List of Shooto champions explained

This is a list of Shooto world champions at each weight class. Shooto is a Japan-based mixed martial arts (MMA) promoting and sanctioning organization founded first in 1985 as a particular fighting system, and then in 1989 as an MMA promotion.

Shooto used to promote different weight classes than the Association of Boxing Commissions, which are used by most MMA promotions. On January 1, 2015, weight limits were changed to the divisions established by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.[1] Then, on January 1, 2017, the names of the weight classes were also changed to the names established by NSAC.[2]

Current champions

Division! width=200
Championwidth=120SinceDefenses
MiddleweightVacantalign=center -
Welterweight Hernani Perpetuoalign=center 0
Lightweight Yamato Nishikawaalign=center 0
Featherweight Sasukealign=center 2
Bantamweight Tatsuya Andoalign=center 0
Flyweight Jo Araialign=center 0
Strawweightalign=center 1
Division! width=200
Championwidth=120SinceDefenses
Strawweight Emi Fujinoalign=center 0
Super Atomweight Ayaka Watanabealign=center 0
Atomweight Chihiro Sawadaalign=center 1

Men's championships

Middleweight Championship

Weight limit of 83.9 kg (185 lb)
The weight limit was 83 kg (183 lb) prior to January 1, 2015. The Middleweight Championship was known as the Light Heavyweight Championship prior to January 1, 2017.[3]

No. Name Event Date Reign
(total)
Defenses
1 Kenji Kawaguchi
Shooto: Shooto
May 31, 1991
2 Erik PaulsonShooto: Vale Tudo Junction 3
May 7, 1996
Paulson vacated the title on September 28, 2000 when he retired from the sport.
3 Masanori Suda
Shooto: Treasure Hunt 1
January 12, 2002
Suda vacated the title on February 17, 2006, at his retirement ceremony.
4 Shiko Yamashita
Absolute Fighting Championships 16
April 22, 2006
5 Siyar BahadurzadaShooto: Back To Our Roots 4
July 15, 2007
Bahadurzada vacated the title on April 14, 2012 after signing with the UFC.

Welterweight Championship

Weight limit of 77.1 kg (170 lb)
The weight limit was 77 kg (169.8 lb) prior to January 1, 2015. The Welterweight Championship was known as the Middleweight Championship prior to January 1, 2017.[4]

No. Name Event Date Reign
(total)
Defenses
1 Yasuto Sekishima
Shooto: Shooto
May 12, 1990
2Shooto: Shooto
August 3, 1991? days
Ishikawa vacated the title in 1991 to compete as a lightweight.
3 Naoki Sakurada
Shooto: Shooto
October 17, 1991
Sakurada vacated the title on January 18, 1997, when he retired.
4 Hayato "Mach" SakuraiShooto: Las Grandes Viajes 3
May 13, 1998
5 Anderson SilvaShooto: To The Top 7
August 26, 2001
Silva vacated the title on January 9, 2002, after signing with Pride.
6 Jake Shields
Shooto Hawaii: Soljah Fight Night
July 9, 2004
7 Akira KikuchiShooto: Year End Show 2004
December 14, 2004
8 Shinya AokiShooto: The Victory of the Truth
February 17, 2006
Aoki vacated the title on May 21, 2010 after years of not defending it, fighting for other promotions, and fighting primarily as a lightweight.
9 Luis Ramos
Shooto Brazil 17
August 6, 2010
Ramos vacated the title on August 9, 2011, after signing with the UFC.[5]
10 Hernani Perpetuo
Shooto: Gig Tokyo 15
August 25, 2013
(incumbent)

Lightweight Championship

Weight limit of 70.3 kg (155 lb)
The weight limit was 70 kg (154.3 lb) prior to January 1, 2015. The Lightweight Championship was known as the Welterweight Championship prior to January 1, 2017.[6]

No. Name Event Date Reign
(total)
Defenses
1 Yuichi Watanabe
Shooto: Shooto
March 29, 1991
Watanabe vacated the title on August 25, 1991 for unknown reasons.
2 Tomonori Ohara
Shooto: Shooto
October 17, 1991? days
Ohara announced his retirement in November 1992 and thus vacated the title.
3 Yuki Nakai
Shooto: Vale Tudo Access 2
November 7, 1994? days
Nakai suffered an eye injury at Vale Tudo Japan 1995 which forced him into retirement in April 1995.
4 Caol Uno
Shooto: 10th Anniversary Event
May 29, 1999
Uno vacated the title on December 17, 2000 to compete in the UFC.
5 Takanori Gomi
Shooto: To The Top Final Act
December 16, 2001
6 Joachim HansenShooto: 8/10 in Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium
August 10, 2003
7 Vítor RibeiroShooto: Year End Show 2003
December 14, 2003
8 Tatsuya KawajiriShooto: Year End Show 2004
December 14, 2004
Kawajiri vacated the title on January 23, 2007, after suffering a knee injury which prevented him from defending his title in the mandatory time period per Shooto regulations.
9 Takashi Nakakura
Shooto: Shooto Tradition 1
May 3, 2008
Nakakura vacated the title on September 21, 2009, declaring that he wasn't ready to properly defend it after losing a non-title fight to Takanori Gomi.[7]
10 Willamy Freire
Vale Tudo Japan 2009
October 30, 2009
Freire vacated the title on May 30, 2010 to compete in the UFC.[8]
11 Kuniyoshi Hironaka
Shooto: Shootor's Legacy 3
July 18, 2011
Hironaka vacated the title on November 29, 2015 for unknown reasons.[9]
12 Koshi Matsumoto
Mobstyles Present Fight & Mosh
April 23, 2016
Matsumoto vacated the title in February 16, 2020, when he signed with ONE Championship.[10]
13 Yuki Kawana
Professional Shooto 2020 Vol.4 in Osaka
July 12, 2020
14 Yamato Nishikawa
Professional Shooto 2021 Vol.6
September 20, 2021
(incumbent)

Featherweight Championship

Weight limit of 65.8 kg (145 lb)
The weight limit was 65 kg (143.3 lb) prior to January 1, 2015. The Featherweight Championship was known as the Lightweight Championship prior to January 1, 2017.[11]

No. Name Event Date Reign
(total)
Defenses
1 Kenichi Tanaka
Shooto: Shooto
align=center September 8, 1990align=center
2 Kazuhiro SakamotoShooto: Shooto
align=center May 31, 1991align=center
3 Noboru AsahiShooto: Shooto
align=center March 27, 1992align=center
4 Alexandre Franca NogueiraShooto: Renaxis 4
align=center September 5, 1999align=center




Nogueira vacated the title on May 7, 2006, after suffering a knee injury which prevented him from defending his title in the mandatory time period per Shooto regulations.
5 Lion Takeshi
Shooto: The Devilock
align=center May 12, 2006align=center
6 Akitoshi TamuraShooto: Back To Our Roots 3
align=center May 18, 2007align=center
7 Hideki KadowakiShooto: Back To Our Roots 8
align=center March 28, 2008align=center
8Shooto: Shooto Tradition 4
align=center November 29, 2008align=center
(918 days)
9 Hatsu HiokiShooto: The Way of Shooto 3: Like a Tiger, Like a Dragon
align=center May 30, 2010align=center
Hioki vacated the title on May 31, 2011 to compete in the UFC.[12]
10 Yutaka Saito
Professional Shooto
align=center January 11, 2016align=center
Saito vacated the title on March 31, 2021 to compete in Rizin.[13]
11 Sasuke
Professional Shooto 2021 Vol.5
align=center July 25, 2021align=center
(incumbent)

Bantamweight Championship

Weight limit of 61.2 kg (135 lb)
The weight limit was 60 kg (132.3 lb) prior to January 1, 2015. The Bantamweight Championship was known as the Featherweight Championship prior to January 1, 2017.[14]

No. Name Event Date Reign
(total)
Defenses
1 Mamoru
Shooto: R.E.A.D. Final
align=center December 17, 2000align=center
2 Masahiro OishiShooto: To The Top 10
align=center November 25, 2001align=center
3 Ryota MatsuneShooto: 8/10 in Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium
align=center August 10, 2003align=center
Matsune vacated the title on December 15, 2005, after suffering a knee injury which prevented him from defending his title in the mandatory time period per Shooto regulations.[15] [16]
4 Akitoshi Hokazono
Shooto 2006: 7/21 in Korakuen Hall
align=center July 21, 2006align=center
Hokazono vacated the title on January 26, 2008, when he retired.[17]
5 Masakatsu Ueda
Shooto: Back To Our Roots 8
align=center March 28, 2008align=center
6 Shuichiro KatsumuraShooto: The Way of Shooto 2: Like a Tiger, Like a Dragon
align=center March 22, 2010align=center
7 Koetsu OkazakiShooto: Shooto Tradition 2011
align=center April 29, 2011align=center
8 Hiromasa OugikuboGreat East Japan Earthquake Reconstruction Support Charity
align=center May 18, 2012align=center
9 Kyoji HoriguchiShooto: 2013 2nd Round
align=center March 16, 2013align=center
Horiguchi vacated the title on October 20, 2015 to compete in the UFC.[18]
10 Shoko Sato
Professional Shooto
align=center October 15, 2017align=center
Ryo Okada
Professional Shooto 2020 Vol.3
align=center May 31, 2020align=center -
Sato vacated the title on November 30, 2020, in order to compete with ONE Championship.[19]
11 Ryo Okada
- align=center November 30, 2020align=center
12 Tatsuya AndoProfessional Shooto 2022 Vol.2
align=center March 21, 2022align=center
(incumbent)

Flyweight Championship

Weight limit of 56.7 kg (125 lb)
The weight limit was 56 kg (123.5 lb) prior to January 1, 2015. The Flyweight Championship was known as the Bantamweight Championship prior to January 1, 2017.[20]

width=1%No.width=24%Namewidth=15%Datewidth=45%Defenses
1 Mamoru
align=center December 14, 2003
2 BJalign=center October 14, 2006

Kojima vacated the title on February 27, 2010 after suffering an ACL injury in his right knee which prevented him from defending his title in the mandatory time period per Shooto regulations.[21]
3 Yasuhiro Urushitani
align=center May 30, 2010
Urushitani vacated the title on December 10, 2011 to compete in the UFC.
Ryuichi Miki drew with Yosuke Saruta for the vacant title on July 27, 2013.
4 Ryuichi Miki
align=center November 9, 2013
5 Masaaki Sugawaraalign=center May 3, 2015
6 Hiromasa Ougikuboalign=center April 23, 2016
Ryuya Fukuda
align=center July 12, 2020
Ougikubo vacated the title on January 31, 2021.[22] Fukuda was promoted to undisputed status.[23]
7 Ryuya Fukuda
align=center January 31, 2021
8align=left Tatsuro Tairaalign=center July 3, 2021
Taira vacated the title on May 21, 2023 to compete for the UFC.[24]
9 Jo Arai
align=center November 19, 2023

Strawweight Championship

Weight limit of 52.2 kg (115 lb)
The weight limit was 52 kg (114.6 lb) prior to January 1, 2015. The Strawweight Championship was known as the Flyweight Championship prior to January 1, 2017.[25]

width=1%No.width=24%Namewidth=15%Datewidth=45%Defenses
1 Rambaa SomdetM16
align=center November 23, 2009
Somdet vacated the title on April 16, 2011 due to a partially torn left bicep.[26]
2 Junji Ikoma
align=center April 29, 2011
3 Mikihito Yamagamialign=center November 5, 2011
Yamagami vacated the title in December 2013 when he moved up in weight.[27]
4 Shinya Murofushi
align=center January 13, 2014
5 Yoshitaka Naitoalign=center September 27, 2014
Naito vacated the title on April 7, 2016 when he signed with ONE Championship.[28]
6 Ryohei Kurosawa
align=center July 17, 2016
Kurosawa vacated the title in 2017.
7 Yosuke Saruta
align=center October 15, 2017
Saruta vacated the title on November 30, 2019, after signing with ONE Championship.[29]
8 Hiroshi Minowa
align=center January 26, 2020
Junji Sarumaru
align=center November 7, 2021
Sarumaru was promoted to undisputed champion status on August 1, 2022, after Minowa vacated the title.[30]
9 Junji Sarumaru
align=center August 1, 2022
10align=left Jo Arai
align=center September 19, 2022

Women's championship history

Women's Strawweight Championship

Weight limit of 52.2 kg (115 lb)

Women's Super Atomweight Championship

Weight limit of 50 kg (110 lb)[31]

No. Name Event Date Reign
(total)
Defenses
1 Mina Kurobe
Professional Shooto 2020 Vol.5
align=center August 1, 2020align=center
2 SaramiProfessional Shooto 2021 Vol.7
align=center November 6, 2021align=center
3 Ayaka WatanabeProfessional Shooto 2023 Vol.3
align=center May 21, 2023align=center
(incumbent)

Women's Atomweight Championship

Weight limit of 47.6 kg (105 lb)

Defunct title

Heavyweight Championship

Weight limit of 120.2 kg (265 lb)
The weight limit was 100 kg (220.5 lb) prior to January 1, 2015.[32]

Records

Most wins in title bouts

The following includes all fighters with four or more championship and/or interim championship title wins.

Title wins Champion Division W L D NC
6 Alexandre Franca NogueiraLightweight 61
4 Kenji KawaguchiLight Heavyweight 411
Hiromasa OugikuboFeatherweight
Bantamweight
1
3
0
0

1

Most consecutive title defenses

The following includes all Shooto champions who were able to consecutively defend their title three times or more. Fighters with the same number of title defenses are listed chronologically.

DefensesChampionDivisionPeriod
6 Alexandre Franca NogueiraLightweight September 5, 1999 – May 7, 2006
3 Kenji KawaguchiLight HeavyweightMay 31, 1991 – May 7, 1996
BJBantamweightOctober 16, 2006 – March 1, 2010
Masakatsu UedaFeatherweightMarch 28, 2008 – March 22, 2010

Multi-division champions

Fighters who have won championships in multiple weight classes.[33] Tournament champions are not included.

Interim title
Simultaneous two
division champion
No.ChampionDivisionPeriodDefense
1align=left rowspan=2 Mamorualign=center rowspan=1FeatherweightDecember 17, 2000 – November 25, 20010
align=center rowspan=1BantamweightDecember 14, 2003 – October 14, 20062
2align=left rowspan=2align=center rowspan=1FeatherweightMay 18, 2012 – March 16, 20130
align=center rowspan=1BantamweightApril 23, 2016 – January 31, 20212

By nationality

The following include championship title holders by nationality.

CountryTitles
62
6
3
1
1
1

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: October 30, 2014 . Kaikyū oyobi taijū kiyaku kaisei . ja:階級および体重規約改正 . Revision of class and weight rules . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170103034205/http://j-shooto.com/article/10496 . January 3, 2017 . March 12, 2024 . Japan Shooto Association . ja.
  2. Web site: November 5, 2016 . Kaikyū kiyaku kaisei . ja:階級規約改正 . Revision of weight classes . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170108001823/http://j-shooto.com/article/18322 . January 8, 2017 . March 12, 2024 . Japan Shooto Association . ja.
  3. Web site: October 16, 2020 . Shooto World Middleweight Title . March 12, 2024 . titlehistories.com.
  4. Web site: October 16, 2020 . Shooto World Welterweight Title . March 12, 2024 . titlehistories.com.
  5. Web site: Tabuena . Anton . UFC 134: Shooto Champ Luis 'Beicao' Ramos to Replace Mike Swick Against Erick Silva . bloodyelbow.com . 5 July 2021.
  6. Web site: September 20, 2021 . Shooto World Lightweight Title . March 12, 2024 . titlehistories.com.
  7. Web site: ja:【修斗】中蔵隆志が網膜はく離のため王座を返上、10・30シケリムVS冨樫で決定戦 . https://gbring.com/sokuho/news/2009_09/0922_shooto.htm . gbring.com . 5 July 2021.
  8. Web site: 411 Fighter Profile 01.14.11: Willamy Freire . Butterfield . Jon . 411Mania.com . 2011-01-14 . 2011-05-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121007152939/http://www.411mania.com/MMA/columns/170041 . 2012-10-07 .
  9. Web site: ja:【修斗】松本光史と川名雄生が世界王座を懸けて再戦 . https://efight.jp/news-20160228_233916 . efight.jp . 28 February 2016 . 5 July 2021.
  10. Web site: ja:世界ライト級王者・松本光史がタイトルを返上 . http://www.shooto-mma.com/topics/?id=3679 . shooto-mma.com . 5 July 2021.
  11. Web site: July 25, 2021 . Shooto World Featherweight Title . March 12, 2024 . titlehistories.com.
  12. Web site: ja:元修斗&戦極王者・日沖がUFCに初参戦 メインではBJ・ペンがニック・ディアスと激突! . https://sports.yahoo.co.jp/column/detail/201110280001-spnavi . sports.yahoo.co.jp . 6 July 2021 . ja.
  13. Web site: ja:世界フェザー級王者・斎藤裕がタイトルを返上 . http://j-shooto.com/2021/03/31/post-27641/ . j-shooto.com . 6 July 2021 . ja.
  14. Web site: March 21, 2022 . Shooto World Bantamweight Title . March 12, 2024 . titlehistories.com.
  15. Web site: ja:【修斗】松根良太が世界タイトルを返上 . https://gbring.com/sokuho/news/2005_12/1216_shooto.htm . gbring.com . 6 July 2021 . ja.
  16. Web site: December 15, 2005 . Matsune Ryōta ga sekai taitoru henjō . ja:松根良太が世界タイトル返上 . Ryota Matsune vacates the world title . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070518041632/http://www.x-shooto.jp/past/topics/2005/051215/index.html . May 18, 2007 . March 13, 2024 . . ja.
  17. Web site: ja:【修斗】世界フェザー級王者・外薗が引退、王座を返上「格闘技とは違う目標ができた」 . http://gbring.com/sokuho/news/2008_01/0126_shooto_02.htm . gbring.com . 6 July 2021 . ja.
  18. Web site: ja:堀口がタイトル返上 . http://j-shooto.com/2015/10/27/post-0/ . j-shooto.com . 6 July 2021 . ja.
  19. Web site: ja:【修斗】世界バンタム級王者・佐藤将光がタイトルを返上 . https://gonkaku.jp/articles/5500 . gonkaku.jp . 6 July 2021 . ja.
  20. Web site: July 5, 2021 . Shooto World Flyweight Title . March 12, 2024 . titlehistories.com.
  21. Web site: 【修斗】世界王者BJが膝の負傷でタイトル返上「復帰戦はタイトルマッチで」 . gbring.com . 21 June 2021.
  22. Web site: 扇久保博正がある"挑戦"を理由に修斗のベルトを返上、その裏にはRIZINバンタム級GPの開催か . efight.jp . February 2021 . 6 February 2021.
  23. Web site: 【修斗】王者・福田龍彌がデビュー8戦全勝の超新星・平良達郎を迎え初防衛戦=6.20大阪 . news.yahoo.co.jp . 4 May 2021.
  24. Web site: 【修斗】齋藤奨司が須藤拓真の足関節を凌ぎ打撃を入れて判定勝ち、田中半蔵がロイベに判定勝ち、齋藤翼がフェザー級で岡田達磨に一本勝ち、平良達郎がUFC4連勝に向け、修斗世界王座返上 . gonkaku.jp . 21 May 2023.
  25. Web site: September 19, 2022 . Shooto World Strawweight Title . March 12, 2024 . titlehistories.com.
  26. Web site: Hioki Joins April 29 Shooto Card; 'M-16' Vacates Title . Nelson . Chris . Sherdog.com . 2011-04-16 . 2011-04-16.
  27. News: 山上幹臣 修斗フライ級王座返上、韓国ROAD FCへ . Fight&Life . 40 . February 2014.
  28. Web site: 修斗世界フライ級王者・内藤のび太が王座返上 . tokyoheadline.com . 22 April 2016 . 21 June 2021.
  29. Web site: 【修斗】世界ストロー級王者・猿田洋祐が王座返上、ONE王座奪還目指す猿田とストロー級戦線のいま . gonkaku.jp . 21 June 2021.
  30. Web site: 【修斗】正規王者に昇格の猿丸ジュンジが新井丈を迎え初防衛戦、『ROAD TO UFC』で勝利した内田タケルが関口祐冬と対戦=9.19 . efight.jp . August 2022 . 1 August 2022.
  31. Web site: November 6, 2021 . Shooto Women's World Super Atomeweight Title . March 12, 2024 . titlehistories.com.
  32. Web site: October 16, 2020 . Shooto World Heavyweight Title . March 12, 2024 . titlehistories.com.
  33. Web site: MMA All-time Record Holders . sportsillustrated.