Other names Michi Name Michihiro Omigawa Wins by knockout 1 Fighting out of Tokyo, Japan Weight 65 kg | Reach 68 in (170 cm) Height 1.68 m Nationality Japanese Role Mixed martial artist Losses 1 | |
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Born December 19, 1975 (age 48)
Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan ( 1975-12-19 ) Division Featherweight
Lightweight Team Neo Judo Academy Omigawa Dojo Profiles | ||
Neo Judo2 - by Michihiro Omigawa
Michihiro Omigawa (小見川道大, Omigawa Michihiro, born December 19, 1975) is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Featherweight division. A professional competitor since 2005, Omigawa has competed in the UFC, PRIDE, Cage Rage, World Victory Road, DREAM, DEEP, and Shooto.
Contents
- Neo Judo2 by Michihiro Omigawa
- Ufc 126 michihiro omigawa discusses return to ufc state of japanese mma
- Background
- Early mixed martial arts career
- Return to the UFC
- Post UFC
- Road FC
- Shootboxing
- Kickboxing
- Mixed martial arts
- References
Ufc 126 michihiro omigawa discusses return to ufc state of japanese mma
Background
Omigawa is from Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan and began training in judo when he was in elementary school. He attended Tsuchiuranichidai High School with fellow mixed martial artists Hayato Sakurai and Kazuyuki Miyata. Omigawa's grandfather, who he was named after, died the day before his graduation. Omigawa attended the International Budo University in the Chiba Prefecture of Japan.
Omigawa has won various judo tournaments and medals during his career. He received the silver medal at the 2001 Asian Judo Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and earned a bronze medal at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea all for the 66 kg weight class division.
Early mixed martial arts career
Omigawa made his professional mixed martial arts debut in 2005 against future UFC veteran Aaron Riley at PRIDE Bushido 7. Omigawa and Riley traded punches before Omigawa was knocked out by a head kick six minutes into the first round. Omigawa then fought for the British Cage Rage organization against future two-time K-1 HERO'S Middleweight Champion Gesias Calvacante. He again lost this fight by knockout, this time from an overhand right.
After a majority decision loss to Kazunori Yokota brought Omigawa's record to 1-4, he then strung together three consecutive wins in the DEEP organization, before making his UFC debut at UFC 76 against Matt Wiman. He lost this fight via unanimous decision. Omigawa then fought again for the UFC at UFC Fight Night: Swick vs Burkman against Thiago Tavares and lost again via unanimous decision.
After cutting down to the Featherweight division, Omigawa's recognition and career began to take off. Though he lost his division debut against future WEC and UFC veteran Jung Chan-Sung, Omigawa made a resurgence when he entered the Sengoku Featherweight Grand Prix tournament promoted by World Victory Road. As a heavy underdog he defeated the likes of LC Davis via unanimous decision and Nam Phan via TKO. In the semi-final he faced then-undefeated Pancrase Featherweight Champion and future Sengoku Featherweight Champion Marlon Sandro. This fight was originally ruled as a majority draw before Omigawa was awarded the victory by split decision. This brought Omigawa to the final of the tournament against Masanori Kanehara (the semi-finalist loser) who stood in for Hatsu Hioki as Hioki could not continue to compete. Omigawa lost by a close split decision against Kanehara but in return earned him the recognition as a strong Featherweight.
After the tournament Omigawa continued to earn a spot as a world top five Featherweight, defeating the likes of Hatsu Hioki via a controversial split decision, Hiroyuki Takaya via TKO at Dynamite!! 2009, Micah Miller, and Cole Escovedo via armbar.
Return to the UFC
The 12-8-1 Omigawa re-signed with the UFC in the Featherweight division and he faced then-undefeated Chad Mendes on February 5, 2011 at UFC 126. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Omigawa was defeated by Darren Elkins via unanimous decision on June 11, 2011 at UFC 131. The decision was considered controversial, and despite the loss, UFC president Dana White stated on his Twitter account that both fighters would be paid a win bonus.
Omigawa faced British fighter Jason Young on November 5, 2011 at UFC 138 and won the fight via unanimous decision.
Omigawa next faced former Jungle Fight Lightweight Champion Yuri Alcântara on January 14, 2012 at UFC 142. Omigawa lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Omigawa fought fellow judoka Manny Gamburyan on August 4, 2012 at UFC on FOX 4. He lost via unanimous decision. After back-to-back losses in the UFC, Omigawa was released from the promotion yet again.
Post-UFC
Omigawa fought at DREAM 18 against Tatsuya Kawajiri on New Year's Eve 2012. Omigawa lost via unanimous decision. The loss puts Omigawa at 1-6 in his last seven fights, all of which have gone to a decision.
Road FC
In May 2013, it was announced that Omigawa had signed with Korea's ROAD FC and would debut against fellow judo practitioner, Bae Young Kwon at Road FC 12. After a back and forth fight, Omigawa lost a controversial decision.
Shootboxing
Bringing his boxing and judo skills to the kickboxing/grappling hybrid sport of shootboxing, Omigawa entered the 2013 –65 kg S-Cup held at Shoot Boxing Battle Summit Ground Zero Tokyo 2013 in Tokyo, Japan on November 15, 2013. After defeating Yuki Hiroshi Kimaya by unanimous decision in the quarter-finals, he then faced fellow mixed martial artist "Wicky" Akiyo Nishiura in the semis. The fight was ruled a majority draw after the regulation three rounds and so went to an extension round to produce a winner, after which Omigawa was given the nod by all three judges. In the tournament final, he fell victim to a flying knee from Hiroaki Suzuki, losing by knockout in round two.