Satoru Kitaoka

Personal life Kitaoka spends his time taking care of his body, getting massages three times a week, utilizing saunas, and carbonated and ice baths. He also enjoys spending time on social media.

Mixed martial arts career Pancrase Renowned originally for his catch wrestling abilities, Kitaoka made his professional debut for Pancrase on October 31, 2000, losing via majority decision. After submitting then 3-0 Kurt Pellegrino, Kitaoka drew with Heath Sims before losing to Katsuya Inoue. After picking up two wins to start 2005, Kitaoka improved to 12-6-8 before he faced future UFC interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit on October 2, 2005. Kitaoka defeated Condit in an upset, submitting him with a heel hook at 3:57 of the first round.

A leg lock specialist, Kitaoka would improve to 19-7-9 before facing Katsuya Inoue on January 30, 2008 for the third time after being defeating in their first meeting and a draw in the previous bout. Kitaoka lost via split decision.

Sengoku After signing with World Victory Road, Kitaoka's first fight for Sengoku was a submission win over Ian James Schaffa at Sengoku 2 on 18 May 2008 before entering Sengoku's eight-man lightweight tournament. In the first round of the tournament at Sengoku 4 on 24 August 2008 he was put up against American Clay French. Kitaoka made short work of French, winning by submission due to an achilles lock at 1:21 of the first round. The win put him up against fellow Japanese fighter Eiji Mitsuoka in the tournament's semifinal taking place at World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 6. Kitaoka again made short work of his opponent winning by a heel hook submission at 1:16 of the first round. The win earned him a place in the tournament's final taking place that same night against Kazunori Yokota. The fight proved longer than Kitaoka's three previous fights as it went the distance completing all three five-minute rounds with Kitaoka being awarded the unanimous decision, thus winning the 2008 Sengoku Lightweight Grand Prix.

The Lightweight tournament win set up Kitaoka to fight the last reigning PRIDE Lightweight Champion, Takanori Gomi, for Sengoku's newly created Sengoku Lightweight Championship. The two fought at Sengoku no Ran 2009 on 4 January 2009 and ended with Kitaoka defeating Gomi with an achilles lock at 1:41 of the first round.

In his first title defence, on August 2, 2009, at World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 9, Kitaoka lost his lightweight championship to Mizuto Hirota.

Return to Pancrase Following his title loss in Sengoku, Kitaoka returned to his home promotion Pancrase picking up wins over Jorge Rogrigues and Kuniyoshi Hironaka.

DREAM Kitaoka faced former UFC fighter Willamy Freire at DREAM 17. Kitaoka entered the bout on a three fight win streak picking up victories in both Pancrase and DEEP. He won the fight via split decision.

Kitaoka faced teammate and fellow Yuki Nakai black belt Shinya Aoki at DREAM's year end event for the DREAM Lightweight Championship. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

RIZIN FF Kitaoka made his debut for Rizin Fighting Federation in 2016. He faced Daron Cruickshank on December 29, 2016, at RIZIN World Grand-Prix 2016: 2nd Round and won the fight via technical submission in the first round.

Kitaoka next faced Yusuke Yachi on July 30, 2017, at Rizin FF 6: RIZIN World Grand Prix 2017 Opening Round Part 1. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.

Kitaoka returned at RIZIN World Grand Prix 2017: Second Round, facing Kiichi Kunimoto in a catchweight bout of 165 lbs. Kitaoka lost via unanimous decision.

After picking a first-round heel hook win in Pancrase, Kitaoka returned to the RIZIN ring at RIZIN 11 against Diego Brandao. While attempting a leg lock submission on the ground, Kitaoka left himself vulnerable to a flurry of right hands from Brandao on the top, being knocked out just 1:38 into the fight.

After losing to Brandao, Kitaoka lost in his fifth defense of his DEEP Lightweight Championship to Koji Takeda via unanimous decision.

Kitaoka returned to face Tatsuya Kawajiri at RIZIN: Heisei's Last Yarennoka! for New Year's Eve in 2018. After a fairly impressive performance which included a surprising Kitoka knockdown from a left cross, Kitaoka won via split decision.

He then faced Roberto de Souza at Rizin 15 on April 21, 2019. He lost the fight via second-round knockout.

Kitaoka faced Johnny Case at Rizin 17 on July 28, 2019. He lost the fight via corner stoppage after the first round.

Kitaoka then went on to create his own MMA promotion and fought Sho Kogane at its inaugural event Ismos 1 on July 31, 2020. The bout was declared a draw.

Before his fight at RIZIN 24, Kitaoka said restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic didn't really change anything in his training camp and he simply followed the new rules about masks with ease.

Kitaoka is scheduled to face Takumi Suzuki at Deep 104 on October 23, 2021. Going into the fight, Kitaoka worked on conditioning extensively to make sure he was prepared for the fight.

Kitaoka faced Hiroto Uesako at Deep 108 Impact on July 10, 2022. He lost the bout by split decision.

Kitaoka faced Kimihiro Eto at Deep 110 Impact on November 12, 2022. He lost the bout by unanimous decision.

Kitaoka faced Yuki Takano on February 11, 2023 at DEEP 112, winning for the first time in 4 years via north-south choke in the third round.

Kitaoka faced Ryota Oki at Deep x Nariagari on July 23, 2023. He won the bout by split decision.

Kitaoka faced Takeshi Izumi on November 11, 2023 at DEEP: 113 Impact, losing the bout via split decision.

Championships and accomplishments

In submission wrestling

Japan Combat Wrestling Federation 14th All Japan Combat Wrestling Championships - 80 kg champion (2008) 14th All Japan Combat Wrestling Championships - MVP (2008)

In mixed martial arts Sengoku Raiden Championship 2008 Sengoku Lightweight Grand Prix Champion Sengoku Raiden Championship Lightweight Champion (One time; first) DEEP DEEP Lightweight Champion (One time; former) Four successful title defenses

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Shoma Yamada Decision (unanimous) DEEP 128 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Soshi Yamamoto Decision (unanimous) DEEP 124 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Daigo Kuramoto TKO (knee to the body and punches) DEEP 119 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Takeshi Izumi Decision (split) DEEP 116 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Ryota Oki Decision (split) DEEP x Nariagari

Tokyo, Japan Win

Takuya Oyama Submission (guillotine choke) DEEP 113 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yuki Takano Submission (north-south choke) DEEP 112 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Kimihiro Eto Decision (unanimous) DEEP 110 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Hiroto Uesako Decision (split) Deep 108 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Takumi Suzuki KO (knee) Deep 104 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Juri Ohara KO (stomp and punches) Deep 100 Impact 20th Anniversary

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Takasuke Kume Decision (split) Rizin 24

Saitama, Japan Draw

Sho Kogane Draw Ismos 1

Yokohama, Japan Loss

Johnny Case TKO (corner stoppage) Rizin 17

Saitama, Japan Loss

Roberto de Souza TKO (punches) Rizin 15

Yokohama, Japan Win

Tatsuya Kawajiri Decision (split) RIZIN: Heisei's Last Yarennoka!

Saitama, Japan Loss

Koji Takeda Decision (unanimous) DEEP: 86 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Diego Brandao KO (punches) RIZIN 11

Saitama, Japan Win

Taras Sapa Submission (heel hook) Pancrase 295

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Kiichi Kunimoto Decision (unanimous) RIZIN World Grand Prix 2017: Second Round

Saitama, Japan Loss

Yusuke Yachi TKO (punches) RIZIN FF 6: RIZIN World Grand Prix 2017 Opening Round Part 1

Saitama, Japan Win

Daron Cruickshank Technical Submission (guillotine choke) RIZIN World Grand-Prix 2016: 2nd Round

Saitama, Japan Win

Leonardo Mafra Texeira Submission (heel hook) Pancrase 281

Tokyo, Japan Win

Kota Shimoishi Decision (unanimous) DEEP: 76 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Kazuki Tokudome KO (punches) Pancrase: 271

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yuki Okano Submission (guillotine choke) DEEP: Cage Impact 2015

Tokyo, Japan Win

Akira Okada Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: 265

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yoshiyuki Yoshida Decision (unanimous) DEEP: DREAM Impact 2014: Omisoka Special

Saitama, Japan Win

Richie Whitson Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: 261

Tokyo, Japan Win

Naoto Miyazaki Decision (unanimous) DEEP: 66 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Ramazan Esenbaev KO (punches) Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2013

Tokyo, Japan Win

Dom O'Grady Technical Submission (guillotine choke) Pancrase 252: 20th Anniversary

Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan Win

Daisuke Nakamura Decision (unanimous) DEEP: 62 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Will Brooks TKO (punches) DREAM 18

Tokyo, Japan Win

Katsunori Kikuno Decision (unanimous) DEEP: 58 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Shinya Aoki Decision (unanimous) Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Win

Willamy Freire Decision (split) DREAM 17

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Win

Jutaro Nakao Decision (unanimous) DEEP: 53 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Kuniyoshi Hironaka Submission (guillotine choke) Pancrase: Passion Tour 9

Tokyo, Japan Win

Jorge Rodrigues Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Passion Tour 5

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Jorge Masvidal KO (punches) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 11

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Mizuto Hirota TKO (knees) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 9

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Win

Yukio Sakaguchi Submission (achilles lock) Pancrase: Changing Tour 3

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Win

Takanori Gomi Submission (achilles lock) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku no Ran 2009

Saitama, Japan Win

Kazunori Yokota Decision (unanimous) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 6

Saitama, Japan Win

Eiji Mitsuoka Submission (heel hook) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 6

Saitama, Japan Win

Clay French Submission (achilles lock) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 4

Saitama, Japan Win

Ian James Schaffa Submission (guillotine choke) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 2

Tokyo, Japan Return to Lightweight. Loss

Katsuya Inoue Decision (split) Pancrase: Shining 1

Tokyo, Japan Win

Jason Palacios Decision (split) Pancrase: Rising 6

Tokyo, Japan Win

Fabricio Monteiro Submission (arm-triangle choke) DEEP: 29 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Lightweight bout. Win

Gustavo Picone Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Rising 2

Tokyo, Japan Win

Ju Pyo Hong Submission (achilles lock) Pancrase: Blow 9

Tokyo, Japan Win

Paul Daley Submission (guillotine choke) Pancrase: Blow 6

Yokohama, Japan Loss

Daizo Ishige Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Blow 4

Tokyo, Japan Win

Tatsunori Tanaka Submission (guillotine choke) Pancrase: Blow 2

Osaka, Japan Lightweight bout. Draw

Katsuya Inoue Draw Pancrase: Blow 1

Tokyo, Japan For the Pancrase Interim Welterweight Championship. Win

Carlos Condit Submission (heel hook) Pancrase: Spiral 8

Yokohama, Japan Win

Thomas Schulte Submission (heel hook) Pancrase: Spiral 5

Yokohama, Japan Win

Hidehiko Hasegawa Decision (split) Pancrase: Spiral 2

Yokohama, Japan Loss

Katsuya Inoue Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Brave 10

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Heath Sims Draw Pancrase: Brave 8

Tokyo, Japan Win

Kurt Pellegrino Submission (guillotine choke) Pancrase: 2004 Neo-Blood Tournament Semifinals

Tokyo, Japan Win

Takaichi Hirayama Submission (guillotine choke) Pancrase: Brave 5

Tokyo, Japan Lightweight bout. Loss

Eiji Ishikawa Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Brave 3

Tokyo, Japan Middleweight bout. Draw

Tadahiro Hosaka Draw Pancrase: Brave 2

Osaka, Japan Heavyweight bout. Win

Naoki Seki Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Hybrid 9

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Yuji Hoshino Draw Pancrase: Hybrid 7

Osaka, Japan Draw

Takuya Wada Draw Pancrase: Hybrid 4

Tokyo, Japan Win

Hiroki Nagaoka Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Hybrid 1

Tokyo, Japan Win

Taro Minato Decision (majority) Pancrase: Spirit 7

Tokyo, Japan Return to Welterweight. Loss

Hidetaka Monma KO (knee) Pancrase: 2002 Neo-Blood Tournament Second Round

Tokyo, Japan Win

Kenji Arai Submission (toe hold) Pancrase: 2002 Neo-Blood Tournament Second Round

Tokyo, Japan Win

Hiroyuki Nozawa Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: 2002 Neo-Blood Tournament Opening Round

Tokyo, Japan Heavyweight debut. Win

Kenji Arai Decision (majority) Pancrase: Spirit 4

Osaka, Japan Loss

Koji Oishi Decision (majority) Pancrase: Spirit 3

Tokyo, Japan Welterweight debut. Draw

Hiroki Nagaoka Draw Pancrase: Proof 7

Yokohama, Japan Win

Yohei Ota Decision (39-38) GCM: The Contenders 6

Yokohama, Japan Lightweight bout. Draw

Junya Miyakawa Draw Pancrase: Proof 5

Osaka, Japan Draw

Kenichi Serizawa Draw GCM: Club Contenders 1

Tokyo, Japan Lightweight bout. Loss

Yuji Hoshino Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Proof 4

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Kousei Kubota Draw Pancrase: Proof 2

Osaka, Japan Middleweight debut. Win

Kazuhito Kikuchi Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Trans 8

Aomori, Aomori, Japan Loss

Yoshinori Kawasaki Decision (majority) Pancrase: Trans 6

Tokyo, Japan