Kenichi Yamamoto (mixed martial artist)
Encyclopedia
is a former Japanese
professional mixed martial artist
. He debuted for Fighting Network RINGS
on March 28, 1998, losing to Valentijn Overeem
. Yamamoto then submitted Chris Haseman
in his second fight for RINGS. He continued to compete for RINGS throughout the year fighting top opposition such as Masayuki Naruse
, Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, Wataru Sakata
, Volk Han
, and Kiyoshi Tamura
. Yamamoto fought and lost to Lee Hasdell
by knockout on September 21, 1998. It was at a RINGS event held in Yokohama
.
On November 19, 1999, Kenichi Yamamoto entered the UFC Japan tournament at UFC 23
held in Tokyo
, Japan
. In the Semi-Finals he defeated Daiju Takase
by Unanimous decision. Then in the final beat Katsuhisa Fujii
by Knee Bar at 4:15 of the second round.
He returned to the UFC on December 16, 2000 at UFC 29
. Yamamoto challenged Pat Miletich
for the UFC Welterweight Championship. Yamamoto lost by submission in the second round.
Kenichi made his Pride
debut on November 24, 2002, losing to Kevin Randleman
. His last fight to date was for Bodog
on October 4, 2006.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
professional mixed martial artist
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
. He debuted for Fighting Network RINGS
Fighting Network RINGS
Fighting Network Rings, trademarked as RINGS, is a Japanese combat sport promotion that has lived three distinct periods; puroresu promotion from its inauguration to 1995, mixed martial arts promotion from 1995 to its 2002 disestablishment, and the revived mixed martial arts promotion from 2008 to...
on March 28, 1998, losing to Valentijn Overeem
Valentijn Overeem
Valentijn Overeem is a Dutch mixed martial artist who competes as a heavyweight. He has previously competed for the PRIDE Fighting Championships, RINGS and Strikeforce...
. Yamamoto then submitted Chris Haseman
Chris Haseman
Chris Haseman is a former Australian mixed martial artist. He is currently competing in the Light Heavyweight division.He lost his fight at Spartan Reality Fight 9 against Bill Mahood in 2004, retiring afterwards...
in his second fight for RINGS. He continued to compete for RINGS throughout the year fighting top opposition such as Masayuki Naruse
Masayuki Naruse
is a Japanese professional wrestler and Professional mixed martial artist.-Career:Naruse debuted in Fighting Network RINGS in 1992 where he was displayed as a scrappy junior heavyweight willing to take on opponents twice his size. He and other RINGS wrestlers made the transition to mixed martial...
, Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, Wataru Sakata
Wataru Sakata
is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. He has a professional MMA record of 11-13-0 as of December 31, 2003.He started his career in Akira Maeda's Fighting Network RINGS in 1994 after being trained by Animal Hamaguchi. He made the transition to mixed martial arts in the late...
, Volk Han
Volk Han
Magomedkhan Amanulayevich Gamzatkhanov , better known by his alias Volk Han , is a Russian shoot wrestler and later a mixed martial artist renowned for his technical mastery of Sambo and submission victories in shoot wrestling and MMA. He was representing Russia in the Russian RINGS team with Fedor...
, and Kiyoshi Tamura
Kiyoshi Tamura
is a Japanese middleweight professional wrestler and mixed martial artist.Once a student of legendary Pro Wrestler Akira Maeda, Tamura is known for his skill in catch wrestling as well as his ability to deliver exciting and realistic professional wrestling bouts....
. Yamamoto fought and lost to Lee Hasdell
Lee Hasdell
Lee Hasdell is a former British mixed martial artist, kickboxer and promoter. He promoted the first professional mixed martial arts events in the United Kingdom. Lee Hasdell began his professional career as a Kickboxer in 1989, eventually winning three British Kickboxing titles...
by knockout on September 21, 1998. It was at a RINGS event held in Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
.
On November 19, 1999, Kenichi Yamamoto entered the UFC Japan tournament at UFC 23
UFC 23
UFC 23: Ultimate Japan 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on November 19, 1999 at Tokyo Bay NK Hall in Tokyo, Japan.-History:...
held in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. In the Semi-Finals he defeated Daiju Takase
Daiju Takase
Daiju Takase is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He has fought as a middleweight and welterweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and PRIDE Fighting Championship...
by Unanimous decision. Then in the final beat Katsuhisa Fujii
Katsuhisa Fujii
, is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competes in the heavyweight division.-Championships and Accomplishments:*Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling**2000 Pancrase Heavyweight Championship Tournament Runner-up*Ultimate Fighting Championship...
by Knee Bar at 4:15 of the second round.
He returned to the UFC on December 16, 2000 at UFC 29
UFC 29
UFC 29: Defense of the Belts was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 16, 2000 at Differ Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.-History:...
. Yamamoto challenged Pat Miletich
Pat Miletich
Patrick Jay Miletich is a retired American mixed martial artist and a current sports commentator. He is known for his fights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he became the first UFC Welterweight Champion and UFC 16 tournament champion....
for the UFC Welterweight Championship. Yamamoto lost by submission in the second round.
Kenichi made his Pride
Pride
Pride is an inwardly directed emotion that carries two common meanings. With a negative connotation, pride refers to an inflated sense of one's personal status or accomplishments, often used synonymously with hubris...
debut on November 24, 2002, losing to Kevin Randleman
Kevin Randleman
Kevin Christopher Randleman is a retired American mixed martial arts fighter and a former UFC heavyweight champion. Randleman's background is in Collegiate wrestling. Wrestling at 177 pounds, Randleman was a two time Division I NCAA Champion for The Ohio State University...
. His last fight to date was for Bodog
Bodog
Bodog is an online entertainment brand launched in 1994 by Calvin Ayre.Originally the company traded at but the brand was later divested and intellectual property rights were assigned to and consolidated in BodogBrand.com...
on October 4, 2006.
Championships and awards
- Ultimate Fighting ChampionshipUltimate Fighting ChampionshipThe Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
- UFC 23UFC 23UFC 23: Ultimate Japan 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on November 19, 1999 at Tokyo Bay NK Hall in Tokyo, Japan.-History:...
Middleweight Tournament Champion
- UFC 23