Shungo Oyama

Shungo Oyama ( 峻護 Ōyama Shungo ; born April 11, 1974) is a Japanese former professional mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 2001 to 2014, he competed for the PRIDE Fighting Championships, Pancrase, RINGS, DREAM, K-1, and King of the Cage.

Early life Oyama was born in Nasu District in Tochigi Prefecuture, Japan on April 11, 1974, as Toshiyuki Oyama. He started practicing Judo when he was five years old, winning the All Japan Businessmen's Individual Championship, among other titles. He did not limit itself to a single grappling style, and also won the All Japan Sambo Championship and the All Japan Combat Wrestling Championship. Then, he began training MMA and won All Japan Amateur Shooto Championship, making a pro debut in 2001.

Mixed martial arts career Background and fighting style He is best known for being a student of Japanese judo superstar Hidehiko Yoshida, and briefly trained with three-time King of Pancrase Bas Rutten. Shungo has also trained at the famed Takada Dojo, run by former PRIDE General Director Nobuhiko Takada.

Though his record is not impressive, Shungo has gained respect for his die hard spirit, and stubbornness to submit. On more than one occasion he has been injured or choked unconscious due to his refusal to tap out.

PRIDE Oyama had his anticipated debut in PRIDE Fighting Championships in 2001 against feared Wanderlei Silva. In a fight of 30 seconds, Oyama met a spirited striking exchange, but he was overwhelmed and knocked out while he tried to avoid Silva. Shungo followed with a bout against famed Brazilian jiu-jitsu Wallid Ismail, but he underperformed again. The judoka met Ismail in his field of expertise by pulling guard early with a guillotine choke, which only allowed the Brazilian to pass guard, but Oyama escaped and contained Wallid until the second round. At the end, however, Ismail blocked a triangle choke attempt from Oyama and locked an arm triangle choke which Shungo refused to tap out to, rendering the Japanese unconscious. After the match, it was revealed that Oyama had suffered a retinal detachment.

His third match in PRIDE finally dissipated the negative criticism towards Oyama when he faced Renzo Gracie of the famed Gracie Jiu-Jitsu family. With a combination of his own unorthodox striking style, a good takedown defense and a little Kazushi Sakuraba imitation, Shungo was able to frustrate Gracie and dominate the fight to gain a unanimous decision. In a controversial moment, Gracie, irritated by his fight antics, spit in Shungo's face. Shortly after, Ryan Gracie challenged him to a fight to avenge Renzo. Oyama and Ryan met in the main event of PRIDE 22-Beasts From The East 2, in a fight in which the BJJ specialist caught Oyama in an armbar. The judoka, in a last action of defiance, refused to submit and got his arm broken. After the fight, Ryan assaulted Oyama and verbally insulted him before being restrained.

Oyama faced Dan Henderson in 2003, going to the fight with an arm injury. After being knocked out by punches, medical examination showed that his eye injury had reopened, and he had to go to hiatus. His last fight in PRIDE was against Mirko Cro Cop, losing again by KO.

Post-PRIDE In 2006, Oyama faced another Gracie family member in the form of Rodrigo Gracie at the HERO'S 6 event. He got his second victory over the family, controlling Rodrigo and landing ground and pound for a unanimous decision.

Oyama faced Handong Kong at Pancrase 257 on March 30, 2014. He won by first round heel hook.

He participated "Martial Combat 10" as a substitute of Daiju Takase in Singapore for the title of Light Heavyweight(-87 kg) on September 16, 2010. He beat Brian Gassaway from USA with an inverted triangle choke and won the first professional title in his career.

After winning, he proposed to Junko Kawada, with whom he had a four-year relationship while in the cage. They were married in his hometown.

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Yuji Sakuragi TKO (corner stoppage) Pancrase 263

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Ikkei Nagamura KO (punch) Pancrase 260

Tokyo, Japan Win

Handong Kong Submission (heel hook) Pancrase 257

Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan Loss

Jordan Currie Submission (arm-triangle choke) Pancrase 252: 20th Anniversary

Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan Loss

Eun Soo Lee KO (punches) Road FC 10: Monson vs. Kang

Busan, South Korea Loss

Asif Tagiecv TKO (knees and punches) RINGS Vol. 2: Conquisito

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Ryo Kawamura KO (soccer kick) Pancrase: Progress Tour 7

Tokyo, Japan Win

Hae Suk Son TKO (punches) Road FC 6: The Final Four

Seoul, South Korea Win

Jong Dae Kim Submission (heel hook) Road FC 6: The Final Four

Seoul, South Korea Win

Denis Kang TKO (knees) Road FC 5: Night of Champions

Seoul, South Korea Return to Middleweight. Win

Kyu Suk Son KO (punch) Pancrase: Impressive Tour 9

Tokyo, Japan Win

Brian Gassaway Technical Submission (inverted triangle choke) MC: Martial Combat 10

Sentosa, Singapore Loss

Vitaly Shemetov KO (punches) X-1 Nations Collide

Honolulu, Hawaii Return to Light Heavyweight. Win

Mike Wimmer Submission (heel hook) KOTC: Toryumon

Ginowan, Okinawa, Japan Welterweight debut. Loss

Andrews Nakahara TKO (punches) DREAM.8

Nagoya, Aichi, Japan Loss

Yoon Dong-Sik Decision (unanimous) DREAM 2: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 First Round

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Win

Carlos Newton TKO (submission to punches) HERO'S 2007 in Korea

Seoul, South Korea Loss

Melvin Manhoef TKO (punches) HERO'S 7

Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan Win

Rodrigo Gracie Decision (unanimous) HERO'S 6

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Melvin Manhoef TKO (doctor stoppage) HERO'S 4

Tokyo, Japan Win

Peter Aerts Submission (heel hook) K-1-Premium 2005 Dynamite

Osaka, Japan Win

Yun Seob Kwak Submission (achilles lock) HERO'S 2005 in Seoul

Seoul, South Korea Light Heavyweight bout. Loss

Sam Greco KO (knees and punches) HERO'S 3

Tokyo, Japan Win

Valentijn Overeem Submission (toe hold) HERO'S 1

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Loss

Sean O'Haire TKO (punches) K-1 Fighting Network Rumble on the Rock 2004

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Loss

Mirko Cro Cop TKO (punches) PRIDE Bushido 4

Nagoya, Aichi, Japan Return to Heavyweight. Loss

Dan Henderson TKO (punches) PRIDE 25

Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan Loss

Ryan Gracie Submission (armbar) PRIDE 22

Nagoya, Aichi, Japan Win

Renzo Gracie Decision (unanimous) PRIDE 21

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Loss

Wallid Ismail Submission (triangle choke) PRIDE 15

Saitama, Saitama, Japan Loss

Wanderlei Silva TKO (punches) PRIDE 14: Clash of the Titans

Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan Return to Heavyweight. Loss

Phillip Miller TKO (strikes) KOTC 8: Bombs Away

Williams, California, United States Middleweight debut. Win

Mike Bourke KO (punch) KOTC 7: Wet and Wild

San Jacinto, California, United States Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts K-1 Hero's 2006 K-1 Hero's Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Semifinalist Martial Combat Martial Combat Light Heavyweight Championship (1 Time) ROAD FC ROAD FC Middleweight Championship (1 Time, first) Shooto 7th All Japan Amateur Shooto Championship, Light heavyweight winner (September 10, 2000)

Judo 28th All Japan Business Groups Judo Individual Championship, Men 81 kg class winner

Sambo 21st All Japan Sambo Championship, Men Senior 82 kg class runner-up (1997) 22nd All Japan Sambo Championship, Men Senior 82 kg class winner (1998) 24th All Japan Sambo Championship, Men Senior 82 kg class winner (June 28, 1998) 25th All Japan Sambo Championship, Men Senior 82 kg class winner (1999) 26th All Japan Sambo Championship, Men Senior 82 kg class winner (July 16, 2000)