Kiichi Kunimoto Explained

Kiichi Kunimoto
ストラッサー起一
Other Names:Strasser
Birth Date:1 May 1981
Birth Place:Osaka, Japan
Nationality:Japanese
Weight:77kg (170lb)
Weight Class:Welterweight
Reach:73inches[1]
Team:Cobra Kai MMA Dojo
Fighting Out Of:Osaka, Japan
Trainer:Dave Strasser
Rank:Brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[2]
Years Active:2006–present
Mma Kowin:2
Mma Subwin:10
Mma Decwin:7
Mma Dqwin:1
Mma Koloss:2
Mma Subloss:2
Mma Decloss:6
Mma Draw:2
Mma Nc:1
Sherdog:21039

is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the welterweight division. A professional competitor since 2006, he has also competed for the RIZIN, UFC, Bellator, and Pancrase.

Background

Born and raised in the Nishinari-ku district Osaka, Japan, Kunimoto was a professional skateboarder from the age of 17 until he was 24, when he began training in mixed martial arts.

Mixed martial art career

Early career

Kunimoto made his professional debut in 2006 for Pancrase, losing via knockout. However, Kunimoto would go on to compile a record of 14-5-2 with one no contest and captured the HEAT Welterweight Championship, subsequently defending his title twice, before being signed by the UFC.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Kunimoto was originally scheduled to make his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 34 on June 4, 2014, against Hyun Gyu Lim, but instead faced Luiz Dutra Jr. as Lim was promoted to appear in the main event.[3] Kunimoto won via disqualification due to Dutra Jr. landing multiple elbows to the back of Kunimoto's head in the first round.[4]

Kunimoto made his next appearance at UFC 174 on June 14, 2014, facing Daniel Sarafian.[5] Kunimoto won via rear-naked choke submission in the first round, and earned "Performance of the Night" honors for his performance.[6] [7]

Kunimoto then faced Richard Walsh on September 20, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 52.[8] He won the fight via split decision.

Kunimoto faced Neil Magny on February 14, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 60.[9] He lost the fight via rear=naked choke submission in the third round.

Kunimoto was expected to face Li Jingliang on September 27, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 75.[10] However, Kunimoto pulled out of the fight in late August citing injury and was replaced by returning veteran Keita Nakamura.[11]

After an extended hiatus, Kunimoto was expected to face Warlley Alves on June 11, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 110.[12] However, Alves pulled out of the fight on May 19 and was replaced by Zak Ottow.[13] He lost the fight via split decision.[14]

RIZIN Fighting Federation

Kunimoto made the move and signed with Rizin Fighting Federation. He made his against Satoru Kitaoka on December 29, 2017, at RIZIN World Grand Prix 2017: 2nd Round in a 75kg catchweight bout.[15] Kunimoto won the fight by unanimous decision.[16]

Bellator MMA

In April 2019, news surfaced that Kunimoto had signed a contract with Bellator MMA.[17] In his promotional debut, Kunimoto faced Ed Ruth at Bellator 224 on July 12, 2019 and lost the fight via TKO in the second round.[18]

As the sophomore bout of his Bellator tenure, Kunimoto was expected to face Neiman Gracie at Bellator 236 on December 21, 2019.[19] However, Gracie had to withdraw from the bout due to an injury and was replaced by Jason Jackson.[20] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[21]

Rizin FF

Kunimoto returned to Rizin in order to face Takahiro Kawanaka on November 28, 2021 at Rizin Trigger 1.[22] He won the bout via first-round submission.[23]

Kunimoto then faced Daichi Abe at Rizin 34 – Osaka on March 20, 2022.[24] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[25]

On April 1, 2023 at Rizin 41 – Osaka, Kunimoto lost to Keita Nakamura via second round TKO stoppage after being dropped with a right straight and getting finished with a soccer kick.[26]

Personal life

Kunimoto and his fiancée have a daughter (born 2019).[27]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

|-||align=center||Igor Tanabe||Rizin Landmark 9||align=center||align=center||Kobe, Japan||-|Loss|align=center||Keita Nakamura|KO (punches and soccer kick)|Rizin 41||align=center|2|align=center|0:49|Osaka, Japan||-| Loss| align=center| 20–9–2 (1)| Daichi Abe| Decision (unanimous)| Rizin 34| | align=center| 3| align=center| 3:00| Osaka, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 20–8–2 (1)| Takahiro Kawanaka| Submission (arm-triangle choke)| Rizin Trigger 1| | align=center|1| align=center|4:10| Kobe, Japan||-|Loss| align=center| 19–8–2 (1)| Jason Jackson| Decision (unanimous)| Bellator 236| | align=center|3| align=center|5:00| Honolulu, Hawaii, United States||-|Loss| align=center| 19–7–2 (1)| Ed Ruth | TKO (knee and punches)| Bellator 224| | align=center|2| align=center|3:49| Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States||-| Win| align=center| 19–6–2 (1)| Ryuichiro Sumimura| Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke)|Rizin 12|||align=center|1|align=center|4:59|Nagoya, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 18–6–2 (1)|Satoru Kitaoka| Decision (unanimous)| Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: 2nd Round|| align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00|Saitama, Japan||-|Loss|align=center|17–6–2 (1)|Zak Ottow|Decision (split)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Auckland, New Zealand| |-| Loss| align=center|17–5–2 (1)| Neil Magny| Submission (rear-naked choke)| | | align=center| 3| align=center| 1:22| Broomfield, Colorado, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 17–4–2 (1)| Richard Walsh| Decision (split)| | | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Saitama, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 16–4–2 (1)| Daniel Sarafian| Submission (rear-naked choke)| UFC 174| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:52| Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada| |-| Win| align=center| 15–4–2 (1)| Luiz Dutra Jr.| DQ (elbows to back of the head)| | | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:57| Marina Bay, Singapore | |-| Win| align=center| 14–4–2 (1)| Edward Faaloloto| Submission (armbar)| Heat 27| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:55| Hyogo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 13–4–2 (1)| Fumitoshi Ishikawa| Submission (arm-triangle choke)| Heat 26| | align=center| 5| align=center| 1:59| Aichi, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 12–4–2 (1)| Lee Gyu-myung| Submission (shoulder choke)| Heat 25| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:40| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 11–4–2 (1)| Son Seong-won | Decision (unanimous)| Heat: Heat 23| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Hyogo, Japan| |-| Loss| align=center| 10–4–2 (1)| Takenori Sato| Decision (unanimous)| Pancrase: Progress Tour 3| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 10–3–2 (1)| Yu Shiroi| Submission (guillotine choke)| Pancrase: Impressive Tour 12| | align=center| 2| align=center| 0:40| Osaka, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 9–3–2 (1)| Kengo Ura| Decision (unanimous)| Pancrase: Impressive Tour 4| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Draw| align=center| 8–3–2 (1)| Seiki Ryo| Draw (unanimous)| Pancrase: Passion Tour 7| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Draw| align=center| 8–3–1 (1)| Tomoyoshi Iwamiya| Draw (unanimous)| Pancrase: Passion Tour 2| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Osaka, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 8–3 (1)| Yoshifumi Dogaki| TKO (punches)| Pancrase: Changing Tour 7| | align=center| 2| align=center| 0:39| Osaka, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 7–3 (1)| Hiroki Tanaka| Decision (unanimous)| Powergate: Octave| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| Osaka, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 6–3 (1)| Shingo Suzuki| Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke)| Pancrase: Changing Tour 1| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:00| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Loss| align=center| 5–3 (1)| Tomoyoshi Iwamiya| Decision (unanimous)| Pancrase: Shining 9| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| Tokyo, Japan| |-| NC| align=center| 5–2 (1)| Hirotaka Yoshioka| NC (Yoshioka cut by accident headbutt)| Pancrase: Shining 7| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:10| Osaka, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 5–2| Yu Shiori| Decision (unanimous)| Pancrase: Shining 4| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| Osaka, Japan| |-| Loss| align=center| 4–2| Sotaro Yamada| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Pancrase: Shining 1| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:42| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 4–1| Yuta Nakamura| TKO (punches)| Pancrase: Rising 7| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:37| Osaka, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 3–1| Mike O'Malley| Submission (triangle choke)| Freestyle Combat Challenge 30| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:33| Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 2–1| Tim Ager| Submission (armbar)| Freestyle Combat Challenge 29| | align=center| 1| align=center| N/A| Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 1–1| Masahiro Toryu| Decision (majority)| Pancrase: Rising 1| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| Osaka, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 1–0| Arito Kishimoto| Decision (majority)| Double R: 3rd Stage| | align=center| 1| align=center| 5:00| Osaka, Japan| |-

Amateur mixed martial arts record

|-| Win| align=center| 1–1| Teruyoshi Aoyama| Submission (arm-triangle choke)| Pancrase: Blow 8| | align=center| 2| align=center| 2:58| Osaka, Japan| |-| Loss| align=center| 0–1| Masahiro Toryu| KO (head kick)| Pancrase: Blow 2| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:05| Osaka, Japan| |}

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kiichi "Strasser' Kunimoto Tapology Profile. tapology.com. 2014-06-18.
  2. Web site: Kiichi Kunimoto - Official UFC fighter Profile. UFC.com. February 15, 2015.
  3. Web site: Luiz Dutra Jr. replaces Lim, meets Kiichi Kunimoto at UFC Fight Night 34. fightsportasia.com. 2014-06-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20131129055238/http://fightsportasia.com/2013/11/29/luiz-dutra-jr-replaces-lim-faces-kiichi-kunimoto-at-ufc-fight-night-34/. 2013-11-29. dead.
  4. Web site: UFC Fight Night 34 results: Illegal elbows give Kiichi Kunimoto DQ win over Luiz Dutra | MMAjunkie. mmajunkie.com. 2014-06-15.
  5. Web site: Daniel Sarafian drops to 170, fights Kiichi Kunimoto at UFC 174 in Vancouver. bloodyelbow.com. 2014-06-18.
  6. Web site: UFC 174 results, photos: Kiichi Kunimoto taps out Daniel Sarafian for upset win | MMAjunkie. mmajunkie.com. 2014-06-15.
  7. Web site: UFC 174 bonuses: Tae Hyun Bang gets $100K, Kajan Johnson, Kiichi Kunimoto $50K. June 15, 2014. MMAjunkie.com.
  8. Web site: Richard Walsh vs. Kiichi Kunimoto Slated for UFC Fight Night 52 in Japan. mmacorner.com. Neil Rooke. 2014-07-17. 2014-07-17.
  9. Web site: Magny-Kunimoto added to UFC Fight Night in Colorado. sherdog.com. C.J. Tuttle. 2014-12-11. 2014-12-11.
  10. Web site: UFC Japan adds KID Yamamoto, Kiichi Strasser, and Kyoji Horiguchi. mma-in-asia.com. Akihito Tatematsu. 2015-07-02. 2015-07-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20150702112136/http://mma-in-asia.com/region/japan/ufc-japan-kid-kunimoto-horiguchi/. 2015-07-02. dead.
  11. Web site: With Kunimoto out, Nakamura Keita returns to face Li Jingliang at UFC Fight Night 75. mmajunkie.com. Staff. 2015-08-28. 2015-08-28.
  12. News: Warlley Alves vs. Kiichi Kunimoto added to UFC Fight Night 110 lineup in New Zealand. mmajunkie.com. Staff. 2017-04-23. 2017-04-24.
  13. News: Warlley Alves injured, Zak Ottow steps in to face Kiichi Kunimoto at UFC Fight Night 110. mmafighting.com. Danny Segura. 2017-05-19. 2017-05-19.
  14. Web site: UFC Fight Night 110 results: Zak Ottow outpoints Kiichi Kunimoto for narrow split-decision win. mmajunkie.com. Ben Fowlkes. 2017-06-10. 2017-06-10.
  15. News: UFC Vet Kiichi Kunimoto Takes On Satoru Kitaoka At RIZIN World GP 2017: 2nd Round - MMA Today. 2017-12-13. MMA Today. 2017-12-19. en-US.
  16. Web site: RIZIN World Grand Prix 2017 2nd Round Results: Horiguchi Victorious, McCall Falls to Kape. December 29, 2017. cagesidepress.com.
  17. Web site: Bellator signs Japanese veteran Kiichi Kunimoto. April 8, 2019. mmajunkie.com.
  18. Web site: Anderson. Jay. 2019-07-12. Bellator 224 Results: Ed Ruth Stops Kiichi Kunimoto in Second. 2021-11-22. Cageside Press. en-US.
  19. Web site: Neiman Gracie to fight Kiichi Kunimoto at Bellator 236. November 13, 2019. Alexander K. Lee. mmafighting.com.
  20. Web site: Bellator 236: Neiman Gracie injured, Kiichi Kunimoto meets Jason Jackson. Nolan King. mmajunkie.com. December 16, 2019.
  21. Web site: 2019-12-22. Bellator 236 results: Late sub Jason Jackson rolls over Kiichi Kunimoto. 2021-11-22. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  22. Web site: Sherdog.com. Rizin to Stage First Event in Cage on Nov. 28 Titled Rizin ‘Trigger 1st’. 2021-11-22. Sherdog.
  23. Web site: Kyohei Hagiwara stops Shoji Maruyama in the second round . November 28, 2021. asianmma.com. Andrew Whitelaw.
  24. Web site: 【RIZIN】萩原京平が弥益ドミネーター聡志と対戦、ストラッサー起一vs.阿部大治、アラン・ヒロ・ヤマニハvs.手塚基伸も！ 8カードを発表＝3月20日（日）「RIZIN.34」大阪 . news.yahoo.co.jp . 16 February 2022.
  25. Web site: RIZIN 34 Full Results. March 20, 2022. cagesidepress.com.
  26. Web site: 【RIZIN】皇治が芦澤に敗れ引退へ。ケラモフが堀江に一本勝ち、K太郎がストラッサー下し放送事故級マイク、神龍が北方を失神フィニッシュ、萩原が判定でアグォン越え、石司が金太郎... . 2023-04-10 . ゴング格闘技 - GONKAKU.
  27. BxaME0cnFOR. Kiichi Kunimoto. kiichi_kunimoto. May 13, 2019. 陣痛始まってから24時間後に王切開で無事に産まれました。麻美、本当に頑張ってくれたと思います。ありがとう。.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Kiichi Kunimoto".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.