List of Shooto Champions

The following is a list of Shooto World champions at each weight class. Note that the weight classes in Shooto are different from the Association of Boxing Commissions recognised weight classes.

Title Histories

Heavyweight Championship

Weight limit: 100 kg (220.5 lb)
NOTE: Shooto weight classes are different than the United States Association of Boxing Commissions, which is used by most MMA promotions.
Name Date Defenses
United States Enson Inoue
(def. Joe Estes) 		October 12, 1997
Inoue vacated the title on September 5, 1999.

Light Heavyweight Championship

Weight limit: 85 kg (187.4 lb)
NOTE: Shooto weight classes are different than the United States Association of Boxing Commissions, which is used by most MMA promotions. This is closer to the ABC-recognised Middleweight class.
Name Date Defenses
Japan Kenji Kawaguchi
(def. Manabu Yamada) 		May 31, 1991

1. def. Manabu Yamada on May 31, 1991
2. def. Satoshi Honma on October 17, 1991
3. def. Manabu Yamada on July 23, 1992
4. draw. Satoshi Honma on November 27, 1992

United States Erik Paulson May 7, 1996

1. def. Masanori Suda on August 29, 1998

Paulson retires, title vacant for 4 years.
Japan Masanori Suda
(def. Lance Gibson) 		January 12, 2002

1. def. Egan Inoue on May 9, 2003
2. draw. Dustin Denes on July 9, 2004

Suda announced his retirement on February 26, 2006 thus relinquishing the title.
Japan Shiko Yamashita
(def. Dustin Denes) 		April 22, 2006
Netherlands Siyar Bahadurzada July 15, 2007

1. def. Leandro Silva on August 27, 2009
2. def. Carlos Alexandre Pereira on August 6, 2010

Bahadurzada vacated the title on April 14, 2012 after signing with the UFC.

Middleweight Championship

Weight limit: 77 kg (169.8 lb)
NOTE: Shooto weight classes are different than the United States Association of Boxing Commissions, which is used by most MMA promotions. This is closer to the ABC-recognised Welterweight class.
Name Date Defenses
Japan Yasuto Sekishima
(def. Yoshimasa Ishikawa) 		May 12, 1990

1. draw. Naoki Sakurada on November 28, 1990

Japan Yoshimasa Ishikawa August 3, 1991
Ishikawa vacated the title in 1991 to compete as a lightweight.
Japan Naoki Sakurada
(def. Yasuto Sekishima) 		October 17, 1991

1. def. Kazuhiro Kusayanagi on September 25, 1992

Sakurada announced his retirement on January 18, 1997 thus relinquishing the title.
Japan Hayato Sakurai May 13, 1998

1. def. Tetsuji Kato on March 17, 2000

Brazil Anderson Silva August 26, 2001
Silva vacated the title on January 9, 2002 after signing with PRIDE.
United States Jake Shields
(def. Ray Cooper) 		July 9, 2004
Japan Akira Kikuchi December 14, 2004
Japan Shinya Aoki February 17, 2006

1. def. Akira Kikuchi on February 17, 2007

Aoki vacated the title on May 21, 2010 after years of not defending it, fighting for other promotions, and fighting primarily as a lightweight.
Brazil Luis Ramos
(def. Igor Fernandes) 		August 6, 2010
Ramos vacated the title on August 9, 2011 after signing with the UFC.[1]
Brazil Hernani Perpetuo
(def. Tommy Depret) 		August 25, 2013

Welterweight Championship

Weight limit: 70 kg (154.3 lb)
NOTE: Shooto weight classes are different than the United States Association of Boxing Commissions, which is used by most MMA promotions. This is closer to the ABC-recognised Lightweight class.
Name Date Defenses
Japan Yuichi Watanabe
(def. Kazuhiro Kusayanagi) 		March 29, 1991
Watanabe vacated the title in 1991 for unknown reasons.
Japan Tomonori Ohara
(def. Yoshimasa Ishikawa) 		October 17, 1991
  • def. Yomohiro Tanaka on September 25, 1992
Ohara announced his retirement in November 1992 and thus relinquished the title.
Japan Yuki Nakai
(def. Kazuhiro Kusayanagi) 		November 7, 1994
Nakai suffered an eye injury which forced him into retirement in April 1995.
Japan Caol Uno
(def. Rumina Sato) 		May 29, 1999
Uno vacated the title on December 17, 2000 to compete in the UFC.
Japan Takanori Gomi
(def. Rumina Sato) 		December 16, 2001
Norway Joachim Hansen August 10, 2003
Brazil Vítor Ribeiro December 14, 2003
Japan Tatsuya Kawajiri December 14, 2004
Kawajiri relinquished the title on January 23, 2007 after suffering a knee injury which prevented him from defending his title in the mandatory time period per Shooto regulations.
Japan Takashi Nakakura
(def. Ganjo Tentsuku) 		May 3, 2008
Nakakura relinquished the title on September 21, 2009, declaring that he wasn't ready to properly defend it after losing a non-title fight to Takanori Gomi.[2]
Brazil Willamy Freire
(def. Kenichiro Togashi) 		October 30, 2009
  • def. Yusuke Endo on May 30, 2010
Freire vacated the title on May 30, 2010 to compete in the UFC.[3]
Japan Kuniyoshi Hironaka
(def. Kotetsu Boku) 		July 18, 2011
  • def. Giovani Diniz on May 18, 2012
  • def. Yoshihiro Koyama on September 29, 2013
Hironaka vacated the title in December 2015 for unknown reasons.[4]
Japan Koshi Matsumoto
(def. Yuki Kawana) 		April 23, 2016
Matsumoto vacated the title on February 16, 2020 when he signed with ONE Championship.[5]
Japan Yuki Kawana
(def. Shutaro Debana) 		July 12, 2020
Japan Yamato Nishikawa
(def. Yuki Kawana) 		September 20, 2021

Lightweight Championship

Weight limit: 65 kg (143.3 lb)
NOTE: Shooto weight classes are different than the United States Association of Boxing Commissions, which is used by most MMA promotions. This is closer to the ABC-recognised Featherweight class.
Name Date Defenses
Japan Kenichi Tanaka
(def. Kazuhiro Sakamoto) 		September 8, 1990
Japan Kazuhiro Sakamoto May 31, 1991
  • def. Hiroyuki Kanno on October 17, 1991
Japan Noboru Asahi March 27, 1992
  • draw. Kenichi Tanaka on July 23, 1992
  • draw. Uchu Tatsumi on March 28, 1999
Brazil Alexandre Franca Nogueira September 5, 1999
  • def. Uchu Tatsumi on August 27, 2000
  • def. Tetsuo Katsuta on September 2, 2001
  • def. Katsuya Toida on December 16, 2001
  • def. Hiroyuki Abe on December 14, 2002
  • draw. Stephen Palling on August 10, 2003
  • def. Joao Roque on March 11, 2005
Nogueira vacated the title on May 7, 2006 after suffering a knee injury which prevented him from defending his title in the mandatory time period per Shooto regulations.
Japan Takeshi Inoue
(def. Antonio Carvalho) 		May 12, 2006
Japan Akitoshi Tamura May 18, 2007
Japan Hideki Kadowaki March 28, 2008
Japan Takeshi Inoue (2) November 29, 2008
Japan Hatsu Hioki May 30, 2010
Hioki vacated the title on May 31, 2011 to compete in the UFC.[6]
Japan Yutaka Saito
(def. Yoshifumi Nakamura) 		January 11, 2016
Saito vacated the title on March 31, 2021 to compete in Rizin.[7]
Japan Keisuke Sasu
(def. Ryoji Kudo) 		July 25, 2021
  • def. Tateo Iida on March 19, 2023

Featherweight Championship

Weight limit: 60 kg (132.3 lb)
NOTE: Shooto weight classes are different than the United States Association of Boxing Commissions, which is used by most MMA promotions. This is closer to the ABC-recognised Bantamweight class.
Name Date Defenses
Japan Mamoru Yamaguchi
(def. Jin Akimoto) 		December 17, 2000
Japan Masahiro Oishi November 25, 2001
Japan Ryota Matsune August 10, 2003
  • def. Kentaro Imaizumi on November 12, 2004
Matsune vacated the title in February 2006 after suffering a knee injury which prevented him from defending his title in the mandatory time period per Shooto regulations.[8]
Japan Akitoshi Hokazono
(def. Kenji Osawa) 		July 21, 2006
Hokazono announced his retirement on January 26, 2008 and thus relinquished the title.[9]
Japan Masakatsu Ueda
(def. Koetsu Okazaki) 		March 28, 2008
Japan Shuichiro Katsumura March 22, 2010
Japan Koetsu Okazaki April 29, 2011
Japan Hiromasa Ougikubo May 18, 2012
Japan Kyoji Horiguchi March 16, 2013
Horiguchi vacated the title in December 2015 to compete in the UFC.[10]
Japan Shoko Sato
(def. Keita Ishibashi) 		November 15, 2017
  • def. Tristan Grimsley on July 15, 2018
  • def. Yo Saito on November 17, 2018
Sato vacated the title on November 30, 2020, in order to compete with ONE Championship.[11]
Japan Ryo Okada
(def. Kazuma Kuramoto) for interim title.[12] Promoted to undisputed status on November 30, 2020. 		November 30, 2020
Japan Tatsuya Ando
(def. Ryo Okada) 		March 21, 2022

Bantamweight Championship

Weight limit: 56 kg (123.4 lb)
NOTE: Shooto weight classes are different than the United States Association of Boxing Commissions, which is used by most MMA promotions. This is closer to the ABC-recognised Flyweight class.
Name Date Defenses
Japan Mamoru Yamaguchi
(def. Yasuhiro Urushitani) 		December 14, 2003
Japan Shinichi Kojima
(def. Mamoru Yamaguchi) 		October 14, 2006
Kojima vacated the title on February 27, 2010 after suffering an ACL injury in his right knee which prevented him from defending his title in the mandatory time period per Shooto regulations.[13]
Japan Yasuhiro Urushitani
(def. Ryuichi Miki) 		May 30, 2010
Urushitani vacated the title on December 10, 2011 to compete in the UFC.
Ryuichi Miki drew with Yosuke Saruta for the vacant title on July 27, 2013.
Japan Ryuichi Miki
(def. Yosuke Saruta) 		November 9, 2013
Japan Masaaki Sugawara
(def. Ryuichi Miki) 		May 3, 2015
Japan Hiromasa Ougikubo
(def. Masaaki Sugawara) 		April 23, 2016
Ougikubo vacated the title on January 31, 2021.[14]
Japan Ryuya Fukuda
(def. Yoshiro Maeda for the interim title. 		July 12, 2020
Fukuda was promoted to undisputed status as Ougikubo vacated.[15]
Japan Tatsuro Taira
(def. Ryuya Fukuda). 		July 3, 2021
Taira vacated the title on May 21, 2023. [16]
Japan Jo Arai
(def. Wataru Yamauchi) 		November 19, 2023

Flyweight Championship

Weight limit: 52 kg (114.6 lb)
NOTE: Shooto weight classes are different than the United States Association of Boxing Commissions, which is used by most MMA promotions. This is closer to the ABC-recognised Strawweight class.
Name Date Defenses
Thailand Rambaa Somdet
(def. Noboru Tahara) 		November 23, 2009
Somdet vacated the title on April 16, 2011 due to a partially torn left biceps.[17]
Japan Junji Ikoma
(def. Junji Ito) 		April 29, 2011
Japan Mikihito Yamagami November 5, 2011
Yamagami vacated the title in December 2013 when he moved up in weight.[18]
Japan Shinya Murofushi
(def. Junji Ito) 		January 13, 2014
Japan Yoshitaka Naito September 27, 2014
  • def. Ryuta Sawada on July 26, 2015
  • def. Junji Ito on November 29, 2015
Naito vacated the title on April 7, 2016 when he signed with ONE Championship.[19]
Japan Ryohei Kurosawa
(def. Ryuto Sawada) 		July 17, 2016
Kurosawa vacated the title in 2017.
Japan Yosuke Saruta
(def. Ryuto Sawada) 		October 15, 2017
  • def. Itchaku Murata on May 13, 2018
Saruta vacated the title on November 30, 2019, after signing with ONE Championship.[20]
Japan Hiroshi Minowa
(def. Yohei Komaki) 		January 26, 2020
Ito was promoted to undisputed champion status on August 1, 2022, after Minowa vacated the title.[21]
Japan Junji Ito
def. Ryohei Kurosawa for the interim title[22] 		November 7, 2021
Japan Jo Arai
(def. Junji Ito) 		September 19, 2022
  • def. Shuto Aki on July 23, 2023

Women's Super Atomeweight Championship

Weight limit: 50 kg (110.2 lbs)
Name Date Defenses
Japan Mina Kurobe
(def. Megumi Sugimoto) 		August 1, 2020
Japan Satomi Takano
(def. Mina Kurobe) 		November 7, 2021
Japan Ayaka Watanabe
(def. Satomi Takano) 		May 21, 2023

Women's Atomeweight Championship

Weight limit: 48 kg (105.8 lbs)
Name Date Defenses
Japan Chihiro Sawada
(def. Yuki Ono) 		November 27, 2022
  • def. Miku Nakamura on December 1, 2023

Records

Most wins in title bouts

The following includes all fighters with four or more championship and/or interim championship title wins.

Title wins Champion Weight class V D NC L
6 Brazil Alexandre Franca Nogueira Lightweight 6 1 0 0
4 Japan Kenji Kawaguchi Light Heavyweight 4 1 0 1
Japan Hiromasa Ougikubo Featherweight
Bantamweight 		1
3 		0
0 		0
0 		0
1

Most consecutive title defenses

The following includes all Bellator champions who were able to consecutively defend their title three times or more. Fighters with the same number of title defenses are listed chronologically.

Defenses Champion Division Period
6 Brazil Alexandre Franca Nogueira [a] Lightweight September 5, 1999 – May 7, 2006
4 Japan Kenji Kawaguchi [b] Light Heavyweight May 31, 1991 – May 7, 1996
3 Japan Shinichi Kojima [c] Bantamweight October 16, 2006 – March 1, 2010
Japan Masakatsu Ueda [d] Featherweight March 28, 2008 – March 22, 2010
  1. ^ Alexandre Franca Nogueira after becoming a Lightweight champion he was successful in defending the belt twice: 5 win and 1 draw.
  2. ^ Kenji Kawaguchi after becoming a Light Heavyweight champion he was successful in defending the belt twice: 3 win and 1 draw.
  3. ^ Shinichi Kojima after becoming a Bantamweight champion he was successful in defending the belt twice: 2 win and 1 draw.
  4. ^ Masakatsu Ueda after becoming a Featherweight champion he was successful in defending the belt twice: 2 win and 1 draw.

Multi-division champions

Fighters who have won championships in multiple weight classes.[23] Tournament champions are not included.

Interim title
* Simultaneous two
division champion
No. Champion Division Period Defense
1 Japan Mamoru Yamaguchi Featherweight December 17, 2000 – November 25, 2001 0
Bantamweight December 14, 2003 – October 14, 2006 2
2 Japan Hiromasa Ougikubo Featherweight May 18, 2012 – March 16, 2013 0
Bantamweight April 23, 2016 – January 31, 2021 2

By nationality

The following include championship title holders by nationality.

Country Titles
 Japan 62
 Brazil 6
 United States 3
 Netherlands 1
 Thailand 1
 Norway 1

See also

References

  1. ^ Tabuena, Anton. "UFC 134: Shooto Champ Luis 'Beicao' Ramos to Replace Mike Swick Against Erick Silva". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  2. ^ "【修斗】中蔵隆志が網膜はく離のため王座を返上、10・30シケリムVS冨樫で決定戦". gbring.com. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  3. ^ Butterfield, Jon (2011-01-14). "411 Fighter Profile 01.14.11: Willamy Freire". 411Mania.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-07. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
  4. ^ "【修斗】松本光史と川名雄生が世界王座を懸けて再戦". efight.jp. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  5. ^ "世界ライト級王者・松本光史がタイトルを返上". shooto-mma.com. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  6. ^ "元修斗＆戦極王者・日沖がＵＦＣに初参戦 メインではＢＪ・ペンがニック・ディアスと激突！". sports.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  7. ^ "世界フェザー級王者・斎藤裕がタイトルを返上". j-shooto.com. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  8. ^ "【修斗】松根良太が世界タイトルを返上". gbring.com. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  9. ^ "【修斗】世界フェザー級王者・外薗が引退、王座を返上「格闘技とは違う目標ができた」". gbring.com. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  10. ^ "堀口がタイトル返上". j-shooto.com. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  11. ^ "【修斗】世界バンタム級王者・佐藤将光がタイトルを返上". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  12. ^ "【Shooto2020#03】岡田、KO勝利で暫定世界王座＆環太平洋王座の二冠達成！「俺は修斗を愛しています」". mmaplanet.jp. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  13. ^ "【修斗】世界王者BJが膝の負傷でタイトル返上「復帰戦はタイトルマッチで」". gbring.com. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  14. ^ "扇久保博正がある"挑戦"を理由に修斗のベルトを返上、その裏にはRIZINバンタム級GPの開催か". efight.jp. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  15. ^ "【修斗】王者・福田龍彌がデビュー8戦全勝の超新星・平良達郎を迎え初防衛戦=6.20大阪". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  16. ^ "【修斗】齋藤奨司が須藤拓真の足関節を凌ぎ打撃を入れて判定勝ち、田中半蔵がロイベに判定勝ち、齋藤翼がフェザー級で岡田達磨に一本勝ち、平良達郎がUFC4連勝に向け、修斗世界王座返上". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  17. ^ Nelson, Chris (2011-04-16). "Hioki Joins April 29 Shooto Card; 'M-16' Vacates Title". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
  18. ^ "山上幹臣 修斗フライ級王座返上、韓国ROAD FCへ". Fight&Life. No. 40. February 2014.
  19. ^ "修斗世界フライ級王者・内藤のび太が王座返上". tokyoheadline.com. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  20. ^ "【修斗】世界ストロー級王者・猿田洋祐が王座返上、ONE王座奪還目指す猿田とストロー級戦線のいま". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  21. ^ "【修斗】正規王者に昇格の猿丸ジュンジが新井丈を迎え初防衛戦、『ROAD TO UFC』で勝利した内田タケルが関口祐冬と対戦＝9.19". efight.jp. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  22. ^ "猿丸ジュンジが5回目のチャレンジで悲願の王座を獲得「これは応援してくれたみんなのチャンピオンベルト」【修斗】". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  23. ^ "MMA All-time Record Holders". sportsillustrated.

External links