Naoki Inoue Explained

Naoki Inoue
Birth Name:井上直樹
Birth Date:14 June 1997
Birth Place:Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan
Weight:125lb
Weight Class:Bantamweight
Flyweight
Reach In:71
Style:Karate, Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Fighting Out Of:Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan
Team:Hakushinkai Karate
LAW MMA[1]
Sonic Squad[2]
Rank:Black belt in karate
Blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Years Active:2014–present
Mma Kowin:1
Mma Subwin:11
Mma Decwin:7
Mma Decloss:4
Relatives:Mizuki Inoue
Sherdog:158487

Naoki Inoue (Japanese: 井上直樹; born 14 June 1997) is a Japanese mixed martial artist competing in the bantamweight division. A professional mixed martial artist since 2014, Inoue has also competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Background

When Inoue was seven, his parents told him to do some extracurricular activity. He wanted to be strong, therefore he picked martial arts. Inoue received a first-degree black belt in karate and a blue belt in BJJ. He won the J-Network's All-Japan amateur championship as well as won the DEEP Future King (rookie) tournament in 2011.[3]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Inoue made his amateur mixed martial arts debut on February 9, 2014, when he faced Gaku Sakamoto at Deep - Nagoya Impact 2014. He won via first-round submission using an armbar. Following this, Inoue compiled a professional record of 10–0, with wins over Yuya Shibata and Tomohiro Adaniya, before signing with the UFC in the winter of 2017.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Inoue made his promotional debut on June 17, 2017, at against Carls John de Tomas.[4] At the weigh-ins Carls John de Tomas came in at 131 lbs, five pounds over the flyweight limit of 126 lbs. As a result, he was fined 30% of the purse, which went to Inoue, and their bout proceeded as scheduled at a catchweight.[5] Inoue won the fight by unanimous decision.[6]

Inoue was expected to face Jenel Lausa on September 23, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 117,[7] [8] but was pulled from the card due to a dislocated shoulder.[9]

Inoue faced Matt Schnell on June 23, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 132.[10] He lost the fight via split decision.[11]

Cage Fury FC

After departing from the UFC, Inoue faced Sean Santella in a flyweight bout at CFFC 72 on February 16, 2019.[12] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[13]

Return to DEEP

Inoue eventually returned to DEEP, facing Toshiaki Kitada at Deep 93 on December 15, 2020.[14] He won the fight via first-round submission.[15]

Rizin FF

On January 24, 2020, news surfaced that Inoue was scheduled to face Trent Girdham at Rizin 21 – Hamamatsu on February 22, 2020.[16] Inoue won the fight via unanimous decision.[17]

In his sophomore bout in the promotion, Inoue faced Shooto Watanabe at Rizin 22 – Starting Over on August 9, 2020.[18] He won the fight via first-round submission.[19]

Inoue faced Yuki Motoya at Rizin 26 on December 31, 2020.[20] He won the fight by rear naked choke, three minutes into the first round.[21]

Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix 2021

Inoue faced Shintaro Ishiwatari in the opening round of the Bantamweight Grand Prix at Rizin 28 on June 13, 2021.[22] He won the bout via soccer kick knockout in the first round.[23]

Inoue was scheduled to face Yuto Hokamura in the quarterfinals on September 19, 2021, at Rizin 30.[24] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[25]

In the semi-finals, Inoue faced Hiromasa Ougikubo on December 31, 2021, at Rizin 33.[26] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[27]

Later bantamweight career

After suffering his first loss under the Rizin banner, Inoue was booked to face Kenta Takizawa at Rizin 37 on July 31, 2022.[28] However, in late July it was reported that Inoue withdrew from the bout citing a knee injury.[29]

Inoue faced Kenta Takizawa on December 31, 2022, at Rizin 40[30] and won by submission via kimura in the second round.[31]

Inoue faced the former Bellator Bantamweight Champion Juan Archuleta at Rizin 42 on May 6, 2023.[32] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[33]

Inoue was scheduled to face Shinobu Ota at Rizin Landmark 6 on October 1, 2023.[34] However, Inoue withdrew from the bout due to an unknown reason and was replaced by Shoko Sato.

Inoue faced Shoko Sato at RIZIN Landmark 9 on March 23, 2024.[35] He went on to win the bout via unanimous decision.[36]

Mixed martial arts record

|-|Win|align=center|19–4|Shoko Sato|Decision (unanimous)|Rizin Landmark 9||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Kobe, Japan||-|Loss|align=center|18–4|Juan Archuleta|Decision (unanimous)|Rizin 42||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Tokyo, Japan||-|Win|align=center|18–3|Kenta Takizawa|Submission (kimura)|Rizin 40||align=center|2|align=center|3:53|Saitama, Japan||-|Loss|align=center|17–3|Hiromasa Ougikubo|Decision (unanimous)|Rizin 33||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Saitama, Japan||-|Win|align=center|17–2|Yuto Hokamura|Decision (unanimous)|Rizin 30||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Saitama, Japan||-|Win|align=center|16–2|Shintaro Ishiwatari|KO (soccer kick)|Rizin 28||align=center|1|align=center|2:01|Tokyo, Japan||-|Win|align=center|15–2|Yuki Motoya|Submission (rear-naked choke)|Rizin 26||align=center|1|align=center|3:00|Saitama, Japan||-|Win|align=center|14–2|Shooto Watanabe|Submission (rear-naked choke)|Rizin 22||align=center|1|align=center|1:40|Yokohama, Japan||-|Win|align=center|13–2|Trent Girdham|Decision (unanimous)|Rizin 21||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Hamamatsu, Japan||-|Win|align=center|12–2|Toshiaki Kitada|Submission (rear-naked choke)|Deep 93: Impact||align=center|1|align=center|2:41|Tokyo, Japan||-|Loss|align=center|11–2|Sean Santella|Decision (unanimous)|CFFC 72: Brady vs. Abdul-Hakim||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States||-|Loss|align=center|11–1|Matt Schnell|Decision (split)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Kallang, Singapore||-| Win|align=center| 11–0| Carls John de Tomas| Decision (unanimous)|| |align=center| 3|align=center| 5:00||Kallang, Singapore| |-| Win|align=center| 10–0| Tomohiro Adaniya| Decision (majority)| Deep 78: Impact| |align=center| 2|align=center| 5:00|Tokyo, Japan||-| Win|align=center| 9–0| Yuya Shibata| Submission (armbar)| Deep: Cage Impact 2016 in Osaka| |align=center| 2|align=center| 2:51|Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win|align=center| 8–0| Go Minamide| Decision (majority)| Deep: 77 Impact/Jewels 13| |align=center| 2|align=center| 5:00|Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win|align=center| 7–0| Naoyuki Kato| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Deep - Nagoya Impact: Kobudo Fight| |align=center| 1|align=center| 0:44|Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win|align=center| 6–0| Iyori Akiba| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Deep: Cage Impact 2016| |align=center| 1|align=center| 4:32|Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win|align=center| 5–0| Chikara Shimabukuro| Decision (unanimous)| Deep 74: Impact| |align=center| 2|align=center| 5:00|Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win|align=center| 4–0| Kenji Yamanaka| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Deep 72: Impact| |align=center| 1|align=center| 2:21|Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win|align=center| 3–0| Kanta Sato| Submission (armbar)| Deep: Nagoya Impact: Kobudo Fight| |align=center| 1|align=center| 2:49|Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win|align=center| 2–0| Icho Tomonaga| Submission (armbar)| Deep: Future King Tournament 2014| |align=center| 1|align=center| 0:49|Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win|align=center| 1–0| Takuya Maruoka| Submission (armbar)| Deep: Future King Tournament 2014| |align=center| 1|align=center| 3:21|Tokyo, Japan|

Amateur mixed martial arts record

|-| Win|align=center| 2-0| Kenichi Kimura| Decision (Unanimous)|Deep - Amateur Deep 20: Kobudo Fight| |align=center| 3|align=center| 5:00|Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win|align=center| 1-0| Gaku Sakamoto| Submission (armbar)| Deep - Nagoya Impact 2014| |align=center| 1|align=center| 3:04|Tokyo, Japan||-|}

Amateur Kickboxing record

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2016-11-20|| Win||align=left| Ryota Shibasaki || J-Network All Japan A-League Tournament, Final|| Tokyo, Japan || KO || 1 || 0:46|-! style=background:white colspan=9 ||- style="background:#cfc;"| 2016-11-20|| Win||align=left| Kaisei Kondo || J-Network All Japan A-League Tournament, Semi Final|| Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous)|| |||- style="background:#CCFFCC;"| 2016-11-20|| Win ||align=left| Hiroki Sato || J-Network All Japan A-League Tournament, Quarter Final|| Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous)|| || |-| colspan=9 | Legend:

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Naoki Inoue is happy to be fighting in Japan again ahead of Rizin 22. James Goyder. August 6, 2020. asianmma.com.
  2. Naoki Inoue working with Tenshin's boxing coach ahead of Rizin 26. John Hyon Ko. December 21, 2020. Youtube.
  3. Web site: Naoki Inoue. UFC. 14 September 2018.
  4. Web site: CJ De Tomas signs with UFC, to make debut in Singapore. April 3, 2017. tiebreakertimes.com.ph. Matthew Li.
  5. Web site: UFC Fight Night 111 early weigh-in results: Headliner cleared, one prelim fighter heavy. mmajunkie.com. Staff. 2017-06-16. 2017-06-16.
  6. Web site: UFC Fight Night 111 results: Naoki Inoue tops Carls John de Tomas in clash of flyweight newcomers. 17 June 2017.
  7. Web site: UFC adds two Flyweight fights for UFC Japan. mmadna.nl. Marcel Dorff. 14 July 2017. Dutch. 2017-07-14.
  8. Web site: Naoki Inoue vs. Jenel Lausa added to UFC Fight Night 117 in Japan. MMAjunkie.com. August 14, 2017. August 12, 2017.
  9. Web site: Bout Pulled From UFC Fight Night Japan Fightful MMA. www.fightful.com. en. 2017-09-14.
  10. Web site: Ovince St. Preux vs. Tyson Pedro, Two Other Bouts Booked for UFC Fight Night 132 in Singapore. Sherdog.com. Sherdog. 2018-04-15.
  11. News: UFC Fight Night 132 results: Matt Schnell counters his way to split over Naoki Inoue. 2018-06-23. MMAjunkie. 2018-06-23. en-US.
  12. Web site: MMAJunkie.com. Two-time UFC vet Naoki Inoue signs with CFFC, meets Sean Santella in February. MMAJunkie.com Staff. January 5, 2019. January 7, 2019.
  13. Web site: CFFC 72 results – Sean Brady is STILL CFFC WW Champion; Daukaus New Middleweight Champion. Kyle Carroll. February 2019. mymmanews.com.
  14. Web site: Full fight card released for Deep 93 . December 11, 2019. asianmma.com.
  15. Web site: Koji Takeda submits Juri Ohara at Deep 93. December 15, 2019. asianmma.com. Hidetoshi Miura.
  16. Web site: Several fights announced for RIZIN 21 . Guilherme Cruz. mmafighting.com. January 24, 2020.
  17. Web site: Naoki Inoue Defeats Trent Girdham At RIZIN 21. February 22, 2020. lowkickmma.com. Michael Clifton.
  18. Web site: RIZIN Announces Major Signing, Adds More Bouts To RIZIN 22,23. July 20, 2020. lowkickmma.com. Michael Clifton.
  19. Web site: Rizin FF 22 live results. Simon Head. mmajunkie.com. August 9, 2020.
  20. Web site: Ayaka Hamasaki and Miyuu Yamamoto face off in super atomweight title fight at Rizin 26. December 2, 2020. asianmma.com.
  21. Web site: 【RIZIN】元UFC戦士・井上直樹が鮮烈一本勝ち、四天王・元谷友貴からタップを奪い、タイトル挑戦を熱望! . news.yahoo.co.jp . 31 December 2020.
  22. Web site: 2021-04-23. Kai Asakura faces Shooto Watanabe at postponed Rizin 28 Asian MMA. 2021-04-23. AsianMMA. en.
  23. Web site: Cruz. Guilherme. 2021-06-13. RIZIN 28 results, videos: Roberto Satoshi wins lightweight belt with 72-second submission. 2021-06-14. MMA Fighting. en.
  24. Web site: 2021-07-20. Ayaka Hamasaki faces Emi Fujino at Rizin 30 Asian MMA. 2021-07-20. AsianMMA. en.
  25. Web site: RIZIN"V本命"井上直樹が"豪腕"金太郎に辛勝 鼻血も決定打許さず . news.yahoo.co.jp . 19 September 2021.
  26. Web site: 2021-11-30. Rizin FF 33 bantamweight grand prix semifinals set: Former champion Kai Asakura draws Kenta Takizawa. 2021-11-30. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  27. Web site: 【RIZIN】扇久保博正が井上直樹に判定勝ちで決勝進出 バンタム級T - 格闘技 : 日刊スポーツ. 2021-12-31. nikkansports.com. ja.
  28. Web site: Goyder . James . Naoki Inoue faces Kenta Takizawa at Rizin 37 . asianmma.com . 4 July 2022 . 24 June 2022.
  29. Web site: Naoki Inoue tears meniscus, out of Rizin 37 . July 26, 2022. asianmma.com.
  30. Web site: 【RIZIN】大みそかBellator対抗戦の最後のカードは武田光司! 榊原CEOも期待「満場一致でお願いしたい」(オリコン) . 2022-11-12 . Yahoo!ニュース . ja.
  31. Web site: 【RIZIN】井上直樹が1年ぶり復帰戦で鮮やか一本! 瀧澤の顔が鮮血で染まる(ENCOUNT) . 2023-01-02 . Yahoo!ニュース . ja.
  32. Web site: 【RIZIN】アーチュレッタを迎え撃つのは井上直樹! 「自分がRIZINのチャンピオンとして顔としてやっていく」(アーチュレッタ)、「次につなげるために勝つ」(井上) . news.yahoo.co.jp . 6 March 2023.
  33. Web site: 【RIZIN】元ベラトール王者アーチュレッタ 井上直樹に判定勝利!バンタム級王座決定戦へ進出 . sponichi.co.jp . 6 May 2023.
  34. Web site: Naoki Inoue faces Shinobu Ota at Rizin Landmark 6 . September 4, 2023. asianmma.com.
  35. Web site: Rogers . Kian . Elite BJJ Black Belts To Compete At RIZIN Landmark 9 . 5 February 2024 . Jitsmagazine.
  36. Web site: 【試合結果】RIZIN LANDMARK 9 in KOBE 第10試合/井上直樹 vs. 佐藤将光 - RIZIN FIGHTING FEDERATION オフィシャルサイト . 2024-06-09 . jp.rizinff.com . en.