Masakazu Imanari
| Masakazu Imanari | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | February 10, 1976 |
| Other names | "Ashikan Judan", "The Leglock Yokai" |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
| Weight | 134 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st) |
| Division |
Bantamweight Featherweight Lightweight |
| Fighting out of | Tokyo, Japan |
| Team | Kingdom Team Roken Nippon Top Team |
| Rank | Black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 48 |
| Wins | 32 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 22 |
| By decision | 9 |
| Losses | 14 |
| By knockout | 4 |
| By decision | 10 |
| Draws | 2 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Masakazu Imanari (今成正和 Imanari Masakazu?, born 10 February 1976) is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He is a veteran of DEEP, ZST, Pride Fighting Championships, and Cage Rage and also has had a successful career in Combat Wrestling, placing as high as third and second in their All-Japan championship tournaments. He was the final Cage Rage Featherweight Champion, DEEP Bantamweight Champion, 2 time and current DEEP Featherweight Champion and Dream Japan Grand Prix Finalist.
After a chilhood marked by a spinal condition which required surgery thrice, Masakazu had his first contact with combat sports at age 18, training kickboxing at the Fujiwara Dojo by Satoru Sayama's mediation. He later moved to Antonio Inoki's Universal Fighting-Arts Organization, and then Kingdom Ehrgeiz, where he trained MMA with Hidetada Irie before doing his amateur debut.
Imanari gained popularity during his mixed martial arts career in Japanese promotion ZST fighting the likes of top Lightweights including Dokonjonosuke Mishima, Jorge Gurgel and Marcus Aurélio despite being a much smaller Featherweight. He defeated Gurgel, who is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt former UFC fighter via submission (heel hook) while Imanari was a much lower rank in Brazilian jiu-jitsu as well as lighter in weight. Imanari also defeated former Cage Warriors Featherweight Champion Danny Batten. In the first round Batten took Imanari down on the ropes but Imanari attempted a triangle choke. Batten escaped it but Imanari then transitioned to an armbar causing Batten to submit in just over 40 seconds.
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