Ryūshi Yanagisawa

is a Japanese professional wrestler, mixed martial artist and kickboxer. His real name is . As a martial artist, he competed in K-1, Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling (Pancrase) and Fighting Network RINGS. As a professional wrestler he competed in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and Inoki Genome Federation (IGF).

Mixed martial arts career Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling Yanagisawa joined Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling upon the formation of the company in 1993. He lost his first two fights to future legends Bas Rutten and Masakatsu Funaki. He then went on a four fight winning streak including a win over Vernon White but his win streak ended when he lost to another future MMA legend: Ken Shamrock. After the Shamrock fight, Yanagisawa entered Pancrase's 1995 Neo Blood Tournament where he made it to the finals before losing to Takafumi Ito. Following the loss, Yanagisawa would go winless for his next 5 fights including a draw with Guy Mezger, a loss to Frank Shamrock, and losses in rematches to Rutten and Funaki. Yanagisawa would snap his losing streak at Pancrase - Truth 3 in a victory over Larry Papadopoulos by submission but would then lose a rematch to Mezger. After that, Yanagisawa would go a three fight winning streak including victories over Vernon White by submission and a decision victory over UFC 6 tournament winner: Oleg Taktarov. After another loss to Mezger, Yanagisawa went on an 11 unbeaten streak including wins over future K-1 legend: Semmy Schilt and UFC 7 tournament runner-up: Paul Varelans before he lost once again to Mezger. On September 14, 1998, Yanaigisawa challenged Guy Mezger for the King of Pancrase Openweight Championship but lost by Decision. After one more victory, Yanagisawa would go winless for his last 9 fights in Pancrase (including a loss to future UFC Middleweight Champion: Evan Tanner) before leaving Pancrase in early 2000.

Fighting Network RINGS In late 2000, Yanagisawa joined Fighting Network RINGS. On October 9, 2000, Yanagisawa entered RINGS' King of Kings tournament where he defeated Borislav Jeliazkov in the first round but lost to former UFC Heavyweight Champion: Randy Couture in the quarterfinals. Yanagisawa would go 1–2 in his next fights including losses to Bobby Hoffman and Fedor Emelianenko before leaving RINGS and MMA in late 2001.

Return to Pancrase and DEEP In 2004, Yanagisawa returned to fighting at Pancrase - Brave 10 where he lost to Ryuta Noji by Decision. In 2009, Yanagisawa fought two more fights for DEEP but lost both fights.

Professional wrestling career Yanagisawa debuted in wrestling in 1992 originally competing for Pro Wrestling Fujiwawa Gumi but made no impact on the promotion. By 1993, Yanagisawa left the promotion, following Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki to Pancrase.

Ten years after debuting in wrestling, Yanagisawa returned to the sport when he joined New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He originally debuted on August 8, 2002, under a mask as he attacked Masahiro Chono. After unmasking, he joined Tadao Yasuda's Makai Club stable which feuded with New Japan. In November 2002, Yangisawa teamed with Yasuda and Makai #1 in the Triathlon Survivor Tournament but the group finished in last place with 1 point.

At Wrestling World 2003, Yanagisawa entered the Young Generation Cup tournament. He would emerge victorious, defeating Kenzo Suzuki in the semi-finals and then Yutaka Yoshie in the finals to win the cup. On February 1, 2003, Yanagisawa entered the Teisen Hall Six Man Tag Team Tournament teaming with Makai #1 and Makai #2 but the team lost in the first round to eventual winners: Hiro Saito, Tatsutoshi Goto, and Shinsuke Nakamura. A few weeks later on February 16, Yanagisawa challenged Yoshihiro Takayama for the NWF Heavyweight Championship but came up short. Yanagisawa would continue to compete in New Japan until leaving January 2006. Since leaving New Japan, Yanagisawa has wrestled once for Antonio Inoki's new promotion: Inoki Genome Federation on their December 20, 2007 show losing to Chris Moore (Chris Masters).

Championships and accomplishments Mixed martial arts Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling 1995 Neo-Blood Tournament Runner-up

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Lee Dool-Hee Decision (unanimous) Deep: Fan Thanksgiving Festival 2

Japan Loss

Bernard Ackah TKO (head kick & punches) Deep: 43 Impact

Japan Return to Light Heavyweight. Loss

Ryuta Noji Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Brave 10

Japan Loss

Fedor Emelianenko Decision (unanimous) Rings: World Title Series 4

Japan 2001 RINGS Absolute Class Tournament Quarterfinals Loss

Bobby Hoffman Decision (unanimous) Rings: World Title Series 1

Japan Win

Wataru Sakata Decision (split) Rings: King of Kings 2000 Final

Japan Loss

Ibragim Magomedov Decision (unanimous) S - Samurai 2000

Japan Loss

Randy Couture Decision (majority) Rings: King of Kings 2000 Block A

Japan King of Kings 2000 Block A Quarterfinal. Win

Borislav Jeliazkov Submission (toe hold) Rings: King of Kings 2000 Block A

Japan Return to Heavyweight; King of Kings 2000 Block A First Round. Loss

Sanae Kikuta Decision (unanimous) Pancrase - Trans 2

Japan Light Heavyweight debut. Loss

Bob Stines TKO (punches) Pancrase - Breakthrough 10

Japan Draw

Akira Shoji Draw Pancrase - 1999 Anniversary Show

Japan Loss

Leon Dijk TKO (cut) Pancrase - 1999 Neo-Blood Tournament Second Round

Japan Draw

Takafumi Ito Draw Pancrase - Breakthrough 6

|Japan Loss

Jason DeLucia Decision (majority) Pancrase - Breakthrough 5

Japan Draw

Manabu Yamada Draw Pancrase - Breakthrough 3

Japan Draw

Satoshi Hasegawa Draw Pancrase - Breakthrough 2

Japan Loss

Evan Tanner Submission (arm-triangle choke) Pancrase - Advance 12

Japan Win

Kosei Kubota Submission (toe hold) Pancrase - Advance 11

Japan Loss

Guy Mezger Decision (lost points) Pancrase - 1998 Anniversary Show

Japan For the Pancrase Openweight Championship. Draw

Yuki Kondo Draw (unanimous) Pancrase - 1998 Neo-Blood Tournament Second Round

Japan Draw

Keiichiro Yamamiya Draw (majority) Pancrase - Advance 8

Japan Win

Omar Bouiche Submission (achilles lock) Pancrase - Advance 6

Japan Win

Jason DeLucia Submission (toe hold) Pancrase - Advance 5

Japan Loss

Guy Mezger Decision (unanimous) Pancrase - Advance 4

Japan Draw

Keiichiro Yamamiya Draw (unanimous) Pancrase - Advance 2

Japan Win

Jason Godsey KO (knee) Pancrase - Advance 1

Japan Win

John Lober TKO (broken ankle) Pancrase: Alive 11

Japan Win

Les Johnston Submission (banana split) Pancrase: Alive 6

Japan Win

Paul Varelans Decision (lost points) Pancrase: Alive 4

Japan Win

Keiichiro Yamamiya Decision (lost points) Pancrase: Alive 3

Japan Win

Paul Lazenby Decision (lost points) Pancrase: Alive 2

Japan Win

Kim Jong-Wang Submission (achilles lock) Pancrase: Alive 1

Japan Win

Jack McGlaughlin Submission (Sugar Hold) Pancrase - Truth 10

Japan Draw

Takafumi Ito Draw (unanimous) Pancrase - Truth 8

Japan Win

Semmy Schilt Submission (achilles lock) Pancrase - Truth 7

Japan Loss

Guy Mezger Decision (unanimous) Pancrase - 1996 Anniversary Show

Japan Loss

Kazuo Takahashi Decision (lost points) Pancrase - 1996 Neo-Blood Tournament, Round 1

Japan Win

Takaku Fuke Decision (lost points) Pancrase - Truth 6

Japan Win

Oleg Taktarov Decision (lost points) Pancrase - Truth 5

Japan Loss

Guy Mezger KO (palm strikes) Pancrase - Truth 4

Japan 1996 Pancrase Ranking Tournament Finals Win

Vernon White Submission (achilles lock) Pancrase - Truth 3

Japan 1996 Pancrase Ranking Tournament Semifinals Win

Larry Papadopoulos Submission (achilles lock) Pancrase - Truth 3

Japan 1996 Pancrase Ranking Tournament First Round Loss

Frank Shamrock Decision (lost points) Pancrase - Truth 2

Japan Loss

Masakatsu Funaki Technical Submission (keylock) Pancrase - Truth 1

Japan Loss

Bas Rutten Submission (rear-naked choke) Pancrase - Eyes Of Beast 7

Japan Draw

Guy Mezger Draw (unanimous) Pancrase - Eyes Of Beast 6

Japan Loss

Jason DeLucia Submission (triangle choke) Pancrase - 1995 Anniversary Show

Japan Loss

Takafumi Ito Decision (majority) Pancrase - 1995 Neo-Blood Tournament Second Round

Tokyo, Japan 1995 Neo-Blood Tournament Final Win

Gregory Smit Submission (rear-naked choke) Pancrase - 1995 Neo-Blood Tournament Second Round

Tokyo, Japan 1995 Neo-Blood Tournament Second Round Win

Christopher DeWeaver Submission (kimura) Pancrase - 1995 Neo-Blood Tournament Opening Round

Tokyo, Japan 1995 Neo-Blood Tournament First Round Loss

Ken Shamrock Submission (heel hook) Pancrase - Pancrash! 3

Japan Win

Todd Bjornethun Submission (heel hook) Pancrase - Pancrash! 2

Japan Win

James Mathews Submission (armbar) Pancrase - Pancrash! 1

Japan Win

Vernon White TKO (lost points) Pancrase: Yes, We Are Hybrid Wrestlers 4

Japan Win

Andre van den Oetelaar Submission (heel hook) Pancrase: Yes, We Are Hybrid Wrestlers 3

Japan Loss

Masakatsu Funaki Submission (kneebar) Pancrase: Yes, We Are Hybrid Wrestlers 2

Japan Loss

Bas Rutten KO (palm strike) Pancrase: Yes, We Are Hybrid Wrestlers 1

Tokyo, Japan Kickboxing record

Legend: