Kazuyuki Fujita

Kazuyuki Fujita
Born October 16, 1970
Funabashi, Chiba, Japan
Other names "Ol' Ironhead"
"The last disciple of Antonio Inoki"
"The last successor of Inokiism"
"Wild Beast"
"The Real Beast"
"Super Turtle"
Nationality Japanese
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 114 kg (251 lb; 17 st 13 lb)
Division Heavyweight
Style Wrestling
Trainer Antonio Inoki
Marco Ruas
Years active 2000 - 2009, 2013 (MMA)
Mixed martial arts record
Total 25
Wins 15
By knockout 5
By submission 8
By decision 2
Losses 10
By knockout 5
By submission 2
By decision 3
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Kazuyuki Fujita (藤田 和之 Fujita Kazuyuki)[1] (born October 16, 1970) is a Japanese professional wrestler, mixed martial artist and a former amateur wrestler. He has fought in mixed martial arts promotions including Pride Fighting Championships, K-1 and World Victory Road. He competes in mixed martial arts, shoot style wrestling and puroresu, and holds notable victories over Ken Shamrock, Gilbert Yvel, Bob Sapp and James Thompson.

Career

Wrestling

Fujita practiced freestyle wrestling in high school. He participated in the FILA World Championships as a junior in 1988, placing sixth, and in the Espoir division in 1989, placing eleventh. In 1993, Fujita placed fifth at the Asian Championships at the senior level, and in 1993 and 1994, he represented Japan as a senior in the World Cup, a dual meet tournament. He was also a national champion in Japan in Greco-Roman wrestling. He missed making the Japanese Olympic team by 1 point in the Olympic qualifiers.

Professional Wrestling (1996-2005, 2011-present)

Fujita joined New Japan Pro Wrestling in 1993, but he still competed in amateur wrestling. Because of this his professional debut was delayed three years until 1996. His debut match was against Yuji Nagata. Fujita steadily worked his way up the card, and in 1999 he started working against professional wrestlers who came from a Vale Tudo mixed martial arts background.

In April 2001 he returned to NJPW, and quickly won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship defeating Scott Norton at Strong Style 2001 on April 9.[2] He reigned as the champion until he was forced to vacate the title due to injury in January 2002.

Fujita returned to New Japan in the summer of 2002. At NJPW Cross Road on August 29, Fujita entered a tournament for the vacated NWF Heavyweight Championship but lost to eventual winner: Yoshihiro Takayama.[3] On October 14, Fujita challenged Yuji Nagata for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship but came up short.[3]

Fujita immediately won the vacated title by defeating Hiroshi Tanahashi. He lost the championship to Kensuke Sasaki on October 9, 2004.

In 2005 he joined the Team JAPAN faction, and on July 18, 2005 he won the championship for the third time against Hiroyoshi Tenzan. In August 2005, Fujita entered the 2005 G1 Climax where he won all his matches in the round robin portion, then defeated Toshiaki Kawada but lost to Masahiro Chono in the finals. He lost the IWGP Championship to Brock Lesnar on October 8, 2005 at Toukon Souzou New Chapter in a three way match including Masahiro Chono. Lesnar pinned Chono to win the title. In late 2005 he withdrew from a rematch with Lesnar, scheduled for January 4, 2006. Fujita was represented by Inoki Office, an agency originally started by Antonio Inoki, and had not been under a contract with NJPW.

Fujita returned to professional wrestling in 2011 with the Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) promotion.

Mixed martial arts (2000-2009)

In January 2000 he put his professional wrestling career on hiatus and began training for mixed martial arts competition. His trainer was his professional wrestling mentor and mixed martial arts legend, Antonio Inoki. He entered the PRIDE organization, and quickly gained success. On January 30 at Pride Grand Prix 2000 Opening Round, Fujita entered Pride's 2000 Openweight Grand Prix where he defeated Hans Nijman by submission. On April 1, Fujita fought at Extreme Shootout - The Underground where he KOed Dan Chase and then submitted Will Childs. On May 1, Fujita competed at Pride Grand Prix 2000 Finals. In the quarter finals, Fujita scored his first big victory of his career by defeating Mark Kerr, who at the time was considered to be one of the best heavyweights in mixed martial arts. During the fight, Fujita took incredible damage to his head yet was unfazed. Kerr delivered so much punishment that he gassed out and Fujita took advantage of Kerr's fatigue by scoring points with strikes and winning a decision. Fujita's win over Kerr was considered to be a gigantic upset and was the first loss in Kerr's career snapping a 13 fight unbeaten streak. Fujita's next fight was against former UFC Heavyweight Champion: Mark Coleman in the semi finals of the Grand Prix but Fujita would lose by TKO due to corner stoppage as he was unable to continue due to injuries.

Fujita next fought MMA superstar Ken Shamrock at Pride 10. Fujita, like in the Kerr fight, took another incredible beating yet was not knocked out. Shamrock then began to experience heart attack symptoms and had his corner throw in the towel, resulting in another massive win for Fujita and his career. PRIDE FC color commentator Eddie Bravo proclaimed during Fujita's fight with Shamrock, "that guy can take a baseball bat to the side of the head!".

He followed up his titanic wins over Kerr and Shamrock with a win over dangerous striker Gilbert Yvel at Pride 12. Fujita became known for a relentless style and his exceptionally strong neck often protected him from being knocked-out by strikes to the head. As Fujita himself noted, "I am not so great a puncher, not so great a kicker. I don't really have anything all that great, but in today's vale tudo, the strongest is the one that can take a beating."[4]

In May 2001 at Pride 14, Fujita defeated fellow pro wrestler: Yoshihiro Takayama by submission in his first PRIDE main event. On August 19 at the K-1 Andy Hug 2001 GP Final, Fujita fought K-1 legend and future MMA legend: Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic in Cro Cop's MMA debut. Fujita would lose the fight after suffering a cut resulting in a TKO loss.

Fujita returned to fight a year later where he defeated pro wrestler and former sumo wrestler: Tadao Yasuda on August 8 at UFO - Legend. On December 31 at Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2002, Fujita fought Mirko Cro Cop in a rematch but Fujita would lose again this time by unanimous decision.

On May 2, 2003, Fujita defeated another pro wrestler in Manabu Nakanishi by TKO. On June 8 at PRIDE 26, he fought PRIDE champion Fedor Emelianenko. Fujita rocked Emelianenko with a counter right hand, but despite his best attempts to remain on the offensive Emelianenko recovered and defeated Fujita with a rear naked choke submission. On December 31, Fujita defeated American boxer: Imamu Mayfield by submission at Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2003.

On May 22, 2004 he defeated Bob Sapp in an MMA fight at K-1 MMA ROMANEX. Sapp was the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion, and the championship was vacated after his loss to Fujita. On December 31 at K-1 Premium 2004 Dynamite!!, Fujita defeated Egyptian Greco Roman wrestler and Olympic gold medalist: Karam Gaber by knockout.

On May 5, 2006 at PRIDE Total Elimination Absolute, he returned to MMA by competing in PRIDE's 2006 Openweight Grand Prix making him the only fighter in PRIDE's history to have competed in both openweight grand prixs. In the first round, Fujita defeated James Thompson by knockout. Thompson dominated Fujita for most of the fight, until Fujita rallied with a flurry of punches that knocked out Thompson. In July 2006 at PRIDE Critical Countdown Absolute, Fujita fought PRIDE Middleweight champion: Wanderlei Silva in the quarterfinals and lost by TKO. At PRIDE Shockwave 2006 on December 31, Fujita defeated Eldar Kurtanidze by submission due to strikes.

Fujita's next fight was against UFC fighter: Jeff Monson in the main event of Pride 34. The fight was historic as it would be the final fight in PRIDE's history. Fujita would lose by submission.

After PRIDE was sold to Zuffa, Fujita joined the new promotion: World Victory Road. He debuted on March 5, 2008 at Sengoku 1 where he defeated Peter Graham by submission. Fujita next fight was against Travis Wiuff at Sengoku 3 where he lost by TKO.

On August 2, 2009, Fujita was defeated by Blagoi Ivanov at World Victory Road's ninth event, Sengoku 9.

On December 31, 2009 at Dynamite!! 2009, Fujita took on Alistair Overeem and was knocked out via knee to the head in the first round. This was the first time Fujita has been knocked unconscious.

After a 4 year hiatus from the sport, Fujita returned to face Satoshi Ishii on December 31, 2013 at Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2013 for the IGF Heavyweight Championship. Fujita lost the bout via unanimous decision, marking his fourth loss in a row.[5]

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed Martial Arts

Pro Wrestling

Mixed martial arts record

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 15–10 Satoshi Ishii Decision (unanimous) Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2013 December 31, 2013 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan For the IGF Heavyweight Championship
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 15–9 Alistair Overeem KO (knee) Dynamite!! 2009 December 31, 2009 1 1:15 Saitama, Japan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 15–8 Blagoi Ivanov Decision (split) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 9 August 2, 2009 3 5:00 Saitama, Japan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 15–7 Travis Wiuff TKO (punches) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 3 June 8, 2008 1 1:24 Saitama, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 15–6 Peter Graham Submission (north/south choke) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 1 March 5, 2008 1 1:23 Tokyo, Japan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 14–6 Jeff Monson Submission (rear naked choke) PRIDE 34 April 8, 2007 1 6:37 Saitama, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 14–5 Eldar Kurtanidze Submission (punches) Pride FC - Shockwave 2006 December 31, 2006 1 2:09 Saitama, Japan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 13–5 Wanderlei Silva TKO (punches) Pride FC - Critical Countdown Absolute July 1, 2006 1 9:21 Saitama, Japan PRIDE 2006 Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 13–4 James Thompson KO (punch) Pride FC - Total Elimination Absolute May 5, 2006 1 8:25 Osaka, Japan PRIDE 2006 Heavyweight Grand Prix 1st Round
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 12–4 Karam Gaber KO (punch) K-1 - Premium 2004 Dynamite!! December 31, 2004 1 1:07 Osaka, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 11–4 Bob Sapp Submission (soccer kicks) K-1 MMA ROMANEX May 22, 2004 1 2:15 Saitama, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 10–4 Imamu Mayfield Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2003 December 31, 2003 2 2:15 Kobe, Japan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 9–4 Fedor Emelianenko Submission (rear naked choke) PRIDE 26 June 8, 2003 1 4:17 Yokohama, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9–3 Manabu Nakanishi TKO (punches) NJPW - Ultimate Crush May 2, 2003 3 1:09 Tokyo, Japan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 8–3 Mirko Filipović Decision (unanimous) Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2002 December 31, 2002 3 5:00 Saitama, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8–2 Tadao Yasuda Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFO - Legend August 8, 2002 1 2:46 Tokyo, Japan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 7–2 Mirko Filipović TKO (cut) K-1 Andy Memorial 2001 Japan GP Final August 19, 2001 1 0:39 Saitama, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7–1 Yoshihiro Takayama Submission (arm-triangle choke) PRIDE 14 May 27, 2001 2 3:10 Yokohama, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6–1 Gilbert Yvel Decision (unanimous) PRIDE 12 December 9, 2000 2 10:00 Saitama, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5–1 Ken Shamrock TKO (corner stoppage) PRIDE 10 August 27, 2000 1 6:46 Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 4–1 Mark Coleman TKO (corner stoppage) PRIDE Grand Prix 2000 Finals May 1, 2000 1 0:02 Tokyo, Japan PRIDE 2000 Openweight Grand Prix Semifinals
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–0 Mark Kerr Decision (unanimous) PRIDE Grand Prix 2000 Finals May 1, 2000 1 15:00 Tokyo, Japan PRIDE 2000 Openweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–0 Will Childs Submission (rear-naked choke) Extreme Shootout - The Underground April 1, 2000 N/A N/A Killeen, Texas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–0 Dan Chase KO (punch) Extreme Shootout - The Underground April 1, 2000 N/A N/A Killeen, Texas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–0 Hans Nijman Submission (neck crank) PRIDE Grand Prix 2000 Opening Round January 30, 2000 1 2:48 Tokyo, Japan PRIDE 2000 Openweight Grand Prix 1st Round

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Profile at Puroresu Central". Puroresu Central. Retrieved 2013-12-06.
  2. ↑ "Results 2001". Strong Style Spirit.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Results 2002". Strong Style Spirit.
  4. ↑ Sherdog.com News - "Pride and Glory"
  5. ↑ "SATOSHI ISHII, SHINYA AOKI CLAIM WINS AT INOKI BOM-BA-YE 2013". sherdog.com. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 "New Japan Toukon Festival 2004". Puroresu Central. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  7. ↑ http://www.fightmatrix.com/fightmatrix-awards/
  8. ↑ 藤田、王者レバンナ破った／ＩＧＦ. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2012-07-14. Retrieved 2012-07-15.
  9. ↑ "2005 New Japan Awards". Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
  10. ↑ http://www.puroresu.com/awards/2000s.html
  11. ↑ http://www.puroresu.com/awards/1990s.html