Akihiro Gono

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Akihiro Gono
Image:AkihiroGono.gif
Statistics
Nickname	The Japanese Sensation
Height	5'9 (175cm)
Weight	170lbs (77kg)
Born	October 7, 1974 (1974-10-07) (age 33)
Fighting out of	Higashikurume, Tokyo, Japan
Town of birth	Higashikurume, Tokyo, Japan
Team/Association	Team Grabaka^[1]
Mixed martial arts record
Wins	27
By knockout	7
By submission	5
Losses	12
Draws	7

Akihiro Gono (born October 7, 1974 in Tokyo, Japan; is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter. He currently fights as a welterweight in the UFC. He is best known for his clever and deceptive fighting style, and for his flashy ring entrances. His fighting style is characterized by skillfully avoiding strikes, using fast counter punches and generally getting the opponent to fight his way. He is nicknamed the " Magic Man"^{[citations needed]} for his ability to pull out bizarre submissions often when it looks like he has nothing available.^{[citations needed]}

1 Biography
- 1.1 Mixed martial arts career
- 1.2 UFC signing
2 Mixed martial arts record
3 See also
4 Notes
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Biography

Akihiro Gono began fighting mixed martial arts in 1994, beginning with the Lumax Cup: Tournament of Japan '94. He would go on to fight in the Shooto organization, as well as Pancrase. He began fighting in Pride Bushido with Bushido 2 in 2004.

[edit] Mixed martial arts career

Gono holds wins over such fighters as Yuki Kondo, Ivan Salaverry, Crosley Gracie, Daniel Acacio, and Dae Won Kim. He has fought many tough opponents, with losses to such fighters as Mauricio Rua, Dan Henderson, Matt Hughes, and Yuki Kondo.

Gono began making his ring entrances in Pride FC more elaborate in 2006 with the creation of a character, DJ Gozma (a parody of Japanese musician DJ OZMA). The entrances have involved Gono wearing a vintage suit, including shoes, an orange wig, and accompanied by oddly dressed male dancers while the song age♂age♂EVERY☆Night by DJ OZMA plays in the background. Also, when the fighters are introduced in the ring, Gono drops his suit's pants to reveal zebra stripped fighting briefs.

[edit] UFC signing

Gono defeated Tamdan McCrory by verbal submission due to an Armbar at 3:19 of the second round. It was reported (first by Dave Meltzer) that he came out to his usual entrance with his DJ GOZMA persona.

[edit] Mixed martial arts record

28 wins (7 TKO's, 6 submissions, 14 decisions), 12 losses, 7 draws .

Result	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes

Win	Tamdan McCrory	Submission (Armbar)	UFC 78: Validation	11/17/2007	2	3:19	Newark, New Jersey	Won Submission of the Night Honors
Win	Yuki Kondo	Decision (Split)	PRIDE Shockwave 2006	12/31/2006	2	5:00	Saitama, Japan
Loss	Denis Kang	Decision(Unanimous)	PRIDE Bushido 13	11/5/2006	2	5:00	Yokohama, Japan
Win	Gegard Mousasi	Submission (Armbar)	PRIDE Bushido 12	8/26/2006	2	4:24	Nagoya, Japan
Win	Hector Lombard	Decision (Unanimous)	PRIDE Bushido 11	6/4/2006	2	5:00	Saitama, Japan
Win	Dae Won Kim	Submission (Armbar)	PRIDE Bushido 10	4/2/2006	1	9:00	Tokyo, Japan
Win	Crosley Gracie	Decision	PRIDE Bushido 7	05/22/2005	2	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	Mauricio Rua	TKO (soccer kicks)	PRIDE Bushido 2	02/15/2004	1	9:04	Yokohama, Japan
Draw	Murilo Rua	Draw	Shooto: To The Top 4	5/1/2001	3	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Win	Ivan Salaverry	KO (Spinning Back Kick to the Ribs)	Shooto: To The Top 1	01/19/2001	1	3:06	Tokyo, Japan
Win	Andy Wang	Decision (Unanimous)	Shooto: R.E.A.D. 5	5/22/2000	3	5:00	Tokyo, Japan