Nationality Japanese Fighting out of Tokyo, Japan Number of contests 1 Stance Orthodox Education Nihon University | Weight 93 kg (205 lb) Role Mixed martial artist Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) Name Kazuo Takahashi | |
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Born March 13, 1969
Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan ( 1969-03-13 ) Division Light Heavyweight
Heavyweight Died January 30, 2011, Tokyo, Japan | ||
02 ken shamrock vs kazuo takahashi pancrase yes we are hybrid wrestlers 2
Kazuo Takahashi, ring name Yoshiki Takahashi (born March 13, 1969 in Ichikawa, Chiba) is a Japanese retired mixed martial artist. He has competed in many large MMA promotions, including the UFC, World Victory Road, Pancrase, and Pride Fighting Championships. Takahashi is best known for his incredible toughness, heart, and will to win. He has fought many top fighters in mixed martial arts, including Masakatsu Funaki, Bas Rutten, Valentijn Overeem, Igor Vovchanchyn, Ken Shamrock, Vitor Belfort, Heath Herring, Semmy Schilt, and Josh Barnett. His nickname is "Cannibal Yoshiki".
Contents
- 02 ken shamrock vs kazuo takahashi pancrase yes we are hybrid wrestlers 2
- Ken shamrock vs kazuo takahashi pancrase truth 1
- Biography
- Pancrase
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Championships and Accomplishments
- References
Ken shamrock vs kazuo takahashi pancrase truth 1
Biography
Takahashi excelled in amateur wrestling, becoming a high school state champion in Japan, and also trained in karate. After graduating from Yachiyo Shoin High School, he began to train in submission. He graduated from Nihon University, and he started in Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi in 1992 but joined Pancrase the following year.
Pancrase
Takahashi debuted in mixed martial arts in Pancrase against legally blind yet decorated amateur wrestler George Weingeroff. The Japanese capitalized on his opponent's inability to see his strikes, and knocked him out twice with roundhouse kicks. However, it was in his second professional fight in which he gained popularity, becoming known for his incredible toughness and desire to win. Fighting Ken Shamrock, Takahashi suffered a broken jaw from a palm strike and knee and ankle damage from a heel hook, but refused to give up. Takahashi was limping badly for the rest of the bout but continued to fight. Eventually, he got caught in a very tight heel hook and could not escape and was forced to tap. Takahashi had to be carried out of the ring after the fight.
In another memorable showing of heart, Takahashi got caught in a heel hook against Bas Rutten which inevitably broke his shin bone in half. Unwilling to stop the match, Takahashi stood up and continued to fight until, upon kicking Rutten with his broken leg, his shin bone completely snapped in half. His shin didn't bend thanks to the kneeboot he was wearing, but the injury was too much and he finally accepted the match was stopped. It would be a year and a half until Takahashi fought again.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
In 1997, Takahashi had his debut for Ultimate Fighting Championship at the UFC 12 event, where he was pitted against Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Wallid Ismail. The fight would become infamous for its irregularities and disregard for the rules, as Takahashi seemed to be uninformed of the event's ruleset while Ismail intentionally ignored it.
Wallid tried to take Kazuo down several times in the bout, only for the Japanese to keep balance every time by illegally grabbing the fence despite the referee's continuous warnings. Minutes into the match, Yoshiki knocked down Wallid with a right hook that seemed to end the fight, but the Japanese wrestler stood waiting instead of following up, believing his opponent would receive a 10 count like in Pancrase. As it wasn't so, they continued fighting, moment in which Takahashi shockingly slid his hand on Ismail's trunks, tore away his protective cup and hit multiple knee strikes against his groin. The Japanese took the Brazilian down and landed headbutts and hammerfists through his guard until the end of the round. During the overtime, however, new miscommunications would arise when Ismail eye-gouged Kazuo, as the Japanese wrestler asked for time to check it out, which was refused due to UFC not including it on its rules like Pancrase did. Takahashi also kicked Ismail on the ground, which was noted to be illegal by the judges due to his wrestling shoes. Cleared, Takahashi dominated the rest of the overtime with effective punches to take the unanimous decision win. He advanced round, but had to pull out due to a hand injury, being replaced by alternate Nick Sanzo.