEEP: 74 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yang Mun-hwan Submission (heel hook) DEEP: Cage Impact 2015

Tokyo, Japan Win

Cristian Binda Submission (armbar) Venator FC: Guerrieri Italiani Finals

Bologna, Italy Win

Daisuke Maku Submission (armbar) DEEP: Hachioji Chojin Matsuri

Tokyo, Japan Win

Kenichi Ito Submission (rear-naked choke) Grandslam MMA 2: Way of the Cage

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Mizuto Hirota TKO (punches) DEEP: 69 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Park Chan-jung Submission (heel hook) DEEP: 68 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Haruo Ochi TKO (doctor stoppage) DEEP: 67 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Yuki Motoya Decision (unanimous) DEEP: 65 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Kenichi Ito Decision (unanimous) DEEP: 61 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Masahiro Oishi Submission (toe hold) DEEP: 59 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Leandro Issa Decision (unanimous) ONE FC: Destiny of Warriors

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Win

Kevin Belingon Submission (reverse heel hook) ONE FC: War of the Lions

Kallang, Singapore Loss

Antonio Banuelos Decision (split) Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011

Tokyo, Japan Win

Abel Cullum Submission (armbar) Dream 17

Saitama, Japan Loss

Hideo Tokoro Decision (unanimous) DREAM: Japan GP Final

Tokyo, Japan Win

Kenji Osawa Submission (heel hook)

Win

Keisuke Fujiwara Decision (unanimous)

Loss

Hiroshi Nakamura Decision (unanimous) DEEP: 52 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Daiki Hata Decision (majority) DEEP: 50 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Tomoya Miyashita Decision (unanimous) DEEP: 49 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Isao Terada Submission (armbar) DEEP: 47 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Justin Cruz Submission (omoplata crossface) DEEP: Cage Impact 2009

Tokyo, Japan Win

Tomohiko Hori Decision (unanimous) DEEP: 43 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Bibiano Fernandes Decision (unanimous) DREAM 9

Saitama, Japan Win

Atsushi Yamamoto Decision (split) DREAM 7

Saitama, Japan Win

Hiroshi Umemura Submission (heel hook) DEEP: 37 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Dokonjonosuke Mishima Decision (majority) DEEP: 35 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Jean Silva Submission (heel hook) Cage Rage 25

London, England Win

Hiroyuki Abe Submission (toe hold) DEEP: 32 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Kim Jong-Man Submission (armbar) DEEP: 31 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Robbie Olivier Submission (armbar) Cage Rage 20

London, England Win

Takeshi Yamazaki KO (upkick) DEEP: 26 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Fredson Paixão Decision (majority) DEEP: 25 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yoshiro Maeda Submission (toe hold)

Win

Mike Brown Submission (rolling kneebar)

Win

Fábio Mello Decision (unanimous) DEEP: 21st Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Joachim Hansen KO (knee) PRIDE Bushido 8

Nagoya, Japan Draw

Yoshiro Maeda Draw (majority) DEEP: 18th Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Renato Tavares Submission (heel hook) DEEP: 17th Impact

Nagoya, Japan Loss

Luiz Firmino Decision (unanimous) PRIDE Bushido 5

Osaka, Japan Loss

Marcus Aurélio Decision (split) Zst: Grand Prix Final Round

Tokyo, Japan Win

Jorge Gurgel Submission (heel hook) Zst: Grand Prix Opening Round

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Dokonjonosuke Mishima TKO (punches) DEEP: 11th Impact

Osaka, Japan Win

Danny Batten Submission (armbar) Zst: The Battlefield 3

Tokyo, Japan Win

Erikas Petraitis Decision (unanimous) Zst: The Battlefield 2

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yuji Oba Decision (majority) Pancrase: 2002 Anniversary Show

Yokohama, Japan Win

Tokusaburo Iwama Submission (heel hook) Premium Challenge

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Ryoji Sai Technical Draw Titan Fighting Championship 1

Tokyo, Japan

Notable Students The following practitioners have been promoted to black belt directly by Masakazu Imanari:

Jonathan Makoto Suzuki is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Masakazu Imanari, awarded in 2021. He is an instructor at Imanari Jiu-Jitsu in Tokyo and has taught grappling classes at multiple gyms.

Kazuko is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and the first female black belt in Imanari Jiu-Jitsu. She was awarded her black belt under Masakazu Imanari in 2023.