Hiroyuki Takaya: A Mixed Martial Arts Profile

Hiroyuki Takaya is a Japanese featherweight known for fast, aggressive striking and a long career across major Japanese and international MMA promotions. He made his professional debut in 2003 and later won the DREAM Featherweight Championship. His last recorded professional bout was in September 2019.

Career beginnings

Takaya began competing in Shooto in 2003. He went on to fight in organizations including K-1 HERO’S, Cage Force, WEC, DREAM, Strikeforce, Pancrase and RIZIN. His striking-led style and the nickname “Streetfight Bancho” became part of his public profile. His official RIZIN fighter page lists him among the promotion’s athletes.

DREAM champion

Takaya reached the final of the 2009 DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix, where Bibiano Fernandes beat him by decision. A year later, Takaya reversed that result at Dynamite!! 2010, defeating Fernandes by unanimous decision to claim the DREAM featherweight title. He also scored a notable DREAM knockout of Joachim Hansen in 2010. These fights helped establish him as one of the division’s prominent Japanese competitors.

Takaya’s career also included bouts in the United States. He made his WEC debut in 2008, then competed in Strikeforce before returning to Japan’s promotions. In later years he fought for Pancrase and RIZIN. His final listed bout was a first-round knockout loss to Yutaka Saito at Shooto’s 30th Anniversary Tour on September 22, 2019. No retirement announcement is cited here, so this profile describes his recorded competition rather than assigning him a retirement date.

Selected Recorded Results

• Sep 22, 2019: Hiroyuki Takaya lost to Yutaka Saito at Shooto – 30th Anniversary Tour 7th Round; KO (Punches), round 1, 1:17.
• Dec 29, 2017: Hiroyuki Takaya won against Azjavkhlan Baatar at Rizin Fighting World Grand Prix 2017 – Bantamweight Tournament: 2nd Round; Decision (Unanimous), round 2, 5:00.
• Oct 8, 2017: Hiroyuki Takaya won against Hatsu Hioki at Pancrase – 290; KO (Punches), round 1, 1:12.

Sources

Sherdog: fight record and career history; Sherdog; MMA; Pancrase; Fighters.

Article Tags

Hiroyuki Takaya, Mixed Martial Arts, Sports History