Sanae Kikuta

is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division. A professional competitor since 1996, he has competed for the UFC, PRIDE Fighting Championships, Pancrase, DREAM, World Victory Road, DEEP, Shooto, and Vale Tudo Japan. He is the former Pancrase Light Heavyweight Champion (2001–2003) and the winner of the ADCC 88 kg class in 2001.

Early life Kikuta became a student at the Super Tiger Gym when he was in the 6th-grade elementary school, learning Shooto under Satoru Sayama, but he left the feeling that he wasn't being given enough attention in the combative aspect. Kikuta started training in Judo in his junior high school. In 1986, he won the junior high school judo Kantō tournament in the 78 kg class. In 1989, he won the championship (as a member of the Tokyo team) in the judo boys' team division at the National Athletic Meet. He also learned under Toshihiko Koga at the Nippon Sport Science University.

During his university tenure, Kikuta also tried Professional Wrestling, failing to enter New Japan Pro-Wrestling, but being accepted in Union of Wrestling Forces International and training with them for a time before leaving.

Ultimate Fighting Championship In his sole apparition for Ultimate Fighting Championship, Kikuta took part in the event Ultimate Japan III in April 2000. He defeated Eugene Jackson in dominant fashion, taking him down and locking an armbar for the submission.

World Victory Road On January 4, 2009, at World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku Rebellion 2009, Kikuta faced fellow judoka Hidehiko Yoshida. The bout started characteristically slow, with Kikuta taking Yoshida down and tentatively exchanging strikes with him. At the second round, Kikuta opted for pulling guard and pursuing an ankle lock, but Yoshida remained on top and landed several punches through his guard. Afterwards, however, Kikuta reversed and got the mount, unloading ground and pound until the end of the round. The third round saw Yoshida stunning Kikuta with a punch and scoring a judo throw, but Sanae took his back and kept striking on him for the rest of the match, eventually winning the decision.

Championships and accomplishments

Grappling Abu Dhabi Combat Club ADCC 2001 88 kg class winner (April 2001)

Judo Kantō region Judo Middleweight winner The National Athletic High School Meeting, Judo 86 kg class Winner

Mixed martial arts Lumax Cup Tournament of J'96 Winner Tournament of J'97 Winner Pancrase Pancrase Light heavyweight Champion (One time) Tokyo Sports Technique Award (2001)

Shootboxing Japan Shootboxing Association All Japan Amateur Shoot boxing Championship Heavyweight Winner

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Song Kenan Decision (unanimous) Real Fighting Championship: Real 1

Tokyo, Japan Return to Welterweight. Win

Masayuki Naruse Submission (armbar) Grabaka Live 3

Tokyo, Japan Openweight bout. Loss

Yuji Sakuragi KO (knee and soccer kick) Grabaka Live 2

Tokyo, Japan Light Heavyweight bout. Win

Kenichi Yamamoto TKO (punches) Grabaka Live: 1st Cage Attack

Tokyo, Japan Win

Lee Sak Kim TKO (corner stoppage) DEEP: 50 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Catchweight (79 kg) bout. Loss

Yasubey Enomoto TKO (punches) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku Raiden Championships 13

Tokyo, Japan Win

Hidehiko Yoshida Decision (split) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku no Ran 2009

Saitama, Japan Return to Light Heavyweight. Win

Chris Rice Submission (armbar) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 3

Saitama, Japan Middleweight bout. Win

Jean-François Lénogue Decision (unanimous) PRIDE: Bushido 13

Yokohama, Japan Win

Makoto Takimoto Decision (unanimous) PRIDE Shockwave 2005

Saitama, Japan Win

Webster Dauphiney Submission (achilles lock) Pancrase: Brave 10

Urayasu, Japan Win

Keith Rockel Decision (majority) Pancrase: Brave 4

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Yuki Kondo KO (punch) Pancrase: Hybrid 10

Tokyo, Japan Lost the Pancrase Light Heavyweight Championship. Win

Elvis Sinosic Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: 10th Anniversary Show

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Yuki Kondo Draw Pancrase: Hybrid 5

Yokohama, Japan Win

Eduardo Pamplona Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Spirit 8

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira KO (punch) UFO: Legend

Tokyo, Japan Win

Alexander Otsuka Decision (unanimous) PRIDE 20

Yokohama, Japan Win

Daisuke Watanabe Submission (arm-triangle choke) Pancrase: Proof 7

Yokohama, Japan Win

Ikuhisa Minowa TKO (cut) Pancrase: 2001 Anniversary Show

Yokohama, Japan Won the vacant Pancrase Light Heavyweight Championship. Win

Pshemek Wallace TKO (punches) DEEP: 2nd Impact

Yokohama, Japan Win

Matt Trihey Submission (armbar) Pancrase: Proof 4

Tokyo, Japan NC

Alex Stiebling No Contest (Kikuta was cut by an accidental headbutt) Pancrase: Proof 1

Tokyo, Japan Win

Kazuo Takahashi Submission (arm-triangle choke) Pancrase: Trans 7

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Murilo Bustamante Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Trans 6

Tokyo, Japan Win

Ichio Matsubara Submission (armlock) Pancrase: Trans 4

Tokyo, Japan Win

Eugene Jackson Submission (armbar) UFC 25

Tokyo, Japan Win

Ryushi Yanagisawa Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Trans 2

Osaka, Japan Win

Minoru Suzuki TKO (arm-triangle choke) Pancrase: Breakthrough 11

Yokohama, Japan Draw

Travis Fulton Draw Pancrase: Breakthrough 9

Tokyo, Japan Win

Eddy Millis Submission (punches) Pancrase: 1999 Anniversary Show

Urayasu, Japan Win

Takafumi Ito Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Breakthrough 7

Tokyo, Japan Win

Eric Gedek Submission (rear-naked choke) Pancrase: Breakthrough 6

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Paul Jones Decision (unanimous) Shooto: Las Grandes Viajes 6

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Daijiro Matsui Draw (time limit) PRIDE 4

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Renzo Gracie Submission (guillotine choke) PRIDE 2

Yokohama, Japan Win

Masanori Suda Submission (armbar) Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '97 Heavyweight Tournament

Japan Won Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '97 Heavyweight Tournament. Win

Toshinobu Komeya Submission (achilles lock) Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '97 Heavyweight Tournament

Japan Win

Jun Kitagawa Submission (achilles lock) Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '97 Heavyweight Tournament

Japan Loss

Mushtaq Abdullah Submission (forearm choke) VTJ 1996: Vale Tudo Japan 1996

Tokyo, Japan Win

Masanori Suda Submission (heel hook) Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '96

Japan Won Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '96. Win

Hiroyuki Yoshioka Submission (heel hook) Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '96

Japan Win

Egan Inoue Decision Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '96

Japan Win

Saburo Kawakatsu Submission (keylock) Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '96

Japan Mixed martial arts exhibition record Draw

Manabu Yamada Technical Draw DEEP 2001

Tokyo, Japan

Submission grappling record KO PUNCHES Result Opponent Method Event Date Round Time