Naoki Inoue
Born井上直樹
(1997-06-14) June 14, 1997
Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st)
DivisionBantamweight
Flyweight
Reach71 in (180 cm)
StyleKarate, Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Fighting out ofToyohashi, Aichi, Japan
TeamHakushinkai Karate
LAW MMA[1]
Sonic Squad[2]
RankBlack belt in karate
Blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Years active2014–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total22
Wins18
By knockout1
By submission11
By decision6
Losses4
By decision4
Notable relativesMizuki Inoue
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Naoki Inoue (Japanese: 井上直樹; born 14 June 1997) is a Japanese mixed martial artist competing in the bantamweight division. A professional mixed martial artist since 2014, Inoue has also competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Background

When Inoue was seven, his parents told him to do some extracurricular activity. He wanted to be strong, therefore he picked martial arts. Inoue received a first-degree black belt in karate and a blue belt in BJJ. He won the J-Network's All-Japan amateur championship as well as won the DEEP Future King (rookie) tournament in 2011.[3]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Inoue made his amateur mixed martial arts debut on February 9, 2014, when he faced Gaku Sakamoto at Deep - Nagoya Impact 2014. He won via first-round submission using an armbar. Following this, Inoue compiled a professional record of 10–0, with wins over Yuya Shibata and Tomohiro Adaniya, before signing with the UFC in the winter of 2017.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Inoue made his promotional debut on June 17, 2017, at UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Correia against Carls John de Tomas.[4] At the weigh-ins Carls John de Tomas came in at 131 lbs, five pounds over the flyweight limit of 126 lbs. As a result, he was fined 30% of the purse, which went to Inoue, and their bout proceeded as scheduled at a catchweight.[5] Inoue won the fight by unanimous decision.[6]

Inoue was expected to face Jenel Lausa on September 23, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 117,[7][8] but was pulled from the card due to a dislocated shoulder.[9]

Inoue faced Matt Schnell on June 23, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 132.[10] He lost the fight via split decision.[11]

Cage Fury FC

After departing from the UFC, Inoue faced Sean Santella in a flyweight bout at CFFC 72 on February 16, 2019.[12] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[13]

Return to DEEP

Inoue eventually returned to DEEP, facing Toshiaki Kitada at Deep 93 on December 15, 2020.[14] He won the fight via first-round submission.[15]

Rizin FF

On January 24, 2020, news surfaced that Inoue was scheduled to face Trent Girdham at Rizin 21 – Hamamatsu on February 22, 2020.[16] Inoue won the fight via unanimous decision.[17]

In his sophomore bout in the promotion, Inoue faced Shooto Watanabe at Rizin 22 – Starting Over on August 9, 2020.[18] He won the fight via first-round submission.[19]

Inoue faced Yuki Motoya at Rizin 26 on December 31, 2020.[20] He won the fight by rear naked choke, three minutes into the first round.[21]

Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix 2021

Inoue faced Shintaro Ishiwatari in the opening round of the Bantamweight Grand Prix at Rizin 28 on June 13, 2021.[22] He won the bout via soccer kick knockout in the first round.[23]

Inoue was scheduled to face Yuto Hokamura in the quarterfinals on September 19, 2021, at Rizin 30.[24] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[25]

In the semi-finals, Inoue faced Hiromasa Ougikubo on December 31, 2021, at Rizin 33.[26] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[27]

Later bantamweight career

After suffering his first loss under the Rizin banner, Inoue was booked to face Kenta Takizawa at Rizin 37 on July 31, 2022.[28] However, in late July it was reported that Inoue withdrew from the bout citing a knee injury.[29]

Inoue faced Kenta Takizawa on December 31, 2022, at Rizin 40[30] and won by submission via kimura in the second round.[31]

Inoue faced the former Bellator Bantamweight Champion Juan Archuleta at Rizin 42 on May 6, 2023.[32] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[33]

Inoue was scheduled to face Shinobu Ota at Rizin Landmark 6 on October 1, 2023.[34] However, Inoue withdrew from the bout due to an unknown reason and was replaced by Shoko Sato.

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
22 matches 18 wins 4 losses
By knockout 1 0
By submission 11 0
By decision 6 4
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 18–4 Juan Archuleta Decision (unanimous) Rizin 42 May 6, 2023 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 18–3 Kenta Takizawa Submission (kimura) Rizin 40 December 31, 2022 2 3:53 Saitama, Japan
Loss 17–3 Hiromasa Ougikubo Decision (unanimous) Rizin 33 December 31, 2021 3 5:00 Saitama, Japan 2021 Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix Semifinal.
Win 17–2 Yuto Hokamura Decision (unanimous) Rizin 30 September 19, 2021 3 5:00 Saitama, Japan 2021 Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal.
Win 16–2 Shintaro Ishiwatari KO (soccer kick) Rizin 28 June 13, 2021 1 2:01 Tokyo, Japan 2021 Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix Opening round.
Win 15–2 Yuki Motoya Submission (rear-naked choke) Rizin 26 December 31, 2020 1 3:00 Saitama, Japan
Win 14–2 Shooto Watanabe Submission (rear-naked choke) Rizin 22 August 9, 2020 1 1:40 Yokohama, Japan
Win 13–2 Trent Girdham Decision (unanimous) Rizin 21 February 22, 2020 3 5:00 Hamamatsu, Japan
Win 12–2 Toshiaki Kitada Submission (rear-naked choke) Deep 93: Impact December 15, 2019 1 2:41 Tokyo, Japan Bantamweight debut.
Loss 11–2 Sean Santella Decision (unanimous) CFFC 72: Brady vs. Abdul-Hakim February 16, 2019 3 5:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss 11–1 Matt Schnell Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Edwards June 23, 2018 3 5:00 Kallang, Singapore
Win 11–0 Carls John de Tomas Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Correia June 17, 2017 3 5:00 Kallang, Singapore
Win 10–0 Tomohiro Adaniya Decision (majority) Deep 78: Impact March 18, 2017 2 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 9–0 Yuya Shibata Submission (armbar) Deep: Cage Impact 2016 in Osaka October 9, 2016 2 2:51 Tokyo, Japan
Win 8–0 Go Minamide Decision (majority) Deep: 77 Impact/Jewels 13 August 27, 2016 2 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 7–0 Naoyuki Kato Submission (rear-naked choke) Deep - Nagoya Impact: Kobudo Fight June 12, 2016 1 0:44 Tokyo, Japan
Win 6–0 Iyori Akiba Submission (rear-naked choke) Deep: Cage Impact 2016 April 23, 2016 1 4:32 Tokyo, Japan
Win 5–0 Chikara Shimabukuro Decision (unanimous) Deep 74: Impact December 20, 2015 2 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 4–0 Kenji Yamanaka Submission (rear-naked choke) Deep 72: Impact May 16, 2015 1 2:21 Tokyo, Japan
Win 3–0 Kanta Sato Submission (armbar) Deep: Nagoya Impact: Kobudo Fight March 8, 2015 1 2:49 Tokyo, Japan
Win 2–0 Icho Tomonaga Submission (armbar) Deep: Future King Tournament 2014 February 1, 2015 1 0:49 Tokyo, Japan
Win 1–0 Takuya Maruoka Submission (armbar) Deep: Future King Tournament 2014 February 1, 2015 1 3:21 Tokyo, Japan Flyweight debut.

Amateur mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 2-0 Kenichi Kimura Decision (Unanimous) Deep - Amateur Deep 20: Kobudo Fight March 2, 2014 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 1-0 Gaku Sakamoto Submission (armbar) Deep - Nagoya Impact 2014 February 9, 2014 1 3:04 Tokyo, Japan .

Amateur Kickboxing record

Amateur Kickboxing Record
Date Result OpponentEventLocation MethodRoundTime
2016-11-20WinJapan Ryota ShibasakiJ-Network All Japan A-League Tournament, FinalTokyo, JapanKO10:46
Wins 2016 J-NETWORK All Japan A-League Lightweight title.
2016-11-20WinJapan Kaisei KondoJ-Network All Japan A-League Tournament, Semi FinalTokyo, JapanDecision (Unanimous)
2016-11-20WinJapan Hiroki SatoJ-Network All Japan A-League Tournament, Quarter FinalTokyo, JapanDecision (Unanimous)
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

References

  1. ↑ James Goyder (August 6, 2020). "Naoki Inoue is happy to be fighting in Japan again ahead of Rizin 22". asianmma.com.
  2. ↑ John Hyon Ko (December 21, 2020). Naoki Inoue working with Tenshin's boxing coach ahead of Rizin 26 – via Youtube.
  3. ↑ "Naoki Inoue". UFC. 14 September 2018.
  4. ↑ Matthew Li (April 3, 2017). "CJ De Tomas signs with UFC, to make debut in Singapore". tiebreakertimes.com.ph.
  5. ↑ Staff (2017-06-16). "UFC Fight Night 111 early weigh-in results: Headliner cleared, one prelim fighter heavy". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
  6. ↑ "UFC Fight Night 111 results: Naoki Inoue tops Carls John de Tomas in clash of flyweight newcomers". 17 June 2017.
  7. ↑ Marcel Dorff (14 July 2017). "UFC adds two Flyweight fights for UFC Japan" (in Dutch). mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2017-07-14.
  8. ↑ "Naoki Inoue vs. Jenel Lausa added to UFC Fight Night 117 in Japan". MMAjunkie.com. August 12, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Bout Pulled From UFC Fight Night Japan | Fightful MMA". www.fightful.com. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  10. ↑ Sherdog.com. "Ovince St. Preux vs. Tyson Pedro, Two Other Bouts Booked for UFC Fight Night 132 in Singapore". Sherdog. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  11. ↑ "UFC Fight Night 132 results: Matt Schnell counters his way to split over Naoki Inoue". MMAjunkie. 2018-06-23. Retrieved 2018-06-23.
  12. ↑ MMAJunkie.com Staff (January 5, 2019). "Two-time UFC vet Naoki Inoue signs with CFFC, meets Sean Santella in February". MMAJunkie.com. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  13. ↑ Kyle Carroll (February 2019). "CFFC 72 results – Sean Brady is STILL CFFC WW Champion; Daukaus New Middleweight Champion". mymmanews.com.
  14. ↑ "Full fight card released for Deep 93". asianmma.com. December 11, 2019.
  15. ↑ Hidetoshi Miura (December 15, 2019). "Koji Takeda submits Juri Ohara at Deep 93". asianmma.com.
  16. ↑ Guilherme Cruz (January 24, 2020). "Several fights announced for RIZIN 21". mmafighting.com.
  17. ↑ Michael Clifton (February 22, 2020). "Naoki Inoue Defeats Trent Girdham At RIZIN 21". lowkickmma.com.
  18. ↑ Michael Clifton (July 20, 2020). "RIZIN Announces Major Signing, Adds More Bouts To RIZIN 22,23". lowkickmma.com.
  19. ↑ Simon Head (August 9, 2020). "Rizin FF 22 live results". mmajunkie.com.
  20. ↑ "Ayaka Hamasaki and Miyuu Yamamoto face off in super atomweight title fight at Rizin 26". asianmma.com. December 2, 2020.
  21. ↑ "【RIZIN】元UFC戦士・井上直樹が鮮烈一本勝ち、四天王・元谷友貴からタップを奪い、タイトル挑戦を熱望！". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  22. ↑ "Kai Asakura faces Shooto Watanabe at postponed Rizin 28 | Asian MMA". AsianMMA. 2021-04-23. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  23. ↑ Cruz, Guilherme (2021-06-13). "RIZIN 28 results, videos: Roberto Satoshi wins lightweight belt with 72-second submission". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  24. ↑ "Ayaka Hamasaki faces Emi Fujino at Rizin 30 | Asian MMA". AsianMMA. 2021-07-20. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  25. ↑ "ＲＩＺＩＮ"Ｖ本命"井上直樹が"豪腕"金太郎に辛勝 鼻血も決定打許さず". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  26. ↑ "Rizin FF 33 bantamweight grand prix semifinals set: Former champion Kai Asakura draws Kenta Takizawa". MMA Junkie. 2021-11-30. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  27. ↑ "【ＲＩＺＩＮ】扇久保博正が井上直樹に判定勝ちで決勝進出 バンタム級Ｔ - 格闘技 : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  28. ↑ Goyder, James (24 June 2022). "Naoki Inoue faces Kenta Takizawa at Rizin 37". asianmma.com. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  29. ↑ "Naoki Inoue tears meniscus, out of Rizin 37". asianmma.com. July 26, 2022.
  30. ↑ "【RIZIN】大みそかBellator対抗戦の最後のカードは武田光司！ 榊原CEOも期待「満場一致でお願いしたい」（オリコン）". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  31. ↑ "【RIZIN】井上直樹が1年ぶり復帰戦で鮮やか一本！ 瀧澤の顔が鮮血で染まる（ENCOUNT）". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  32. ↑ "【RIZIN】アーチュレッタを迎え撃つのは井上直樹！ 「自分がRIZINのチャンピオンとして顔としてやっていく」（アーチュレッタ）、「次につなげるために勝つ」（井上）". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  33. ↑ "【RIZIN】元ベラトール王者アーチュレッタ　井上直樹に判定勝利！バンタム級王座決定戦へ進出". sponichi.co.jp. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  34. ↑ "Naoki Inoue faces Shinobu Ota at Rizin Landmark 6". asianmma.com. September 4, 2023.
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