Hirotaka Yokoi

Hirotaka Yokoi
Born (1978-06-08) June 8, 1978
Hokkaido, Japan
Other names Kaibutsu-kun ("Monster-kun")
Nationality Japanese
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight 220 lb (100 kg; 16 st)
Division Heavyweight
Team Rings Japan / Alliance Team
Teacher(s) Tsuyoshi Kohsaka
Mixed martial arts record
Total 16
Wins 11
By knockout 2
By submission 5
By decision 4
Losses 5
By knockout 4
By submission 1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Hirotaka Yokoi (横井宏考) (born June 8, 1978 in Osaka) is a Japanese former mixed martial artist and professional wrestler who competed in the Heavyweight division. In his mixed martial arts career, Yokoi competed for PRIDE, Shooto, RINGS, and DEEP.[1] [2] [3]

Background

Yokoi originally started training in judo since highschool, but he was more interested in Universal Wrestling Federation pro wrestling and its ofshoots. He participated at a Shooto mixed martial arts tournament during his stay at the Kinki University, and later moved to Fighting Network RINGS, joining Tsuyoshi Kohsaka's Alliance team after the demise of the company. The same year, he also worked for the professional wrestling promotion ZERO-ONE. He gained the nickname "Kaibutsu-kun" (meaning "Monster-kun") for his physical resemblance to the title character from 1980s anime series Kaibutsu-kun.[1]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Yokoi made his professional debut in 2000 and won his first eights fights, mostly fighting in the RINGS organization before moving to compete in PRIDE.

PRIDE

Yokoi made his debut for the organization on November 24, 2002 at Pride 23 against Dutch kickboxer Jerrel Venetiaan and won in the third round via armbar submission.

After picking up a TKO win over Wilson Gouveia, the undefeated Yokoi fought former Pride Heavyweight Champion, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira in the opening round of the Pride Total Elimination 2004 tournament. Yokoi performed unexpectedly well,[1] taking Nogueira down with judo throws and pulling out reversals and occasional ground and pound over the Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert, but he was ultimately fell to an anaconda choke in the second round for the first loss of his career.

At PRIDE 28, Yokoi faced Heath Herring, but he was soon overwhelmed with a right hook and multiple knees, including illegal strikes to the back to the head which granted Herring a warning. He eventually lost the fight by TKO in the same way. Yokoi looked to compensate his defeat at the next event taking on Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Mario Sperry, but after an uneventful round of clinch striking, Yokoi was again downed and hit with knees and soccer kicks.

Yokoi's final fight in PRIDE was at PRIDE 30, where he faced Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Yokoi again showed himself active, gaining dominant position with an early omoplata sweep, but Jackson used his superior strength to reverse him and threw heavies punches and kicks, until the referee stopped the match for a TKO victory.

Post-PRIDE

Yokoi bounced back with a win via rear-naked choke submission win a year after last fight and then fought again a year later in Finland, losing via TKO. With a career record of 11-5, having won only one of his last six fights, Yokoi retired.

In wrestling

Championship and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 11–5 Mikko Rupponen TKO (strikes) Fight Festival 21 March 17, 2007 1 2:51 Finland
Win 11–4 Andre Fyeet Submission (rear-naked choke) World Pro Fighting Championships 1 September 15, 2006 1 3:11 Nevada, United States
Loss 10–4 Quinton Jackson TKO (punches and stomps) PRIDE 30 October 23, 2005 1 4:05 Saitama, Japan
Loss 10–3 Mario Sperry TKO (knees) PRIDE 29 February 20, 2005 1 9:08 Saitama, Japan
Loss 10–2 Heath Herring TKO (knees) PRIDE 28 October 31, 2004 1 1:55 Saitama, Japan
Loss 10–1 Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira Submission (anaconda choke) PRIDE Total Elimination 2004 April 25, 2004 2 1:25 Saitama, Japan
Win 10–0 Wilson Gouveia TKO (punches) HOOKnSHOOT: Absolute Fighting Championships 2 March 28, 2003 3 2:26 Florida, United States
Win 9–0 Jerrel Venetiaan Submission (armbar) PRIDE 23 November 24, 2002 2 3:29 Tokyo, Japan
Win 8–0 Bulldozer George Submission (rear-naked choke) UFO: Legend August 8, 2002 1 0:47 Tokyo, Japan
Win 7–0 Memo Diaz Decision (unanimous) Deep - 4th Impact March 30, 2002 3 5:00 Nagoya, Japan
Win 6–0 Katsuhisa Fujii Decision (unanimous) Rings: World Title Series Grand Final February 15, 2002 3 5:00 Yokohama, Japan
Win 5–0 Kestutis Smirnovas Decision Rings Lithuania: Bushido Rings 3 November 10, 2001 2 5:00 Lithuania
Win 4–0 Ken Orihashi TKO (lost points) Rings: World Title Series 4 October 20, 2001 1 3:14 Tokyo, Japan
Win 3–0 Masaya Kojima Submission (armlock) Rings: Battle Genesis Vol. 8 September 21, 2001 1 2:12 Tokyo, Japan
Win 2–0 Ricardo Fyeet Submission (armbar) Rings: 10th Anniversary August 11, 2001 1 2:34 Tokyo, Japan
Win 1–0 Masaya Inoue Decision (majority) Shooto: R.E.A.D. 8 August 4, 2000 2 5:00 Osaka, Japan

References

External links

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