1. Satoshi Ishii is a Japanese-Croatian retired mixed martial artist, kickboxer, professional boxer and judoka who has held Croatian citizenship since 2019.
70 Facts About Satoshi Ishii
1. 2.
Satoshi Ishii started Judo under the guidance of his father when he was in fifth grade of elementary school.
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Satoshi Ishii attended Kokushikan High School and then Kokushikan University in the Department of Physical Education.
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Satoshi Ishii won a gold medal at the Junior World Championships on 16 October 2004 in Budapest, Hungary.
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On 30 April 2011 Satoshi Ishii returned to Judo to compete in the United States Championship in the open division; he won all the matches, securing the gold medal.
6.
Satoshi Ishii originally confirmed that he signed a contract with Japanese MMA promotion Fighting and Entertainment Group and was rumored to debut in early 2009 in their fight series, DREAM.
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However, Satoshi Ishii announced that he rejected FEG's offer, and was planning to pursue his MMA career in the US' Ultimate Fighting Championship.
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Satoshi Ishii headed to Florida where he trained with one of MMA's top camps American Top Team.
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On June 1,2009, Satoshi Ishii announced he would join Japanese MMA organization World Victory Road.
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Satoshi Ishii officially signed with the organization at a public signing event on June 4,2009.
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On September 14,2009, it was announced that Satoshi Ishii would make his MMA debut against fellow Olympian judo gold medalist Hidehiko Yoshida.
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Satoshi Ishii, who was a large favorite in the fight, was dominated in the first round by the more-experienced Yoshida, taking many strikes including a right overhand that staggered the newcomer, along with a series of knees and uppercuts from the clinch.
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Satoshi Ishii came back with a more competitive second round, but took a point deduction after illegally kneeing Yoshida in the groin.
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Satoshi Ishii continued to find his range in the third round with punches, but ultimately lost via unanimous decision.
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In June 2010, Satoshi Ishii caused controversy during an MMA exhibition match on the undercard of X-1 World Events: Nations Collide in Hawaii.
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On September 25,2010, Satoshi Ishii fought Ikuhisa Minowa, a shoot wrestler known for facing much larger opponents, at Dream.
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Satoshi Ishii continued to train at Black House in Brazil with notable fighters such as Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva.
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Satoshi Ishii was scheduled to make his North America debut for Strikeforce at Strikeforce Challengers 15 against Scott Lighty, but a visa issue stemming from the recent earthquake and tsunami left him unable to leave Japan.
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Satoshi Ishii next competed at Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoko 2011, where he met MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko.
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Satoshi Ishii lost the fight via KO in the first round.
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Satoshi Ishii then faced Kazuyuki Fujita on December 31,2013, for the IGF Championship.
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Satoshi Ishii won via unanimous decision, became the first IGF Champion.
23.
Satoshi Ishii defeated former UFC fighter Phil De Fries in a non-title bout via unanimous decision at IGF 1 on April 5,2014, in a full pride rules match as the headline bout on the card.
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Satoshi Ishii was expected to face PRIDE and Strikeforce veteran Sergei Kharitonov at M-1 Challenge 53: Battle in the Celestial Empire on November 11,2014.
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Satoshi Ishii faced Mirko Cro Cop in a rematch at December 31,2014, for the IGF Championship.
26.
However, in December 2014, it was reported that Satoshi Ishii would be able to heal up in time to fight Cro Cop, and the rematch was official .
27.
Satoshi Ishii lost the fight via TKO at the end of the second round.
28.
Satoshi Ishii fought Will Penn in his final IGF appearance, at Inoki Genome Fight 4 on August 29,2015.
29.
Satoshi Ishii lost the fight via knockout early in the first round.
30.
Satoshi Ishii made his North American MMA debut against Quinton Jackson on June 24,2016, at Bellator 157.
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Satoshi Ishii was scheduled to face Muhammed Lawal at Bellator 169 on December 16,2016.
32.
Satoshi Ishii snapped his losing streak with a unanimous decision victory.
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Satoshi Ishii was scheduled to face Ivan Shtyrkov at RCC Boxing Promotions: Russia vs Japan on July 9,2017.
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Satoshi Ishii lost the fight by a first-round technical knockout, as Shtyrkov floored the Olympian with a right straight.
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Satoshi Ishii made his first and only Final Fight Championship appearance against Bjorn Schmiedeberg at Final Fight Championship 30 on October 21,2017.
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Satoshi Ishii fought for the Serbian Battle Championship heavyweight title in his debut for the organization, against Tony Lopez at SBC 19 on December 1,2018.
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Satoshi Ishii made his first SBC heavyweight title defense against Rodrigo Carlos at Serbian Battle Championship 20 on February 16,2019.
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Satoshi Ishii won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.
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Satoshi Ishii challenged Cally Gibrainn de Oliveira for the HEAT Heavyweight Championship at HEAT 44 on March 2,2019.
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Satoshi Ishii was scheduled to face the former KSW champion Fernando Rodrigues at KSW 47: The X-Warriors on March 23,2019.
41.
On January 1,2019, Satoshi Ishii revealed that he had signed a contract with Professional Fighters League, and he took part in the second heavyweight regular season.
42.
Satoshi Ishii faced Zeke Tuinei Wily at PFL 3 on June 6,2019, in his promotional debut.
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Satoshi Ishii faced Jared Rosholt at PFL 6 on August 8,2019.
44.
Satoshi Ishii faced Denis Goltsov in the 2019 heavyweight quarterfinal bout at PFL 9 on October 31,2019.
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Satoshi Ishii faced Jake Heun at Rizin 20 on December 31,2019.
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Satoshi Ishii next faced Stuart Austin for the inaugural EMC Heavyweight Championship at EMC 5 on September 5,2020.
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Satoshi Ishii lost a controversial unanimous decision, to which his team decided to appeal.
48.
Satoshi Ishii faced Pietro Cappelli at EMC 7 on July 3,2021.
49.
Satoshi Ishii was scheduled to face Daniel Spohn at HEAT 50 on May 7,2022.
50.
Satoshi Ishii was instead booked to face Charlie Milner at FNC 6 on June 17,2022.
51.
On June 6,2023, Satoshi Ishii announced that he had signed a new contract with PFL in order to make his return to the promotion.
52.
Satoshi Ishii competed against Danilo Marques at PFL 8 on August 18,2023.
53.
On March 3,2024, Satoshi Ishii announced his retirement from MMA competition.
54.
Satoshi Ishii was scheduled to make his kickboxing debut against the one-time cruiserweight title challenger Ryo Aitaka at K-1 World GP 2021: Yokohamatsuri on September 20,2021.
55.
Satoshi Ishii won the fight by unanimous decision, after an extra round was fought.
56.
Satoshi Ishii was scheduled to make his second professional kickboxing appearance against RUI at K-1 World GP 2021 in Osaka on December 4,2021.
57.
Satoshi Ishii took part in the 2022 K-1 openweight tournament, held at K-1: K'Festa 5 on April 3,2022.
58.
Satoshi Ishii faced BigBang heavyweight champion Kosuke Jitsukata in the tournament quarterfinals.
59.
Satoshi Ishii withdrew from the tournament after this bout, due to a rib injury.
60.
Satoshi Ishii faced the former K-1 Heavyweight Champion in a super heavyweight bout at K-1 World GP 2023: K'Festa 6 on March 12,2023.
61.
Satoshi Ishii faced Chang Soo Han on January 6,2023, as part of the "3150 Fight Vol 6" event.
62.
Satoshi Ishii announced his retirement from the sport of boxing during the post-fight press conference.
63.
Satoshi Ishii challenged Mason Fowler for the Submission Underground absolute championship at Submission Underground 19 on December 20,2020.
64.
Satoshi Ishii lost the match by submission in EBI overtime.
65.
Satoshi Ishii returned at Submission Underground 20 on December 30,2020, to face Craig Jones in the co-main event.
66.
Satoshi Ishii was submitted with a rear-naked choke at 2:08 of regulation time.
67.
Satoshi Ishii then competed against Andy Varela at Submission Underground 21 on March 28,2021.
68.
Satoshi Ishii lost the match in EBI overtime due to having the least ride-time.
69.
Satoshi Ishii was married for 9 months to Mika, a university student, divorcing in January 2011.
70.
In 2019, Satoshi Ishii obtained Croatian citizenship and passport and had to give up Japanese citizenship and passport due to Japan's policy against dual citizenship.