Tsuyoshi Kosaka is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist, submission grappler and professional wrestler who competed in the Heavyweight division.
30 Facts About Tsuyoshi Kosaka
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Tsuyoshi Kosaka is considered to be one of the early pioneers of mixed martial arts and was one of the top ranked Japanese fighters for several years.
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Training in judo since highschool, Tsuyoshi Kosaka competed extensively during his stay at the Senshu University, where he befriended future world judo champion Hidehiko Yoshida.
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Tsuyoshi Kosaka had his first mixed martial arts venture when, thanks to his strong judo background, he was sent to represent RINGS in the gi-clad MMA event Lumax Cup 1995.
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Tsuyoshi Kosaka won the tournament by knocking out Hiroyuki Yoshioka, submitting Susumu Yamasaki with a heel hook, and finally outclassing Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion Egan Inoue at the finals with a mix of judo throws and positional reversals.
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Tsuyoshi Kosaka controlled the match, throwing and taking down the lighter Shamrock and threatening him with submissions, but couldn't lock any of them, while Shamrock was successful at defending from half guard and counterattacking with his own hold attempts.
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The match saw a worn Tsuyoshi Kosaka getting ahead in points by multiple fouls from Yvel, but he failed at submitting him while Yvel landed several knockdowns, until one of them caused the fight to be stopped.
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Tsuyoshi Kosaka controlled the first round of a match fought mostly in the clinch, throwing down the wrestling champion with a harai makikomi and landing abundant ground and pound, but his activity stopped when he received an accidental headbutt.
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In June 2001, Tsuyoshi Kosaka fought luta livre specialist Renato Sobral, who had defeated Tsuyoshi Kosaka's countrymen Kiyoshi Tamura and Hiromitsu Kanehara.
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Sobral controlled the stand-up segments via wrestling and knee strikes, while Tsuyoshi Kosaka worked from the bottom and pursued submissions.
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In 1998, Tsuyoshi Kosaka signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and debuted at the event UFC 18, facing Kimo Leopoldo.
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Williams went aggressively against Tsuyoshi Kosaka using his vaunted striking, but Tsuyoshi Kosaka repeatedly threw him down with uchi mata and transitioned them into armlock attempts, using his defensive guard whenever Williams managed to get back the upper hand.
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At 1999's UFC 18, Tsuyoshi Kosaka returned to UFC fighting the legendary Bas Rutten in the first round of the "Road to the Heavyweight Title", which was a four-man tournament that would crown the next UFC Heavyweight Champion.
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Tsuyoshi Kosaka's last fight in UFC was at UFC 37, fighting Ricco Rodriguez.
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Tsuyoshi Kosaka then landed in PRIDE Fighting Championships, in which his first fight would be a rematch against Fedor Emelianenko for the latter's technical defeat in RINGS, taking place in PRIDE Bushido 6.
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Tsuyoshi Kosaka returned in PRIDE 31 against legendary Brazilian grappler and Brazilian Top Team coach Mario Sperry.
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The bout was even shorter, as Tsuyoshi Kosaka knocked him out with punches after a brief struggle.
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At PRIDE Total Elimination Absolute, Tsuyoshi Kosaka fought Mark Hunt in what would be his last fight.
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Back to standing, Tsuyoshi Kosaka traded strikes with Hunt and landed effective hits despite the difference in level, absorbing heavy punches and delivering in return combos against the ropes.
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Tsuyoshi Kosaka fought for Deep, facing Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Antonio Rodrigo's brother.
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Tsuyoshi Kosaka scored takedowns and throws, but he found himself on the defensor role, which he successfully played by using his classic reversals.
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Tsuyoshi Kosaka returned to the company for a match against Mike Kyle, losing by doctor decision in a controversial fashion, as Kyle eye-gouged Kosaka and actually damaged his cornea without being penalized.
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Tsuyoshi Kosaka faced Mirko Cro Cop on December 31 at RIZIN World Grand Prix 2017: Final Round.
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Tsuyoshi Kosaka lost the fight via TKO early in the first round.
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Tsuyoshi Kosaka faced the Kyokushin Karate World Champion Mikio Ueda on April 17,2022 at Rizin 35.
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Tsuyoshi Kosaka announced that this bout will be his last and he will retire afterwards.
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Tsuyoshi Kosaka was especially proficient in reversing position, distinguishing himself with his trademark "TK scissors" sweep, in which he would use his legs to dismount the opponent and perform leglock attempts.
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Tsuyoshi Kosaka now owns and operates a dojo in Japan where he trains his A-Square team.
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In 2012, Tsuyoshi Kosaka received an honorary Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt from Yuki Nakai and was appointed a consultant member for the Japanese BJJ Federation.
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Tsuyoshi Kosaka registered his own grappling system, "TK Jiu Jitsu," shortly after.