43 Facts About Tatsuya Kawajiri

1.

Tatsuya Kawajiri is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division.

2.

Tatsuya Kawajiri is a former Shooto Lightweight Champion, and has competed in the UFC, PRIDE, DREAM, Strikeforce, ONE FC, and Rizin Fighting Federation.

3.

Tatsuya Kawajiri's fight at PRIDE Bushido 9 with Takanori Gomi was voted as PRIDE Fighting Championship's Fight of the Year for 2005.

4.

Tatsuya Kawajiri was born in the Inashiki District of Ibaraki Prefecture and competed in baseball from elementary school through middle school before he transitioned into track and field in high school.

5.

At the age of 19, Tatsuya Kawajiri viewed the 1997 K-1 World Grand Prix Semifinal match between Ernesto Hoost and Francisco Filho, persuading him to begin training in combat sports.

6.

On May 22,2005, Tatsuya Kawajiri made his debut in PRIDE and score a quick TKO over In Seok Kim.

7.

Tatsuya Kawajiri went on to score a one-sided victory over Luis Firmino at PRIDE Bushido 8 on July 17,2005.

8.

Tatsuya Kawajiri went back to Shooto to defend his Shooto Lightweight Champion against Norwegian Joachim Hansen.

9.

Tatsuya Kawajiri came back to PRIDE in a fight against Charles Bennett whom he submitted by kneebar after 2:30 in the first round.

10.

Tatsuya Kawajiri then made another PRIDE appearance in which he fought Chris Brennan and scored an even quicker victory 29 seconds in the first round by TKO.

11.

Tatsuya Kawajiri's next fight was a non-title bout against Per Eklund in Shooto where he scored a TKO at 4:10 into the first round.

12.

On January 23,2007, Tatsuya Kawajiri relinquished his Shooto title because he could not defend his title by the next Shooto event due to a thumb injury that occurred with his fight against Melendez.

13.

In March 2008 Tatsuya Kawajiri entered the DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix, where he has advanced to the semifinals after back to back victories over Kultar Gill, and Brazilian Top Team fighter Luiz Firmino.

14.

At DREAM 5 Tatsuya Kawajiri lost a semi-final match-up to Eddie Alvarez by TKO at 7:35 of the first round.

15.

On March 5,2009, at DREAM 7, Tatsuya Kawajiri faced EliteXC veteran Ross Ebanez.

16.

Tatsuya Kawajiri won via rear-naked choke submission just over four minutes into the first round.

17.

On May 26,2009, Tatsuya Kawajiri defeated Gesias Cavalcante via unanimous decision.

18.

Tatsuya Kawajiri used his strong wrestling and ground and pound to great effect, and he was able to frustrate Cavalcante by matching him in the striking game on the feet.

19.

Tatsuya Kawajiri next faced Guam's Melchor Manibusan, who had not fought in several years in a match that was not expected to be competitive for Tatsuya Kawajiri.

20.

Tatsuya Kawajiri easily took down his foe after a wild start in which Manibusan rushed Tatsuya Kawajiri with a flurry of punches, then used his trademark ground and pound to force the TKO via strikes at 3:48 of the first round.

21.

Tatsuya Kawajiri went on to defeat Yokota via unanimous decision.

22.

Tatsuya Kawajiri faced Champion Shinya Aoki at DREAM 15 for the Lightweight Championship in a highly anticipated match up as the two are both from PRIDE and were meant to have fought in the now defunct organization.

23.

Tatsuya Kawajiri lost via submission at 1:53 into the first round.

24.

Tatsuya Kawajiri faced UFC veteran Drew Fickett at DREAM: Japan GP Final.

25.

Tatsuya Kawajiri rebounded from his loss against Strikeforce Champion Gilbert Melendez by pounding out Fickett.

26.

Tatsuya Kawajiri finished Fickett with strikes less than five minutes into the fight.

27.

Tatsuya Kawajiri won the fight via submission in the third round.

28.

Tatsuya Kawajiri defeated Miyata via submission at 4:54 of the second round.

29.

Tatsuya Kawajiri lost the fight via TKO in the first round.

30.

On October 22,2013, it was announced that Tatsuya Kawajiri has signed with the UFC.

31.

Tatsuya Kawajiri was expected to face Hacran Dias on January 4,2014, at UFC Fight Night 34 Dias pulled out of the bout citing an injury.

32.

Tatsuya Kawajiri eventually faced promotional newcomer Sean Soriano at the event.

33.

Tatsuya Kawajiri won the fight via technical submission in the second round.

34.

Tatsuya Kawajiri lost the fight by unanimous decision in a performance that earned both participants Fight of the Night honors.

35.

Tatsuya Kawajiri was briefly linked to a matchup with Darren Elkins on September 20,2014, at UFC Fight Night 52, but the bout never materialized as Tatsuya Kawajiri was sidelined indefinitely with a detached retina.

36.

Tatsuya Kawajiri faced Dennis Siver on June 20,2015, at UFC Fight Night 69.

37.

Tatsuya Kawajiri was expected to face Mirsad Bektic on December 11,2015, at The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale.

38.

Tatsuya Kawajiri remained on the card and faced promotional newcomer Jason Knight.

39.

Tatsuya Kawajiri next faced Dennis Bermudez on February 21,2016, at UFC Fight Night 83.

40.

Tatsuya Kawajiri faced Cub Swanson on August 6,2016, at UFC Fight Night 92.

41.

Tatsuya Kawajiri lost the back and forth fight via unanimous decision.

42.

Tatsuya Kawajiri announced on October 17,2016, that he has asked for his release from the UFC.

43.

Just a few days after signing with Rizin FF, it was announced that Tatsuya Kawajiri will be fighting Kron Gracie at Rizin World Grand-Prix 2016: 2nd Round.