Shungo Oyama Explained

Shungo Oyama
Birth Name:Ōyama Toshiyuki
pronounced as /ja/
大山 利幸
Birth Date:day=11 month=04 year=1974
Birth Place:Nasu District, Tochigi, Japan
Nationality:Japanese
Height:1.80NaN0
Weight:83.4kg (183.9lb)
Weight Class:Heavyweight
Light Heavyweight
Middleweight
Welterweight[1]
Martial Art:MMA
Style:Judo, Sambo
Stance:Southpaw
Fighting Out Of:Tokyo, Japan
Team:Freelance
Rank: Black Belt in Judo
Years Active:2001–2014
Mma Kowin:4
Mma Subwin:8
Mma Decwin:2
Mma Koloss:15
Mma Subloss:3
Mma Decloss:1
Mma Nc:1
University:International Budo University
Sherdog:335

Shungo Oyama (峻護 Ōyama Shungo pronounced as /ja/; born April 11, 1974) is a Japanese former professional mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 2001 to 2014, he competed for the PRIDE Fighting Championships, Pancrase, RINGS, DREAM, K-1, and King of the Cage.

Early life

Oyama was born in Nasu District in Tochigi Prefecuture, Japan on April 11, 1974, as Toshiyuki Oyama. He started practicing Judo when he was five years old, winning the All Japan Businessmen's Individual Championship, among other titles. He did not limit itself to a single grappling style, and also won the All Japan Sambo Championship and the All Japan Combat Wrestling Championship. Then, he began training MMA and won All Japan Amateur Shooto Championship, making a pro debut in 2001.[2]

Mixed martial arts career

Background and fighting style

He is best known for being a student of Japanese judo superstar Hidehiko Yoshida, and briefly trained with three-time King of Pancrase Bas Rutten. Shungo has also trained at the famed Takada Dojo, run by former PRIDE General Director Nobuhiko Takada.

Though his record is not impressive, Shungo has gained respect for his die hard spirit, and stubbornness to submit. On more than one occasion he has been injured or choked unconscious due to his refusal to tap out.

PRIDE

Oyama had his anticipated debut in PRIDE Fighting Championships in 2001 against feared Wanderlei Silva. In a fight of 30 seconds, Oyama met a spirited striking exchange, but he was overwhelmed and knocked out while he tried to avoid Silva. Shungo followed with a bout against famed Brazilian jiu-jitsu Wallid Ismail, but he underperformed again. The judoka met Ismail in his field of expertise by pulling guard early with a guillotine choke, which only allowed the Brazilian to pass guard, but Oyama escaped and contained Wallid until the second round. At the end, however, Ismail blocked a triangle choke attempt from Oyama and locked an arm triangle choke which Shungo refused to tap out to, rendering the Japanese unconscious. After the match, it was revealed that Oyama had suffered a retinal detachment.

His third match in PRIDE finally dissipated the negative criticism towards Oyama when he faced Renzo Gracie of the famed Gracie Jiu-Jitsu family. With a combination of his own unorthodox striking style, a good takedown defense and a little Kazushi Sakuraba imitation, Shungo was able to frustrate Gracie and dominate the fight to gain a unanimous decision. In a controversial moment, Gracie, irritated by his fight antics, spit in Shungo's face. Shortly after, Ryan Gracie challenged him to a fight to avenge Renzo. Oyama and Ryan met in the main event of PRIDE 22-Beasts From The East 2, in a fight in which the BJJ specialist caught Oyama in an armbar. The judoka, in a last action of defiance, refused to submit and got his arm broken. After the fight, Ryan assaulted Oyama and verbally insulted him before being restrained.

Oyama faced Dan Henderson in 2003, going to the fight with an arm injury. After being knocked out by punches, medical examination showed that his eye injury had reopened, and he had to go to hiatus. His last fight in PRIDE was against Mirko Cro Cop, losing again by KO.

Post-PRIDE

In 2006, Oyama faced another Gracie family member in the form of Rodrigo Gracie at the HERO'S 6 event. He got his second victory over the family, controlling Rodrigo and landing ground and pound for a unanimous decision.

Oyama faced Handong Kong at Pancrase 257 on March 30, 2014. He won by first round heel hook.[3]

He participated "Martial Combat 10" as a substitute of Daiju Takase in Singapore for the title of Light Heavyweight(-87 kg) on September 16, 2010. He beat Brian Gassaway from USA with an inverted triangle choke and won the first professional title in his career.

After winning, he proposed to Junko Kawada, with whom he had a four-year relationship while in the cage. They were married in his hometown.

Mixed martial arts record

|-| Loss| align=center| 14–19| Yuji Sakuragi| TKO (corner stoppage)| Pancrase 263| | align=center| 2| align=center| 1:03| Tokyo, Japan||-| Loss| align=center| 14–18| Ikkei Nagamura| KO (punch)| Pancrase 260| | align=center| 2| align=center| 1:01| Tokyo, Japan||-| Win| align=center| 14–17| Handong Kong| Submission (heel hook)| Pancrase 257| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:26| Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan||-| Loss| align=center| 13–17| Jordan Currie| Submission (arm-triangle choke)| Pancrase 252: 20th Anniversary| | align=center| 1| align=center| 5:00| Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan||-| Loss| align=center| 13–16| Eun Soo Lee| KO (punches)| Road FC 10: Monson vs. Kang| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:48| Busan, South Korea| |-| Loss| align=center| 13–15| Asif Tagiecv| TKO (knees and punches)| RINGS Vol. 2: Conquisito| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:44| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Loss| align=center| 13–14| Ryo Kawamura| KO (soccer kick)| Pancrase: Progress Tour 7| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:19| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 13–13| Hae Suk Son| TKO (punches)| Road FC 6: The Final Four| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:10| Seoul, South Korea| |-| Win| align=center| 12–13| Jong Dae Kim| Submission (heel hook)| Road FC 6: The Final Four| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:44| Seoul, South Korea| |-| Win| align=center| 11–13| Denis Kang| TKO (knees)| Road FC 5: Night of Champions| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:30| Seoul, South Korea|Return to Middleweight.|-| Win| align=center| 10–13| Kyu Suk Son| KO (punch)| Pancrase: Impressive Tour 9| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:11| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 9–13| Brian Gassaway| Technical Submission (inverted triangle choke)| MC: Martial Combat 10| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:50| Sentosa, Singapore| |-| Loss| align=center| 8–13| Vitaly Shemetov| KO (punches)| X-1 Nations Collide| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:31| Honolulu, Hawaii|Return to Light Heavyweight.|-| Win| align=center| 8–12| Mike Wimmer| Submission (heel hook)| KOTC: Toryumon| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:07| Ginowan, Okinawa, Japan|Welterweight debut.|-| Loss| align=center| 7–12| Andrews Nakahara| TKO (punches)| DREAM.8| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:00| Nagoya, Aichi, Japan||-| Loss| align=center| 7–11| Yoon Dong-Sik| Decision (unanimous)| DREAM 2: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 First Round| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| Saitama, Saitama, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 7–10| Carlos Newton| TKO (submission to punches)| HERO'S 2007 in Korea| | align=center| 3| align=center| 2:42| Seoul, South Korea||-| Loss| align=center| 6–10| Melvin Manhoef| TKO (punches)| HERO'S 7| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:04| Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 6–9| Rodrigo Gracie| Decision (unanimous)| HERO'S 6| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Loss| align=center| 5–9| Melvin Manhoef| TKO (doctor stoppage)| HERO'S 4| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:51| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 5–8| Peter Aerts| Submission (heel hook)| K-1-Premium 2005 Dynamite| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:30| Osaka, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 4–8| Yun Seob Kwak| Submission (achilles lock)| HERO'S 2005 in Seoul| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:14| Seoul, South Korea|Light Heavyweight bout.|-| Loss| align=center| 3–8| Sam Greco| KO (knees and punches)| HERO'S 3| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:37| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 3–7| Valentijn Overeem| Submission (toe hold)| HERO'S 1| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:28| Saitama, Saitama, Japan| |-| Loss| align=center| 2–7| Sean O'Haire| TKO (punches)| K-1 Fighting Network Rumble on the Rock 2004| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:31| Honolulu, Hawaii, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 2–6| Mirko Cro Cop| TKO (punches)| PRIDE Bushido 4| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:00| Nagoya, Aichi, Japan|Return to Heavyweight.|-| Loss| align=center| 2–5| Dan Henderson| TKO (punches)| PRIDE 25| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:28| Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan||-| Loss| align=center| 2–4| Ryan Gracie| Submission (armbar)| PRIDE 22| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:37| Nagoya, Aichi, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 2–3| Renzo Gracie| Decision (unanimous)| PRIDE 21| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Saitama, Saitama, Japan| |-| Loss| align=center| 1–3| Wallid Ismail| Submission (triangle choke)| PRIDE 15| | align=center| 2| align=center| 2:30| Saitama, Saitama, Japan| |-| Loss| align=center| 1–2| Wanderlei Silva| TKO (punches)| PRIDE 14: Clash of the Titans| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:30| Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan|Return to Heavyweight.|-| Loss| align=center| 1–1| Phillip Miller| TKO (strikes)| KOTC 8: Bombs Away| | align=center| 2| align=center| 3:00| Williams, California, United States|Middleweight debut.|-| Win| align=center| 1–0| Mike Bourke| KO (punch)| KOTC 7: Wet and Wild| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:17| San Jacinto, California, United States|

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Judo

Sambo

Notes and References

  1. https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/shungo-oyama
  2. Web site: PANCRASE 263 – 12/06/2014: Oyama’s Retiremant Fight is the Hedaliner. 21 November 2014.
  3. Web site: Full Results: Pancrase 257. fightsportasia.com. March 30, 2014.