Masahiro Yamamoto
Born	(1983-04-14) April 14, 1983 (age 41) Nagasaki, Japan
Native name	山本真弘
Other names	Speedmaster
Nationality	Japanese
Height	1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight	63 kg (139 lb; 9.9 st)
Division	Featherweight Lightweight
Style	Kickboxing, Kyokushin Karate
Stance	Southpaw
Fighting out of	Tokyo, Japan
Team	Fujiwara Gym
Trainer	Toshio Fujiwara
Rank	Black belt in kyokushin Blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Years active	2002-present
Kickboxing record
Total	65
Wins	42
By knockout	12
Losses	17
By knockout	11
Draws	6
Last updated on: November 23, 2013

Masahiro Yamamoto (山本真弘, Yamamoto Masahiro, born April 14, 1983) is a Japanese kickboxer who competes in the lightweight division. After beginning his career as a featherweight in 2002, Yamamoto became a mainstay in the All Japan Kickboxing Federation and first challenged for the AJKF Featherweight Championship in December 2004 when he fought to a draw with Genki Yamamoto. He then went on a hot streak in 2005, winning the IKUSA 2005 –60 kg Grand Prix in the process, and was given another chance at the AJKF Featherweight title in January 2006 when he beat Genki Yamamoto in a rematch to take the belt. The following years saw Yamamoto move up to lightweight and have more domestic success as he took the AJKF's Best of 60 kg Tournament 2007 and the Krush Lightweight Grand Prix 2009 before he emerged internationally with the It's Showtime promotion. He lost to Sergio Wielzen in his first attempt at the It's Showtime 61MAX Championship in December 2010 but came back to win the belt in July 2012 by defeating Javier Hernandez.

Career

Early career

Yamamoto began practicing Kyokushin karate as a schoolboy and won the all-Japan junior high school full contact karate championships in 2000, followed by the high school championships the following year. He would later begin kickboxing under the legendary Toshio Fujiwara at the Fujiwara Gym in Tokyo, and debuted professionally with a unanimous decision win over Hideki Shimizu at AJKF: Golden Trigger on September 6, 2002. ^[1]

After amassing an undefeated record of 7-0-2 fighting in the All Japan Kickboxing Federation, Yamamoto was invited to compete in the promotion's Strongest Lightweight Tournament 2004. Having defeated Hiromasa Masuda by unanimous decision at the tournament's opening round on March 13, 2004, ^[2] he then tasted defeat for the first time at the hands of the eventual tournament winner, Tsogto Amara, when he lost a majority decision in the quarter-finals on April 16, 2004. ^[3]

He rebounded with three straight victories to earn himself a shot at the AJKF Featherweight (-57 kg/126 lb) Championship against Genki Yamamoto at the Fujiwara Festival 2004 on December 5, 2004. After five rounds of fighting, the bout was called a draw, meaning Genki kept the title. ^[4]

Domestic dominance

2005 saw Yamamoto wear gold for the first time in his career by winning the IKUSA 2005 –60 kg/132 lb Grand Prix. A first round knockout of Koishiwara at the quarter-final stage on June 18, 2005 was followed up by a points victory over Tomohiro Oikawa in the semis and then a technical knockout win against Naoki Ishikawa in the final on the same night three months later as Yamamoto claimed the crown. This led him to a rematch with Genki Yamamoto for the AJKF Featherweight title on January 4, 2006 at the New Year Kick Festival 2006, where he won a majority decision and became the new Japanese champion.

Yamamoto then went through a rough patch, however, as he went 2-3-1 in his next six fights with all three losses against Thai opposition. At the end of 2007, he was given the chance to get back on track by entering the AJKF's Best of 60 kg Tournament 2007. A second-round knockout of Susumu Daiguji on August 25, 2007 sent him into the semi-finals two months later where he took a unanimous points victory over Naoki Ishikawa, in what was the third fight between the pair. Later that night, Yamamoto defeated Haruaki Otsuki by the same margin in a five-round affair to emerge as Japan's top kickboxer at 60 kg/132 lb.

On January 4, 2008, he made the first and only defence of his AJKF Featherweight strap by knocking Yosuke Mizuochi out with a high kick in round four at the New Year Kick Festival 2008. After being stopped by Muay Thai exponents PKP Rachanon F16 and Wanrop Weerasakreck in his next two outings, he then returned to winning ways with four consecutive victories which earned him a call up to fight on kickboxing's biggest stage, K-1. ^[5] Making his promotional debut at the K-1 World MAX 2009 World Championship Tournament Final 16 in Fukuoka, Japan, on April 21, 2009, Yamamoto outpointed Yuki to a unanimous judges' decision after flooring his opponent with a knee strike in the third and final round. ^{[6] [7]}

Despite a knockout loss to Yuji Takeuchi in his next fight at Krush.3 less than a month later, he was asked to fight in the Krush Lightweight Grand Prix 2009. The tournament kicked off with the first round and quarter-finals on July 24, 2009 and Yamamoto defeated both Junpei Aotsu and Haruaki Otsuki by decision to advance to the final stage on November 2. He met Genki Yamamoto for the third time in the semis and an extension round was needed to separate them, after which Masahiro was given the nod to advance to the final where he went up against Yuta Kubo. Yamamoto sent Kubo to the canvas late in the third round of a back-and-forth war to secure the unanimous decision victory and the third tournament title of his career. ^[8]

Having already established himself as arguably the top kickboxer at 63 kg/138 lb, Yamamoto returned to K-1 as one of the favourites to win the K-1 World MAX 2010 –63 kg Japan Tournament. He was drawn against Tetsuya Yamato in the opening stage of the tournament held at the K-1 World MAX 2010 -63kg Japan Tournament Final 16 in Tokyo on May 2, 2010 and suffered a significant upset when he was beaten via unanimous decision after an extension round by the unfancied Yamato who would go on to win the whole tournament. ^{[9] [10]}

International emergence

Even after two losses in a row following a points defeat to Ryuichi Mukaiyama under Muay Thai rules, Yamamoto was still being held in high regard and was recruited by the European It's Showtime promotion to challenge for Sergio Wielzen's It's Showtime 61MAX (-61kg/134lb) Championship. In his international debut and first attempt at a world title, he met Wielzen at Yiannis Evgenikos presents: It’s Showtime Athens on December 11, 2010 in Athens, Greece. Yamamoto was floored by a knee to the body in round one and was stopped from continuing on the doctor's orders in round three due to cut above his right eye, losing by TKO. ^{[11] [12]}

Yamamoto then returned to Japan and racked up a record of 4-0-1 throughout 2011 and early 2012 to earn himself another shot at the It's Showtime 61MAX belt, which was now around the waist of Javier Hernandez. The run included decision wins over Arito Tsukahara, ^{[13] [14]} Kan Itabashi ^{[15] [16]} and Genki Kanazawa ^[17] under the It's Showtime Japan banner. Hernandez and Yamamoto faced off at Street Culture, Federación Canaria de Kickboxing & Fightclub Group present: It's Showtime 59 in Tenerife, Spain, on July 21, 2012, and Yamamoto become the new world champion by unanimous decision after using good boxing and knees to outpoint the Spaniard. ^{[18] [19] [20]}

He was expected to fight on an It's Showtime card in Yokohama, Japan, on November 17, 2012 ^[21] but the event was cancelled following the promotion's acquisition by Glory. ^[22]

He was ranked at #2 behind Masaaki Noiri when the lightweight world rankings were first published by LiverKick in September 2012, ^[23] but he slipped down to #3 come November as Karim Bennoui nipped in front of him. ^[24]

On December 2, 2012. Yamamoto faced Dutch import Mansour Yaqubi at RISE/M-1 ~Infinity~ in Tokyo, Japan. ^{[25] [26] [27]} Despite being floored by Yaqubi at the beginning of the third round, he was able score three knockdowns for himself before the final bell, forcing a referee stoppage. ^[28]

He defeated his third international opponent on the bounce when he took an extension round unanimous decision over Karim Bennoui at RISE 92 on March 17, 2013 in Tokyo. ^{[29] [30] [31]}

Yamamoto got his revenge over Sergio Wielzen at RISE 94 in Tokyo on July 20, 2013, knocking the Surinamese fighter out with a second round high kick. With this win, he defeated the three other It's Showtime 61MAX Champions. ^{[32] [33]}

He participated in La 20ème Nuit des Champions -62 kg/136 lb tournament featuring four of the world's best lightweights in Marseille, France, on November 23, 2013, losing to Yetkin Özkul on points in the semi-finals to exit the competition. ^{[34] [35]}

Championships and awards

Kickboxing

• All Japan Kickboxing Federation
  • AJKF Featherweight (-57 kg/126 lb) Championship
  • AJKF The Best of 60 kg/132 lb Tournament 2007 Champion
• IKUSA
  • IKUSA 2005 –60 kg/132 lb Grand Prix Champion
• It's Showtime
  • It's Showtime 61MAX (-61kg/134lb) Championship
• Krush
  • Krush Lightweight (-63 kg/138 lb) Grand Prix 2009 Champion

Awards

• eFight.jp
  • Fighter of the Month (July 2012) ^[36]

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing record

46 wins (12 KOs), 22 losses, 7 draws
Date	Result	Opponent	Event	Location	Method	Round	Time	Record
2020-11-03	Loss	Satoru Nariai	K-1 World GP 2020 in Fukuoka	Fukuoka, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
2018-11-21	Loss	Yuzuki Satomi	Krush 95	Japan	KO (Left Cross)	2	1:59
2018-08-18	Loss	Tatsuya Oiwa	Krush 92	Japan	TKO (Referee Stoppage)	2	2:58
2018-05-26	Loss	Yun Qi	Glory of Heroes 31: Beijing	Beijing, China	Decision (unanimous)	3	3:00
2017-09-18	Loss	Hirotaka Urabe	K-1 World GP 2016 -67.5kg World Tournament, Superfight	Tokyo, Japan	TKO (3 Knockdowns/Straight Right)	2	2:50
2017-02-18	Loss	Riku Anpo	Krush.73	Japan	KO (Punches)	1	2:05
2016-12-18	Win	Go Kato	Krush.71	Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
2016-04-24	Loss	Taiga	K-1 World GP 2016 -60kg Japan Tournament, Quarter Finals	Tokyo, Japan	KO (Flying Knee)	1	1:47
2015-12-04	Loss	Toshi	Krush.61	Japan	KO (Left Hook)	1	2:15
2015-08-14	Loss	Leona Pettas	Krush.56	Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
2015-05-04	Win	Shota Kanbe	Krush.54	Japan	Ext.R TKO (Doctor Stoppage)	4	1:54
2015-01-18	Loss	Koya Urabe	K-1 World GP 2015 -60kg Championship Tournament, Semi Finals	Tokyo, Japan	KO (Low Kick)	1	2:44
2015-01-18	Win	Gagny Baradji	K-1 World GP 2015 -60kg Championship Tournament, Quarter Finals	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Majority)	3	3:00
2014-11-06	Win	Junpei Aotsu	Krush.47	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
2014-08-09	Loss	Hirotaka Urabe	Krush.44	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
2014-04-15	Win	Yanis El Hajoui	Krush.40	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Majority)	3	3:00
2013-11-23	Loss	Yetkin Özkul	La 20ème Nuit des Champions, Semi Finals	Marseilles, France	Decision	3	3:00	41-11-6
2013-07-20	Win	Sergio Wielzen	RISE 94	Tokyo, Japan	KO (left high kick)	2	1:36	41-10-6
2013-03-17	Win	Karim Bennoui	RISE 92	Tokyo, Japan	Ext.R decision (unanimous)	4	3:00	40-10-6
2012-12-02	Win	Mansour Yaqubi	RISE/M-1 ~Infinity~	Tokyo, Japan	TKO (referee stoppage)	3	2:46	39-10-6
2012-07-21	Win	Javier Hernandez	It's Showtime 59	Tenerife, Spain	Decision (unanimous)	5	3:00	38-10-6
Wins the It's Showtime 61MAX (-61kg/134lb) Championship.
2012-03-25	Win	Turbo	M-1 Muay Thai Challenge: Sutt Yod Muaythai Vol.1	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (unanimous)	3	3:00	37-10-6
2011-12-22	Win	Genki Kanazawa	It's Showtime Japan 6	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (unanimous)	3	3:00	36-10-6
2011-10-23	Win	Kan Itabashi	REBELS.9 & It's Showtime Japan 4	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (unanimous)	3	3:00	35-10-6
2011-08-28	Win	Arito Tsukahara	It's Showtime Japan 2	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (majority)	3	3:00	34-10-6
2011-04-24	Draw	Satoshi Nakamura	REBELS.7	Tokyo, Japan	Decision draw	5	3:00	33-10-6
2010-12-11	Loss	Sergio Wielzen	Yiannis Evgenikos presents: It’s Showtime Athens	Athens, Greece	TKO (cut)	3	1:45	33-10-5
For the It's Showtime 61MAX (-61kg/134lb) Championship.
2010-09-26	Loss	Ryuichi Mukaiyama	WBC Muaythai: The Road to World Champion	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (unanimous)	5	3:00	33-9-5
2010-05-02	Loss	Tetsuya Yamato	K-1 World MAX 2010 -63kg Japan Tournament Final 16, First Round	Tokyo, Japan	Ext.R decision (unanimous)	4	3:00	33-8-5
2010-04-07	Win	Kan Itabashi	RISE 63	Tokyo, Japan	Ext.R decision (unanimous)	4	3:00	33-7-5
2009-12-11	Win	Yoshinori Nakasuka	Fujiwara Festival 2009	Tokyo, Japan	Ext.R decision (unanimous)	4	3:00	32-7-5
2009-11-02	Win	Yuta Kubo	Krush Lightweight Grand Prix 2009 〜Round.2〜, Final	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (unanimous)	3	3:00	31-7-5
Wins the Krush Lightweight (-63kg/138lb) Grand Prix 2009 tournament title.
2009-11-02	Win	Genki Yamamoto	Krush Lightweight Grand Prix 2009 〜Round.2〜, Semi Finals	Tokyo, Japan	Ext.R decision (unanimous)	4	3:00	30-7-5
2009-07-24	Win	Haruaki Otsuki	Krush Lightweight Grand Prix 2009 〜Round.1〜, Quarter Finals	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (majority)	3	3:00	29-7-5
2009-07-24	Win	Junpei Aotsu	Krush Lightweight Grand Prix 2009 〜Round.1〜, First Round	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (unanimous)	3	3:00	28-7-5
2009-05-17	Loss	Yuji Takeuchi	Krush.3	Tokyo, Japan	KO (left hook)	2	1:38	27-7-5
2009-04-21	Win	Yuki	K-1 World MAX 2009 World Championship Tournament Final 16	Fukuoka, Japan	Decision (unanimous)	3	3:00	27-6-5
2009-03-14	Win	Kunitaka Fujiwara	Krush.2	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (unanimous)	3	3:00	26-6-5
2009-01-04	Win	Petcheak Sor. Suwanpakdee	AJKF: New Year Kick Festival 2009	Tokyo, Japan	TKO (doctor stoppage)	2	1:58	25-6-5
2008-11-08	Win	Akira	Krush ~Kickboxing Destruction~	Tokyo, Japan	KO (left uppercut)	1	2:33	24-6-5
2008-09-19	Win	Kompayak Weerasakreck	AJKF: Sword Fight 2008	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (majority)	5	3:00	23-6-5
2008-06-22	Loss	Wanlop Weerasakreck	AJKF: Blitz	Tokyo, Japan	KO (left elbow)	2	2:14	22-6-5
2008-03-20	Loss	F-16 Rachanon	AJKF: Kick On!	Tokyo, Japan	TKO (cut)	4	0:19	22-5-5
2008-01-04	Win	Yosuke Mizuochi	AJKF: New Year Kick Festival 2008	Tokyo, Japan	KO (left high kick)	4	2:50	22-4-5
Retains the AJKF Featherweight (-57 kg/126 lb) Championship.
2007-10-25	Win	Haruaki Otsuki	AJKF: The Best of 60 kg Tournament 2007 Final, Final	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (unanimous)	5	3:00	21-4-5
Wins the AJKF: The Best of 60kg/132lb Tournament 2007 title.
2007-10-25	Win	Naoki Ishikawa	AJKF: The Best of 60 kg Tournament 2007 Final, Semi Finals	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (unanimous)	3	3:00	20-4-5
2007-08-25	Win	Susumu Daiguji	AJKF: The Best of 60 kg Tournament 2007 Opener, Quarter Finals	Tokyo, Japan	KO (left cross)	2	2:33	19-4-5
2007-06-17	Loss	Weerachai Chuwattana			TKO (referee stoppage)	4	0:53	18-4-5
2007-05-11	Win	Mongkontorn Ponsongkram	AJKF: Rearm	Tokyo, Japan	KO (left cross)	3	0:56	18-3-5
2007-03-09	Draw	Arashi Fujihara	AJKF	Tokyo, Japan	decision (majority)	5	3:00	17-3-5
2006-12-08	Win	Hiroshi Iwakiri	AJKF: Fujiwara Festival 2006	Tokyo, Japan	Ext.R decision (unanimous)	4	3:00	17-3-4
2006-06-11	Loss	Daratai Kiatpayattai	AJKF: Triumph	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (unanimous)	3	3:00	16-3-4
2006-03-19	Loss	Wanlop Weerasakreck	AJKF: Sword Fight 2006	Tokyo, Japan	KO (right front kick)	3	2:48	16-2-4
2006-01-04	Win	Genki Yamamoto	AJKF: New Year Kick Festival 2006	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (majority)	5	3:00	16-1-4
Wins the AJKF Featherweight (-57 kg/126 lb) Championship.
2005-11-05	Win	Ichiro Otaka	AJKF: Rock'n Roll	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (unanimous)	3	3:00	15-1-4
2005-09-19	Win	Naoki Ishikawa	IKUSA 2005 –60 kg Grand Prix Final Stage, Final	Tokyo, Japan	TKO (referee stoppage)	3	2:05	14-1-4
Wins the IKUSA 2005 -60kg/132lb Grand Prix title.
2005-09-19	Win	Tomohiro Oikawa	IKUSA 2005 –60 kg Grand Prix Final Stage, Semi Finals	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (unanimous)	3	3:00	13-1-4
2005-06-18	Win	Koishiwara	IKUSA 2005 –60 kg Grand Prix Opening Stage, Quarter Finals	Tokyo, Japan	KO (left hook)	1	3:00	12-1-4
2005-03-18	Draw	Chinchai Maimuangkon	AJKF: Rush!	Tokyo, Japan	Decision	5	3:00	11-1-4
2004-12-05	Draw	Genki Yamamoto	AJKF: Fujiwara Festival 2004	Tokyo, Japan	Decision	5	3:00	11-1-3
For the AJKF Featherweight (-57 kg/126 lb) Championship.
2004-10-17	Win	Naoki Ishikawa	AJKF: Hard Blow	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (unanimous)	5	3:00	11-1-2
2004-08-22	Win	Noriyuki Hiratani	AJKF: Lightning	Tokyo, Japan	TKO (cut)	2	0:27	10-1-2
2004-06-18	Win	Rascal Taka	AJKF: Strongest Lightweight Tournament Final Stage	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (majority)	3	3:00	9-1-2
2004-04-16	Loss	Tsogto Amara	AJKF: Strongest Lightweight Tournament 2nd Stage, Quarter Finals	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (majority)	3	3:00	8-1-2
2004-03-13	Win	Hiromasa Masuda	AJKF: Strongest Lightweight Tournament 2004 1st Stage, First Round	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (unanimous)	3	3:00	8-0-2
2003-12-07	Draw	Noriyuki Hiratani	AJKF: Fujiwara Festival 2003	Tokyo, Japan	Decision(Majority)	5	3:00	7-0-2
2003-08-17	Win	Satoruvashicoba	AJKF: Hurricane Blow	Tokyo, Japan	TKO (cut)	2	2:43	7-0-1
2003-05-23	Win	Kenji Takemura	AJKF: Strongest Lightweight Tournament 2003 Final	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (unanimous)	3	3:00	6-0-1
2003-03-08	Win	Akira Iwasa	AJKF: Strongest Lightweight Tournament 2003 1st Stage	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (unanimous)	3	3:00	5-0-1
2003-02-07	Win	Atsushi Kumagai	AJKF: Red Zone	Tokyo, Japan	TKO (referee stoppage)	2	1:10	4-0-1
2003-01-04	Win	Tsuyoshi Kurihara	AJKF: Kick Energy	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (unanimous)	3	3:00	3-0-1
2002-11-17	Draw	Yoshikazu Murayama	AJKF: Back From Hell I	Tokyo, Japan	Majority draw	3	3:00	2-0-1
2002-10-17	Win	Takashi Mikajiri	AJKF: Brandnew Fight	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (unanimous)	3	3:00	2-0
2002-09-06	Win	Hideki Shimizu	AJKF: Golden Trigger	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (unanimous)	3	3:00	1-0
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

References