Kazuyuki Fujita

MMAstatsbox
name=Kazuyuki Fujita


nick=Ol' Ironhead
height=183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
weight=109 kg (240 lb)
birthdate=birth date and age|year=1970|month=10|day=16
died=
nationality=flagicon|Japan Japanese
hometown=Funabashi, Chiba,
Japan
fightstyle=Wrestling
wins=15
losses=7
draws=1
nocontest=
ko=6
submissions=6|

nihongo|Kazuyuki Fujita|藤田 和之|"Fujita Kazuyuki", born October 16 1970) is a Japanese professional wrestler, a mixed martial arts fighter and a former amateur wrestler. In MMA, he holds wins over Ken Shamrock, Gilbert Yvel, Mark Kerr, James Thompson and Bob Sapp.

Career

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. [http://www.latimes.com/sports/boxing/la-spw-mmacol8jan08,1,5760477.story]

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 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 by defeating such fighters as Mark Kerr, Ken Shamrock, and Gilbert Yvel. He became known for a relentless style and his exceptionally strong neck that prevents most opponents from being able to choke him.

In April 2001 he returned to NJPW, and quickly won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. He reigned as the champion until he was forced to vacate the title due to injury. In 2003, he memorably rocked and almost KO'd Fedor Emelianenko.

In June 2004 he defeated Bob Sapp in an MMA fight. Sapp was the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion, and the championship was vacated after his loss to Fujita. 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. He lost it to Brock Lesnar on October 8, 2005 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.

On May 5, 2006 he returned to MMA with a win in PRIDE over James Thompson by knockout. Fujita fought Wanderlei Silva at PRIDE Critical Countdown Absolute in July 2006 and lost by TKO.

Most recently, Fujita was defeated by Travis Wiuff at World Victory Road's third event, Sengoku 3.

MMA Record

Championships and accomplishments

Professional wrestling
*New Japan Pro Wrestling
**IWGP Heavyweight Championship (3 times)

References

* [http://www.k-1sport.de/en/database/show_fighter.php?id=202 K-1sport.de - Complete Fighters Profile of Kazuyuki Fujita]
* [http://www.puroresufan.com/roster/fujita.php Professional wrestling profile at Puroresufan]
* [http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?search=yes&fighterid=315 Professional MMA record]
* [http://www.prideofficial.com/free/fighters/details/1090472986.html PRIDE profile]
* [http://www.iat.uni-leipzig.de/datenbanken/dbwrest/start.php FILA database of international competitors] (Fujita's ID is 25772)