| Tsuyoshi Kosaka | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 6, 1970 |
| Other names | TK |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight | 225 lb (102.1 kg; 16.1 st) |
| Division | Heavyweight |
| Style | Judo, Submission Grappling |
| Rank | 4th degree black belt in Judo |
| Years active | 1995 - 2006 (MMA) |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 38 |
| Wins | 21 |
| By knockout | 7 |
| By submission | 6 |
| By decision | 8 |
| Losses | 15 |
| By knockout | 8 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 5 |
| Draws | 2 |
| Other information | |
| Website | Official blog |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
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Tsuyoshi "TK" Kohsaka (高阪 剛 Kōsaka Tsuyoshi, born March 6, 1970) is a Japanese retired mixed martial artist. He has competed in notable mixed martial arts promotions like the Ultimate Fighting Championship, RINGS, and Pancrase. He holds notable wins over Kimo Leopoldo, Mario Sperry, Volk Han, Gilbert Yvel and Egan Inoue. He is one of only four fighters to defeat Fedor Emelianenko. Kohsaka is known for his conditioning and grappling prowess as well as fighting many of the greatest heavyweight and light heavyweight fighters of all time. His "TK guard" is famous for its efficiency and Frank Shamrock and Maurice Smith have both credited him with having vastly improved their work from that particular position.[1]
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Tsuyoshi Kohsaka was an early MMA pioneer, who started his career in the Rings Organization frequently having to fight each and every month. He won the prestigious Lumax Cup tournament, beating out the likes of Akihiro Gono and Egan Inoue. During his career at Rings, Kohsaka defeated former UFC Heavyweight champion Maurice Smith, Gilbert Ivel, Chris Hasseman, and Fedor Emelianenko.
In 1998, Kohsaka signed with the UFC and defeated Kimo Leopoldo via Unanimous decision on his debut fight. Later that year he fought and defeated Pete Williams. This win gained Kohsaka a spot in a tournament for the title which was vacated by Randy Couture. In 1999, Kosaka fought MMA legend Bas Rutten in the first round of the "Road to the Heavyweight Title", which was a four man tournament that would crown the next UFC Heavyweight Champion.[2] The fight with Rutten was the source of some controversy because John McCarthy seemed to unfairly stand the fight back to the feet even though at some moments Kohsaka was mounted on Rutten and actively landing clean effective punches. Kohsaka dominated the majority of the fight with his ground and pound game plan, but ultimately lost by TKO in overtime. Later that year he would return to fight Tim Lajcik, where he won via TKO when Lajcik quit between rounds. He announced his intentions to retire should he lose any of his matches in 2006. On May 5, 2006, he lost to Mark Hunt at PRIDE Total Elimination Absolute and has not competed in MMA since.[3]
Late in his career he was still able to defeat Ron Waterman and Ricardo Morais, both of whom weighed in for their contests against him in excess of 300 pounds. One of his biggest wins arrived late in his career as well, when he knocked out Brazilian Top Team coach Mario Sperry on the same day of his son's birth.
Tsuyoshi Kohsaka now owns and operates a dojo in Japan where he trains his A-Square team along with Hidehiko Yoshida and his stable.
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 38 matches | 21 wins | 15 losses |
| By knockout | 7 | 8 |
| By submission | 6 | 2 |
| By decision | 8 | 5 |
| Draws | 2 | |
| No contests | 0 | |
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 26–18–2 | Mark Hunt | TKO (punches) | Pride Total Elimination Absolute | May 5, 2006 | 2 | 4:15 | Osaka, Japan | Pride 2006 Openweight Grand Prix opening round. |
| Win | 26–17–2 | Mario Sperry | TKO (punches) | Pride 31 | February 26, 2006 | 1 | 1:20 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Loss | 25–17–2 | Mike Kyle | Technical decision (unanimous) | Pancrase: Spiral | October 2, 2005 | 3 | 1:17 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Win | 25–16–2 | David Shvelidze | Submission (armbar) | Rings: Lithuania | August 20, 2005 | 1 | N/A | Yekaterinburg, Russia | |
| Loss | 24–16–2 | Fedor Emelianenko | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Pride Bushido 6 | April 3, 2005 | 1 | 10:00 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Win | 24–15–2 | Ron Waterman | Decision (unanimous) | Pancrase: Brave 10 | November 7, 2004 | 3 | 5:00 | Urayasu, Japan | Won Pancrase Super Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | 23–15–2 | Ricardo Morais | Decision (unanimous) | NJPW: Ultimate Crush | October 13, 2003 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 22–15–2 | Sumiyabazar Dolgorsuren | TKO (doctor stoppage) | NJPW: Ultimate Crush | May 2, 2003 | 1 | 2:56 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 21–15–2 | Antonio Rogerio Nogueira | Decision (unanimous) | Deep 2001: 6th Impact | September 7, 2002 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 21–14–2 | Ricco Rodriguez | TKO (punches) | UFC 37 | May 10, 2002 | 2 | 3:25 | Bossier City, U.S. | |
| Loss | 21–13–2 | Bazigit Atajev | Decision (majority) | Rings: World Title Series 5 | December 21, 2001 | 3 | 5:00 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Win | 21–12–2 | Koba Tkeshelashvili | KO (knee) | Rings-10th Anniversary | August 11, 2001 | 1 | 2:17 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 20–12–1 | Renato Sobral | Decision (majority) | Rings: World Title Series 2 | June 15, 2001 | 3 | 5:00 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Loss | 20–11–2 | Randy Couture | Decision (unanimous) | Rings: King of Kings 2000 Final | February 24, 2001 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | King of Kings 2000 Tournament Quarterfinal |
| Win | 20–10–2 | Fedor Emelianenko | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Rings: King of Kings 2000 Block B | December 22, 2000 | 1 | 00:17 | Osaka, Japan | King of Kings 2000 Tournament 2nd Round |
| Win | 19–10–2 | Mikhail Illoukhine | KO (punches) | Rings: King of Kings 2000 Block B | December 22, 2000 | 2 | 01:53 | Osaka, Japan | King of Kings 2000 Tournament 1st Round |
| Draw | 18–10–2 | Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | Draw | Rings: Millennium Combine 3 | August 23, 2000 | 2 | 5:00 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Win | 17–10–1 | Greg Wikan | Submission (toe hold) | Rings USA: Rising Stars Block A | July 15, 2000 | 1 | 02:53 | Orem, U.S. | Rising Stars Heavyweight Tournament 2000 2nd Round |
| Win | 18–10–1 | Travis Fulton | Decision (unanimous) | Rings USA: Rising Stars Block A | July 15, 2000 | 3 | 05:00 | Orem, U.S. | Rising Stars Heavyweight Tournament 2000 1st Round |
| Loss | 16–10–1 | Gilbert Yvel | TKO (cut) | Rings: King of Kings 1999 Block B | December 22, 1999 | 3 | 05:00 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Win | 16–9–1 | Chris Haseman | Decision (split) | Rings: King of Kings 1999 Block B | December 22, 1999 | 1 | 01:17 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Loss | 15–9–1 | Pedro Rizzo | TKO (punches) | UFC 23 | November 19, 1999 | 3 | 01:12 | Urayasu, Japan | |
| Win | 15–8–1 | Gilbert Yvel | Technical Decision (lost points) | Rings: Rise 5th | August 19, 1999 | 1 | 08:17 | Japan | |
| Win | 14–8–1 | Tim Lajcik | TKO (corner stoppage) | UFC 21 | July 16, 1999 | 2 | 05:00 | Cedar Rapids, U.S. | |
| Loss | 13–8–1 | Yoshihisa Yamamoto | TKO (palm strikes) | Rings: Rise 3rd | May 22, 1999 | 3 | 00:44 | Japan | |
| Loss | 13–7–1 | Gilbert Yvel | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Rings: Rise 2nd | April 23, 1999 | 1 | 14:58 | Japan | |
| Loss | 13–6–1 | Bas Rutten | TKO (punches) | UFC 18 | January 8, 1999 | 1 | 14:15 | Kenner, U.S. | |
| Win | 13–5–1 | Pete Williams | Decision | UFC Brazil | October 16, 1998 | 1 | 15:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Draw | 12–5–1 | Kiyoshi Tamura | Draw | Rings: Fourth Fighting Integration | June 27, 1998 | 1 | 30:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 12–5 | Volk Han | Submission | Rings: Third Fighting Integration | May 29, 1998 | 1 | 10:10 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 11–5 | Kimo Leopoldo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 16 | March 13, 1998 | 1 | 15:00 | Kenner, U.S. | |
| Win | 10–5 | Rob van Esdonk | Submission (heel hook) | Rings Holland: The King of Rings | February 8, 1998 | 1 | 15:00 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | |
| Loss | 9–5 | Mikhail Illoukhine | N/A | Rings: Battle Dimensions Tournament 1997 Final | January 21, 1998 | N/A | N/A | ||
| Win | 9–4 | Borislav Jeliazkov | Decision (lost points) | Rings: Mega Battle Tournament 1997 Semifinal 1 | October 25, 1997 | 1 | 00:00 | Japan | |
| Loss | 8–4 | Frank Shamrock | Decision | Rings: Extension Fighting 7 | September 26, 1997 | 1 | 30:00 | Japan | |
| Loss | 8–3 | Kiyoshi Tamura | Submission (toe hold) | Rings: Extension Fighting 2 | April 22, 1997 | 1 | 13:57 | Japan | |
| Win | 8–2 | Mikhail Illoukhine | N/A | Rings Mega Battle Tournament: Budokan Hall 1997 | January 22, 1997 | N/A | N/A | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 7–2 | Volk Han | Submission (arm bar) | Rings: Battle Dimensions Tournament 1996 Final | January 1, 1997 | 1 | 13:52 | ||
| Win | 7–1 | Dick Vrij | N/A | Rings: Battle Dimensions Tournament 1996 Opening Round | October 25, 1996 | N/A | N/A | ||
| Loss | 6–1 | Volk Han | Submission (arm bar) | Rings: Maelstrom 6 | August 24, 1996 | 1 | 13:52 | Japan | |
| Win | 6–0 | Willie Peeters | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Rings Holland: Kings of Martial Arts | February 18, 1996 | N/A | N/A | Amsterdam, Netherlands | |
| Win | 5–0 | Maurice Smith | submission (heel hook) | Rings: Budokan Hall 1996 | January 24, 1996 | 1 | 4:13 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 4–0 | Egan Inoue | Decision (unanimous) | Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '95 | October 13, 1995 | 1 | 3:40 | Japan | Won Lumax Cup Tournament |
| Win | 3–0 | Susumu Yamasaki | Submission (heel hook) | Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '95 | October 13, 1995 | 1 | 0:52 | Japan | |
| Win | 2–0 | Hiroyuki Yoshioka | TKO (punches) | Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '95 | October 13, 1995 | 3 | 3:00 | Japan | |
| Win | 1–0 | Wataru Sakata | N/A | Rings: Budokan Hall 1995 | January 25, 1995 | N/A | N/A | Tokyo, Japan |