Namiki Kawahara

Namiki Kawahara (, born 17 July 1989) is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competed in the Strawweight division of ONE Championship. He is the former DEEP Strawweight champion.

Mixed martial arts career Early career Kawahara made his professional debut at Pancrase Osaka on July 26, 2015, against Tsukasa Zenji. The fight ended in a draw, as neither fighter achieved a stoppage inside the time limit. He won his next fight against Tatsuki Ozaki, which was likewise contested under the Pancrase banner, by unanimous decision.

He moved briefly to DEEP, where he made his promotional debut against Icho Tomonaga at DEEP Osaka Impact 2016. He won the fight by TKO, after just 16 seconds. He next fought Magisa at DEEP Cage Impact 2016 in Osaka, and won the fight by an armbar in the second round.

Returning to Pancrase, Kawahara suffered his first professional loss to Takuya Goto, by split decision.

He rebounded from this loss with a first-round TKO of Noriyuki Takei at DEEP Osaka Impact. He was then scheduled to fight Yutaro Muramoto at DEEP Cage Impact 2017, whom he beat by a second-round TKO.

His next fight was against Yuya Kodama at DEEP 80. The fight ended in a no-contest, as Kawahara landed an accidental low blow which rendered Kodama unable to continue. His next fight against Yutaro Muramoto, at DEEP 85, ended in a majority draw.

Following this four-fight unbeaten streak, Kawahara was scheduled to fight Haruo Ochi at DEEP 88 for the DEEP Strawweight title. Ochi won the fight by unanimous decision.

After his failed title bid, Kawahara was scheduled to make his RIZIN debut at Rizin 16 - Kobe, when he was scheduled to fight Takaki Soya. Soya won the fight by a first-round TKO.

DEEP title reign Kawahara was scheduled to fight Jun Nakamura in a Pancrase and DEEP cross-promotional event, in a DEEP Strawweight title eliminator. Kawahara won the fight by a first-round TKO. After beating Nakamura, Kawahara was scheduled to once again challenge for the DEEP Strawweight title, in a rematch with Haruo Ochi. He beat Ochi by a second-round submission, locking in a rear-naked choke in the dying seconds of the second round. It was the highest profile victory of Kawahara's career up to that point.

Following his win against Haruo Ochi, and prior to signing with ONE Championship, Fight Matrix ranked him as the second best strawweight in the world.

ONE Championship Kawahara then made his ONE Championship debut at ONE Championship: Unbreakable, being scheduled to fight Lito Adiwang as a late notice replacement for Hexigetu. Adiwang won the fight by a second-round TKO.

Kawahara was booked to face Danial Williams at ONE 156 on April 22, 2022. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Championships and accomplishments Urijah Faber's A-1 Combat Strawweight Champion (One time, current) Cage Warriors Southeast CWSE Strawweight Champion (One time, current) DEEP DEEP Strawweight championship (One time, former)

eFight.jp August 2020 Fighter of the Month

Mixed martial arts record Loss

An Tuan Ho Decision (unanimous) Urijah Faber's A1 Combat 36

Wheatland, California, United States Loss

Phumi Nkuta Decision (unanimous) Urijah Faber's A1 Combat 34

Wheatland, California, United States Loss

Elias Garcia Decision (split) Urijah Faber's A1 Combat 31

Long Beach, California, United States Win

Charlie Falco Decision (unanimous) Cage Warriors Academy South East 36

Colchester, England Loss

Haruo Ochi Submission (guillotine choke) DEEP Tokyo Impact 2024 3rd Round

Tokyo, Japan Win

Anthony Do Decision (unanimous) Urijah Faber's A1 Combat 19

Wheatland, California, United States Loss

Danial Williams Decision (unanimous) ONE 156

Kallang, Singapore Loss

Lito Adiwang KO (punch) ONE: Unbreakable

Kallang, Singapore Win

Haruo Ochi Submission (rear-naked choke) Deep 96 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Jun Nakamura KO (punch) Deep & Pancrase: Osaka Tournament

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Takaki Soya KO (punch) Rizin 16 - Kobe

Kobe, Japan Loss

Haruo Ochi Decision (unanimous) Deep 88 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Yutaro Muramoto Draw (majority) Deep 85 Impact

Tokyo, Japan NC

Yuya Kodama NC (accidental groin kick) Deep 80 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yutaro Muramoto KO (knee and punches) Deep: Cage Impact 2017 in Korakuen Hall

Tokyo, Japan Win

Noriyuki Takei TKO (punches) Deep Osaka Impact 2017

Osaka, Japan Loss

Takuya Goto Decision (split) Pancrase Osaka

Osaka, Japan Win

Magisa Magisa Submission (armbar) Deep: Cage Impact 2016 in Osaka

Osaka, Japan Win

Icho Tomonaga TKO (punches) Deep Osaka Impact 2016

Osaka, Japan Win

Tatsuki Ozaki Decision (unanimous) Pancrase Osaka

Osaka, Japan

Amateur mixed martial arts record Win

Ryoma Uemura TKO (punches) JML Kansai 12

Osaka, Japan Win

Yuki Doi TKO (referee stoppage) JML Kansai 11

Osaka, Japan Win

Naoto Arimura TKO (referee stoppage) JML Kansai 11

Osaka, Japan