Yoshiyuki Yoshida: MMA Career Highlights

Yoshiyuki “Zenko” Yoshida is a Japanese welterweight whose career included the UFC, Cage Force, Sengoku, Bellator and DEEP. He made a quick impression in the UFC with an opening-fight submission, then continued competing in Japan for several years after leaving the promotion.

UFC debut and notable bouts

Yoshida debuted in the UFC at UFC 84 in May 2008, submitting Jon Koppenhaver with an anaconda choke in 56 seconds. Josh Koscheck stopped Yoshida by first-round knockout at UFC Fight Night 16 in December 2008. Yoshida returned with a submission win over Brandon Wolff at UFC 98 in May 2009. Yoshida’s other UFC opponents included Anthony Johnson and Mike Guymon; he left the promotion with a 2-3 record.

Continued career in Japan

Yoshida continued fighting after the UFC, including a Bellator welterweight bout with Chris Lozano and later appearances for DEEP. Sherdog lists his final recorded professional MMA bout as a split-decision loss to Yoshiyuki Katahira at DEEP Cage Impact 2016 on December 17, 2016.

Yoshida’s path from Cage Force and Sengoku to the UFC and back to Japanese promotions shows the range of opportunities available to welterweight fighters of his era. Related: UFC, Bellator and MMA.

Selected Recorded Results

• Dec 17, 2016: Yoshiyuki Yoshida lost to Yoshiyuki Katahira at Deep – Cage Impact 2016: Deep vs. WSOF-GC; Decision (Split), round 3, 5:00.
• Oct 17, 2015: Yoshiyuki Yoshida won against Kimihiro Eto at Deep – 73 Impact; TKO (Punches), round 3, 2:19.
• Apr 29, 2015: Yoshiyuki Yoshida lost to Kota Shimoishi at Deep – Osaka Impact 2015; Decision (Unanimous), round 3, 5:00.
• Dec 31, 2014: Yoshiyuki Yoshida lost to Satoru Kitaoka at Deep – Dream Impact 2014: Omisoka Special; Decision (Unanimous), round 3, 5:00.
• Mar 22, 2014: Yoshiyuki Yoshida won against Shigetoshi Iwase at Deep – 65 Impact; Decision (Unanimous), round 3, 5:00.
• Nov 24, 2013: Yoshiyuki Yoshida won against Won Sik Park at Deep – Cage Impact 2013; Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), round 2, 4:46.

Sources

Sherdog: fight history; UFC: athlete profile; Career or result cross-check.

Article Tags

Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Mixed Martial Arts, Sports History