Akira Shoji
| Akira Shoji | |
|---|---|
| Born |
January 31, 1974 Osaka, Japan |
| Other names | Mr. Pride, Saigo no Nippon Danji ("The Last Son of Japan"), Nippon Jujutsu Kai no Arahoshi ("Japanese Ju-Jitsu's Warrior Monk") |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st) |
| Division |
Middleweight Light Heavyweight Heavyweight |
| Team | Wajyutsu Keisyukai Brightness |
| Teacher(s) | Yoshinori Nishi |
| Years active | 1996-2011 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 36 |
| Wins | 14 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 5 |
| By decision | 7 |
| Losses | 17 |
| By knockout | 8 |
| By submission | 3 |
| By decision | 6 |
| Draws | 5 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Akira Shoji (小路晃) (born January 31, 1974) is a retired Japanese professional mixed martial artist.
Shoji is most known as being a regular in almost all the beginning Pride FC Mixed Martial Art events. Shoji was in every Pride event from Pride 1 to Pride 7, and was part of the first Pride open weight Grand Prix in 2000.[1] Shoji was consistently a regular in Pride, and moved from Heavyweight to Light Heavyweight (Middleweight in Pride) due to his smaller stature.
Though Shoji has a losing record, he gained much popularity for his mic performance (yells out to the audience), die hard spirit, stellar submission escapes (as seen in his first bout with Renzo Gracie), razor sharp armbar and a fighting spirit demonstrated by his willingness to take on all comers.
Shoji also worked as a professional wrestler. In 2008, he began participating HUSTLE and became a regular roster of the promotion. Later HUSTLE was closed, Shoji joined SMASH, a new promotion where Yoshihiro Tajiri works as wrestler and producer, and had the feuds with Kim Nam-Hoon, Yoshiaki Yago and Minoru Suzuki. On January 2011, Shoji announced that he had quit professional wrestling to participate with the mixed martial arts fields in Japan.
According to fight commentator Stephen Quadros and John Hyams, director of the documentary "The Smashing Machine", Shoji cleaned his house and prepared his will before every competition in case he is killed during the fight.[2]
As a judge for the Dream mixed martial arts organization in Japan, Shoji considered a final retirement match.[3] He got his will at DEEP 53 in a match against Kazou Misaki, which he lost by TKO in the second round. Both Misaki and Shoji broke out in tears after the fight, overwhelmed by emotions, knowing it was Shoji`s final match.
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 36 matches | 14 wins | 17 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 8 |
| By submission | 5 | 3 |
| By decision | 7 | 6 |
| Draws | 5 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 14–17–5 | Kazuo Misaki | TKO (punches) | DEEP 53 Impact | April 22, 2011 | 2 | 1:13 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 14–16–5 | Gilbert Yvel | TKO (punches) | PRIDE 34 | April 8, 2007 | 1 | 3:04 | Saitama, Japan | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 14–15–5 | Carlos Toyota | Decision (majority) | Deep: clubDeep Toyama: Barbarian Festival 5 | November 19, 2006 | 2 | 5:00 | Toyama, Japan | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 13–15–5 | Kyacey Uscola | KO (punches) | KOTC: All Stars | October 28, 2006 | 2 | 2:23 | Reno, Nevada, United States | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 13–14–5 | Todd Medina | Decision (unanimous) | KOTC: Rapid Fire | August 4, 2006 | 3 | 5:00 | San Jacinto, California, United States | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 12–14–5 | Kazuo Misaki | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | Deep: 23 Impact | February 5, 2006 | 1 | 2:32 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 12–13–5 | Mark Weir | KO (head kick) | Cage Rage 14 | December 3, 2005 | 1 | 0:17 | London, England | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 12–12–5 | Dean Lister | Technical Submission (triangle choke) | Pride: Bushido 6 | April 3, 2005 | 1 | 3:13 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 12–11–5 | Paulo Filho | Decision (split) | PRIDE Bushido 4 | July 19, 2004 | 2 | 5:00 | Nagoya, Japan | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 12–10–5 | Yukio Kawabe | TKO (punches) | PRIDE Bushido 3 | May 23, 2004 | 1 | 0:18 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 11–10–5 | Murilo Rua | KO (flying knee) | PRIDE Shockwave 2003 | December 31, 2003 | 1 | 2:24 | Saitama, Japan | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 11–9–5 | Maurício Rua | KO (punches) | PRIDE Bushido 1 | October 5, 2003 | 1 | 3:47 | Saitama, Japan | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 11–8–5 | Dustin Denes | Decision (unanimous) | Absolute Fighting Championships 4 | July 19, 2003 | 3 | 5:00 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 10–8–5 | Alex Stiebling | Decision (split) | PRIDE 25 | March 16, 2003 | 3 | 5:00 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 9–8–5 | Paulo Filho | Submission (armbar) | PRIDE 22 | September 29, 2002 | 1 | 2:48 | Nagoya, Japan | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 9–7–5 | David Roberts | Submission (armbar) | KOTC 13 - Revolution | May 17, 2002 | 2 | 4:46 | Reno, Nevada, United States | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 8–7–5 | Jeremy Horn | Decision (unanimous) | PRIDE 18 | December 23, 2001 | 3 | 5:00 | Fukuoka, Japan | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 8–6–5 | Semmy Schilt | KO (knee & punches) | PRIDE 16 | September 24, 2001 | 1 | 8:19 | Osaka, Japan | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 8–5–5 | Dan Henderson | TKO (punches & knees) | PRIDE 14 | May 27, 2001 | 3 | 3:18 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 8–4–5 | Ricardo Almeida | Decision (unanimous) | PRIDE 12 | December 9, 2000 | 2 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 8–3–5 | Herman Renting | Submission (armbar) | PRIDE 11 | October 31, 2000 | 1 | 3:48 | Osaka, Japan | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 7–3–5 | John Renken | Submission (armbar) | PRIDE 9 | June 4, 2000 | 1 | 6:44 | Nagoya, Japan | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 6–3–5 | Mark Coleman | Decision (unanimous) | PRIDE Grand Prix 2000 Finals | May 1, 2000 | 1 | 15:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 6–2–5 | Ebenezer Fontes Braga | Decision (unanimous) | PRIDE Grand Prix 2000 Opening Round | January 30, 2000 | 1 | 15:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| style="background:#c5d2ea; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-draw" |Draw | 5–2–5 | Ryushi Yanagisawa | Draw | Pancrase - 1999 Anniversary Show | September 18, 1999 | 1 | 15:00 | Urayasu, Chiba, Japan | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 5–2–4 | Larry Parker | Decision (unanimous) | PRIDE 7 | September 12, 1999 | 3 | 5:00 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 4–2–4 | Guy Mezger | Decision (split) | PRIDE 6 | July 4, 1999 | 3 | 5:00 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 3–2–4 | Igor Vovchanchyn | Decision (unanimous) | PRIDE 5 | April 29, 1999 | 2 | 10:00 | Nagoya, Japan | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 3–1–4 | Wallid Ismail | TKO (punches) | PRIDE 4 | October 11, 1998 | 2 | 1:26 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| style="background:#c5d2ea; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-draw" |Draw | 2–1–4 | Adriano de Souza | Draw | GCM: Vale Tudo | August 29, 1998 | 3 | 5:00 | Japan | |
| style="background:#c5d2ea; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-draw" |Draw | 2–1–3 | Daijiro Matsui | Draw | PRIDE 3 | June 24, 1998 | 4 | 10:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 2–1–2 | Juan Mott | Submission (rear naked choke) | PRIDE 2 | March 15, 1998 | 1 | 3:47 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| style="background:#c5d2ea; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-draw" |Draw | 1–1–2 | Renzo Gracie | Draw | PRIDE 1 | October 11, 1997 | 3 | 10:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 1–1–1 | Kaichi Tsuji | Decision (unanimous) | Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '97 Heavyweight Tournament | July 27, 1997 | 2 | 3:00 | Japan | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 1–0–1 | Vidal Serradilla | Submission (punches) | JECVTO: Japan Extreme Challenge Vale Tudo Open | May 28, 1997 | 1 | 2:16 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| style="background:#c5d2ea; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-draw" |Draw | 0–0–1 | Manabu Ohara | Draw | KP X WK: Koppo vs. Keisyukai | November 30, 1996 | 1 | 20:00 | Japan |
Submission grappling record
KO PUNCHES| Result | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss |  Fabrício Werdum | Points | ADCC 2003 Absolute | 2003 | 1 | ||
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win |  Mitsuhiro Ishida | Points | ADCC 2003 Absolute | 2003 | 1 | ||
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss |  David Terrel | Points | ADCC 2003 +88kg | 2003 | 1 | ||
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | Amaury Bitteti | Points | ADCC 1999 -88 kg | 1999 | 1 | 10:00 | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | Masutatsu Yano | Decision | The CONTENDERS 1 | 1999 | 3 | 5:00 | |