Takeya Mizugaki: MMA Career and Key Results
Takeya Mizugaki is a retired Japanese bantamweight who built his reputation through long, competitive runs in Shooto, World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), and the UFC. Born December 16, 1983, he made his professional debut in 2005 and later fought in RIZIN as well as other international promotions.
Mizugaki became a notable contender after moving from Japanese promotions to WEC. In April 2009, he challenged champion Miguel Torres for the WEC bantamweight title at WEC 40. Torres won a unanimous decision after five rounds, but the bout was widely praised as a classic and earned both men Fight of the Night recognition. The UFC’s retrospective recalls how strongly Mizugaki tested the champion.
When WEC’s fighters moved to the UFC, Mizugaki continued to compete against elite bantamweights. His UFC run included wins over Reuben Duran, Cole Escovedo, Erik Perez, Francisco Rivera, and Nam Phan. He also faced former champion Dominick Cruz at UFC 178 in 2014; Cruz won by first-round TKO. Mizugaki’s record reflects a career spent regularly meeting ranked opposition rather than a simple “gatekeeper” label.
After his UFC run, Mizugaki fought internationally, including a 2019 appearance against Manel Kape at RIZIN 18. Kape won by second-round TKO. It was Mizugaki’s final recorded bout. He announced his retirement in June 2020, saying he would return to enjoying MMA as a fan. RIZIN published his retirement message at the time.
Mizugaki’s legacy rests on durability and the level of opposition he took on across promotions. His five-round WEC title fight with Torres remains a defining performance, while his later UFC appearances helped bring a Japanese bantamweight contender to a wider audience.
Sources
- UFC athlete profile
- UFC: Torres–Mizugaki WEC 40 retrospective
- RIZIN: Mizugaki retirement message
- ESPN: fight history and final recorded appearance
Selected Recorded Results
- Aug 18, 2019: Takeya Mizugaki lost to Manel Kape at Rizin FF – Rizin 18; KO (Punch), round 2, 1:36.
Sources
retrospective; retirement message; Biographical source.
Article Tags
Takeya Mizugaki, Mixed Martial Arts, Sports History
