Yoshihisa Yamamoto

is a Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. A professional MMA competitor from 1995 until 2012, he competed for RINGS, WEF, PRIDE, Vale Tudo Japan, DEEP, and K-1 HERO'S.

Mixed martial arts career Fighting Network RINGS A high school judoka, Yamamoto made his professional debut on the then puroresu promotion Fighting Network RINGS in 1991 against Masayuki Naruse, who was also making his debut. When the company turned to mixed martial arts, he had his first fight on January 25, 1995, facing off another debutant, Dutch fighter Hans Nijman. Yamamoto lost the bout when he was knocked out only 43 seconds into the fight. After winning his next bout for via unanimous decision at an event in Amsterdam for the organization, Yamamoto faced off against legendary Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist, Rickson Gracie at Vale Tudo Japan 1995. Yamamoto gave the undefeated fighter arguably the most difficult fight of his career, but the former professional wrestler ultimately lost via rear-naked choke at 3:49 of the third round, the referee having stepped in when Yamamoto refused to tap out. This would be the only fight that Gracie ever had that didn't end with him winning in the first round.

The fight with Gracie elevated Yamamoto's status. In his next bout, he won via neck crank submission before losing via keylock submission to his teacher Akira Maeda and then to Ricardo Morais, who knocked out Yamamoto 46 seconds into the fight. In his next bout, Yamamoto faced David Khakhaleishvili, an Olympic Gold Medalist in judo. Yamamoto defeated the Georgia fighter via TKO 40 seconds into the fight before competing in the Rings - Battle Dimensions Tournament 1996 Final. Yamamoto won his fight in the quarter-finals of the tournament and then lost in his semi-finals match against Kiyoshi Tamura.

Yamamoto then went 7-7-1 in his next 15 fights with wins over Valentijn Overeem, Joop Kasteel, and Tsuyoshi Kosaka before being invited to compete in PRIDE.

PRIDE Yamamoto made his PRIDE debut at Pride 16 on September 24, 2001 against Brazilian Assuério Silva and was dominated, losing only 11 seconds into the fight via TKO. However, the former professional wrestler would bounce back, defeating South African kickboxer Jan Nortje via armbar submission less than two minutes into the fight. In his next bouts he was knocked out by former NFL lineman Bob Sapp and then lost via unanimous decision to Guy Mezger before picking up his next win against Alexander Otsuka after Otsuka injured his leg in the second round. In his next bout at Pride Final Conflict 2003 Yamamoto fought Heath Herring and performed well against the Sambo and Muay Thai specialist but ultimately lost via rear-naked choke submission in the third round.

In his next bout the 13-16-1 Yamamoto faced two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion Mark Kerr. Early in the fight Kerr secured a double leg takedown but spiked his head into the canvas, stunning himself, which allowed Yamamoto to capitalize with ground and pound for the first round knockout win.

Yamamoto's next appearance for the organization was at Pride Bushido 2 against future 2006 Pride World Grand Prix Champion Mirko Cro Cop. Yamamoto lost the bout via TKO 2:12 into the first round. Yamamoto fought once more the organization at Pride Bushido 3 against Choi Mu-Bae and lost via unanimous decision.

Post-PRIDE After PRIDE, Yamamoto fought for K-1 Hero's, and DEEP, but has not won since his TKO win over Mark Kerr, losing his last nine fights.

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Jong Wang Kim KO (punches) Grabaka: Grabaka Live! 2

Tokyo, Japan Heavyweight bout. Loss

Keiichiro Yamamiya Decision (unanimous) Grabaka Live: 1st Cage Attack

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Hidetaka Monma Submission (arm-triangle choke) DEEP: 50th Impact

Tokyo, Japan Welterweight debut. Loss

Lee Tae-Hyun TKO (punches) HERO'S 2007 in Korea

Seoul, South Korea Openweight bout. Loss

Katsuyori Shibata TKO (punches) HERO'S 8

Nagoya, Japan Loss

Don Frye Submission (rear-naked choke) HERO'S 6

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Kim Min-Soo Submission (rear-naked choke) HERO'S 4

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Choi Mu-Bae Decision (unanimous) PRIDE Bushido 3

Yokohama, Japan Loss

Mirko Cro Cop TKO (punches) PRIDE Bushido 2

Yokohama, Japan Win

Mark Kerr KO (slam) PRIDE 27

Osaka, Japan Loss

Heath Herring Submission (rear-naked choke) PRIDE Final Conflict 2003

Tokyo, Japan Win

Alexander Otsuka TKO (leg injury) PRIDE 24

Fukuoka, Japan Loss

Guy Mezger Decision (unanimous) PRIDE 22

Nagoya, Japan Loss

Bob Sapp KO (punches) PRIDE 20

Yokohama, Japan Super Heavyweight bout. Win

Jan Nortje Submission (armbar) PRIDE 18

Fukuoka, Japan Loss

Assuério Silva TKO (punches) PRIDE 16

Osaka, Japan Loss

Valentijn Overeem Submission (armbar) RINGS: King of Kings 2000 Final

Tokyo, Japan Win

Chris Haseman TKO (strikes) RINGS: King of Kings 2000 Block B

Osaka, Japan Win

Ameran Bitsadze Submission (armbar) RINGS: King of Kings 2000 Block B

Osaka, Japan Loss

Semmy Schilt KO (knee and punch) RINGS Holland: Di Capo Di Tutti Capi

Utrecht, Netherlands Loss

Branden Lee Hinkle Submission (rear-naked choke) World Extreme Fighting 9: World Class

Evansville, Indiana, USA Loss

Jeremy Horn Submission (arm-triangle choke) RINGS: Millennium Combine 1

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Brad Kohler Submission (smother choke) RINGS: King of Kings 1999 Block A

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Kiyoshi Tamura Draw RINGS: Rise 4th

Japan Win

Tsuyoshi Kosaka TKO (palm strikes) RINGS: Rise 3rd

Japan Win

Joop Kasteel TKO (palm strikes) RINGS: Rise 2nd

Japan Win

Valentijn Overeem Submission (armbar) RINGS: Rise 1st

Japan Win

Andrei Kopylov Submission RINGS: Final Capture

Japan Win

Mitsuya Nagai Submission (armbar) RINGS: Extension Fighting 5

Japan Win

Masayuki Naruse Submission (armbar) RINGS: Extension Fighting 2

Japan Loss

Tariel Bitsadze KO (punch) RINGS: Budokan Hall 1997

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Tariel Bitsadze TKO (punches) RINGS: Battle Dimensions Tournament 1996 Final

Japan Loss

Kiyoshi Tamura Submission (neck crank) RINGS: Battle Dimensions Tournament 1996 Final

Tokyo, Japan Win

Bakouri Gogitidze Submission (americana) RINGS: Battle Dimensions Tournament 1996 Final

Tokyo, Japan Win

David Khakhaleishvili TKO (punches) RINGS: Battle Dimensions Tournament 1996 Opening Round

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Ricardo Morais KO (punches) RINGS: Maelstrom 6

Japan Loss

Akira Maeda Submission (americana) RINGS: Budokan Hall 1996

Tokyo, Japan Win

Ameran Bitsadze Submission (neck crank) RINGS: Battle Dimensions Tournament 1995 Opening Round

Japan Loss

Rickson Gracie Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) Vale Tudo Japan 1995

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Mitsuya Nagai Submission (achilles lock) RINGS: Rising Series - Yayoi

Tokyo, Japan Win

Ruud Ewoldt Decision (unanimous) RINGS Holland: Free Fight

Amsterdam, Netherlands Loss

Hans Nijman KO (punch) RINGS: Budokan Hall 1995

Tokyo, Japan