Michinori Tanaka
Michinori Tanaka (田中 路教, Tanaka Michinori, born October 4, 1990) is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competes in the bantamweight division of the Legacy Fighting Alliance.[3] A professional mixed martial artist since 2010, Tanaka has also competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Michinori Tanaka | |
---|---|
Born | Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan | October 4, 1990
Nationality | Japanese |
Height | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) |
Weight | 135 lb (61 kg; 9 st 9 lb) |
Division | Bantamweight (135 lb) |
Reach | 67.5 in (171 cm)[1] |
Fighting out of | Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan |
Team | Reversal Gym Yokohama Ground Slam (2009–2014) Team Alpha Male |
Rank | 2nd degree black belt in Judo[2] |
Years active | 2010–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 16 |
Wins | 13 |
By submission | 6 |
By decision | 7 |
Losses | 3 |
By decision | 3 |
Notable school(s) | Yokosuka Gakuin High School |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Mixed martial arts career
Shooto
Tanaka started his professional career in 2010. Until the first half of 2012, he fought only for Shooto, where he won the 2011 rookie 132-pound tournament.[4]
Pacific Xtreme Combat
Tanaka faced Crisanto Pitpitunge on May 18, 2013 at PXC 37 for the bantamweight title. He won the title via unanimous decision after five rounds.[5]
Tanaka defended his title against Kyle Aguon on October 25, 2013 at PXC 40. He defeated Aguon via unanimous decision over five rounds.[6]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
In February 2014, it was announced that Tanaka has signed a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.[7]
In his debut, Tanaka faced Roland Delorme on June 14, 2014 at UFC 174.[8] He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Tanaka faced Kyung Ho Kang on September 20, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 52.[9] He lost the fight via split decision. Despite the loss on the scorecards, Tanaka was awarded his first Fight of the Night bonus award.[10] Subsequently, Tanaka had his bonus award rescinded and in turn, was suspended for nine months after testing positive for banned substances during his post fight drug screening.[11]
Tanaka was briefly linked to a bout with Russell Doane on January 2, 2016 at UFC 195. However, Doane was forced from the bout with injury and replaced by Joe Soto.[12] He won the fight by split decision.[13]
Tanaka next faced Rani Yahya on September 24, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 95.[14] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[15]
Tanaka faced promotional newcomer Ricardo Ramos on February 4, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 104.[16] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[17]
In May 2017, Tanaka was released from the company.
Post-UFC career
In January 2018, it was announced that Tanaka has signed a contract with the Absolute Championship Berkut.[18]
After two winning bouts in his native Japan, Tanaka signed a multi-fight contract with Legacy Fighting Alliance in April 2020.[3]
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Kang Kyung-Ho
- Pacific Xtreme Combat
- PXC bantamweight title (one time)
- One successful title defense
- Shooto
Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown | ||
16 matches | 13 wins | 3 losses |
By knockout | 0 | 0 |
By submission | 6 | 0 |
By decision | 7 | 3 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 13–3 | Vladimir Leontyev | Decision (unanimous) | Pancrase 303 | March 17, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
Win | 12–3 | Rogerio Bontorin | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | Grandslam 6 - Way of the Cage | October 29, 2017 | 3 | 2:27 | Tokyo, Japan | |
Loss | 11–3 | Ricardo Ramos | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs. Korean Zombie | February 4, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
Loss | 11–2 | Rani Yahya | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Cyborg vs. Lansberg | September 24, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Brasília, Brazil | |
Win | 11–1 | Joe Soto | Decision (split) | UFC 195 | January 2, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Loss | 10–1 | Kyung Ho Kang | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson | September 20, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | Tanaka tested positive for banned substances. Fight of the Night forfeited. |
Win | 10–0 | Roland Delorme | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 174 | June 14, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | |
Win | 9–0 | Kyle Aguon | Decision (unanimous) | Pacific Xtreme Combat 40 | October 25, 2013 | 5 | 5:00 | Mangilao, Guam | Defended the PXC Bantamweight Championship. |
Win | 8–0 | Crisanto Pitpitunge | Decision (unanimous) | Pacific Xtreme Combat 37 | May 18, 2013 | 5 | 5:00 | Pasig, Philippines | Won the PXC Bantamweight Championship. |
Win | 7–0 | Caleb Vallotton | Submission (triangle choke) | Pacific Xtreme Combat 36 | March 8, 2013 | 2 | 2:39 | Mangilao, Guam | |
Win | 6–0 | Russell Doane | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Pacific Xtreme Combat 34 | November 17, 2012 | 3 | 2:09 | Quezon City, Philippines | |
Win | 5–0 | Jong Hoon Choi | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Shooto: 3rd Round | March 10, 2012 | 1 | 3:29 | Tokyo, Japan | |
Win | 4–0 | Teruto Ishihara | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto: The Rookie Tournament 2011 Final | December 18, 2011 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the 2011 Shooto Rookie 132 lbs Championship. |
Win | 3–0 | Takuya Ogura | Submission (triangle choke) | Shooto: Gig Tokyo 7 | August 6, 2011 | 1 | 3:09 | Tokyo, Japan | |
Win | 2–0 | Hiroshi Roppongi | Technical Submission (armbar) | Shooto: Gig Saitama 3 | April 10, 2011 | 2 | 1:29 | Fujimi, Japan | |
Win | 1–0 | Yasutaka Hamaji | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto: Shooting Disco 13: Can't Stop Myself! | October 16, 2010 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan |
References
- "Michinori Tanaka's profile". Tapology.com. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
- "Michinori Tanaka – Official UFC Fighter Profile". UFC.com. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- Tristen Critchfield (April 26, 2020). "Legacy Fighting Alliance Signs UFC Veteran Michinori Tanaka". sherdog.com.
- Tony Loiseleur (December 18, 2011). "Shooto crowns 2011 rookie tournament champions in Tokyo". Sherdog.com. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
- Anton Tabuena (May 20, 2013). "PXC 37 results and fight videos: Michinori Tanaka takes bantamweight title". Bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
- Wesley de Souza (October 26, 2013). "PXC 40 results: Michinori Tanaka retains title, Will Chope scores biggest win in his career". Thefightnation.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
- Anton Tabuena (February 3, 2014). "UFC signs top Japanese prospect Michinori Tanaka". Bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- Joe Ferraro (2014-03-27). "Canadian Delorme added to UFC 174 in Vancouver". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
- Anton Tabuena (2014-07-26). "Asian champions Michinori Tanaka and Kyung Ho Kang to face off at UFC: Japan". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
- Staff (2014-09-20). "UFC Fight Night 52 bonuses: Hunt, Case, Kang, Tanaka win $50,000". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2014-09-20.
- Staff (2014-12-02). "UFC statement regarding Michinori Tanaka". ufc.com. Retrieved 2014-12-02.
- Staff (2015-12-01). "UFC 195 gets change-up: Russell Doane out, Joe Soto in vs. Michinori Tanaka". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
- Ben Fowlkes (2016-01-02). "UFC 195 results: Michinori Tanaka keeps submission-happy Joe Soto from first UFC win". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-01-02.
- Staff (2016-08-03). "UFC's return to Brasilia starts to take shape". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-08-03.
- Ben Fowlkes (2016-09-24). "UFC Fight Night 95 results: Rani Yahya gets fourth straight with win over Michinori Tanaka". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
- Guilherme Cruz (2017-01-10). "Ricardo Ramos takes on Michinori Tanaka at UFC Fight Night 104 in Houston". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2017-01-10.
- Steven Marrocco (2017-02-04). "UFC Fight Night 104 results: Ricardo Lucas Ramos chases Michinori Tanaka around for decision". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- "ACB signs top Japanese Michinori Tanaka". queel.me. January 20, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2018.