19 Facts About Hatsu Hioki

1.

Hatsu Hioki is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist competing in the featherweight division.

2.

Hatsu Hioki is the former Shooto Lightweight Champion, Sengoku Featherweight Champion, and TKO Featherweight Champion.

3.

Hatsu Hioki won his first MMA title in the Canadian promotion TKO Major League MMA, by defeating Mark Hominick for the featherweight belt.

4.

Hatsu Hioki successfully defended this title twice before participating in the Sengoku Featherweight Grand Prix tournament.

5.

Hatsu Hioki defeated Masanori Kanehara in the semi-final of the tournament but was unable to continue on to the final to fight Michihiro Omigawa due to an injury in his bout with Kanehara.

6.

On May 30,2010 Hatsu Hioki fought Takeshi Inoue for the Shooto Featherweight Championship and won by a split decision making him the 9th fighter to win it and the 8th Japanese fighter to do so.

7.

Hatsu Hioki had a controversially lost to Antonio Carvalho during his Shooto career.

8.

Hatsu Hioki's superior reach and movement allowed him to out land and counter the aggressive Brazilian.

9.

Hatsu Hioki vacated the title on June 25,2011 after signing with the UFC.

10.

Hatsu Hioki debuted at UFC 137 on October 29,2011, where he defeated George Roop via split decision.

11.

Hatsu Hioki faced veteran Bart Palaszewski on February 26,2012 at UFC 144, winning the bout via unanimous decision.

12.

Hatsu Hioki dominated the whole fight taking down Bart Palaszewski several times and applying a variety of submission attempts.

13.

Hatsu Hioki was offered a title shot but turned it down and instead faced Ricardo Lamas on June 22,2012 at UFC on FX: Maynard vs Guida.

14.

Hatsu Hioki faced Clay Guida on January 26,2013 at UFC on Fox: Johnson vs Dodson.

15.

Hatsu Hioki faced Darren Elkins on August 28,2013 at UFC Fight Night 27.

16.

Hatsu Hioki faced Ivan Menjivar on March 1,2014 at UFC Fight Night: Kim vs Hathaway.

17.

Hatsu Hioki faced Charles Oliveira on June 28,2014 at UFC Fight Night 43.

18.

Hatsu Hioki lost the fight via submission, with the loss being the first time Hioki has ever been finished in MMA.

19.

Hatsu Hioki faced Dan Hooker on May 10,2015 at UFC Fight Night 65.