Tsuyoshi Kohsaka
Tsuyoshi Kosaka | |
---|---|
Born | March 6, 1970 |
Other names | TK, Kakutogi Kai no Kenja ("The Sage of the Combat Sports World") |
Nationality | Japanese |
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
Weight | 225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb) |
Division | Heavyweight |
Team | Alliance Square |
Teacher(s) | Akira Maeda |
Rank | 4th Degree Black Belt in Judo |
Years active | 1995 - 2006 (MMA) 2015- present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 49 |
Wins | 29 |
By knockout | 8 |
By submission | 7 |
By decision | 9 |
Unknown | 5 |
Losses | 18 |
By knockout | 8 |
By submission | 2 |
By decision | 6 |
Unknown | 2 |
Draws | 2 |
Other information | |
Website | Official blog |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
|
Tsuyoshi "TK" Kohsaka (高阪 剛 Kōsaka Tsuyoshi?, born March 6, 1970) is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. He has competed in high profile mixed martial arts promotions, such as the UFC, RINGS, Pancrase, and DEEP. Kohsaka is known for his conditioning and grappling prowess as well as fighting many of the greatest heavyweight and light heavyweight fighters of all time. His "TK Guard" is famous for its efficiency and Frank Shamrock and Maurice Smith have both credited him with having vastly improved their work from that particular position.[1]
Contents
Career
Training in judo since highschool, Kohsaka competed extensively during his stay at the Senshu University, where he befriended future world judo champion Hidehiko Yoshida. After graduating, Kohsaka became a professional judoka under the sponsorship of Toray Industries, but had to retire after a knee injury. A year after, he joined professional wrestling promotion Fighting Network RINGS.
RINGS
Kohsaka had his first mixed martial arts venture when, thanks to his strong judo background, was sent to represent RINGS in the gi-clad MMA event Lumax Cup 1995, whose tournament he won after besting Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion Egan Inoue.
After his return to RINGS, Kohsaka was put in opening shoot matches, defeating names like Maurice Smith and Willie Peeters. In 1997, however, he was thrown to a bigger challenge when he faced former Pancrase star Frank Shamrock. Tsuyoshi dominated the match, throwing and taking down Shamrock and threatening with submissions, but couldn't lock any of them, while Shamrock defended from half guard. After a failed takedown, however, the judoka was caught in a guillotine choke by Frank and had to spend a rope escape. Even although Kohsaka still attempted a Kimura lock followed by an armbar, the match ended without Kohsaka making Shamrock spend another escape, so Tsuyoshi lost by points. The match, however, was instrumental in Kohsaka's career, as it made him close friends with Frank Shamrock and Maurice Smith, who became his training partners in the team The Alliance.
In April 1999, after a series of matches in UFC, Kohsaka fought Dutch kickboxer Gilbert Yvel in RINGS. The match saw a worn Kohsaka getting ahead in points by multiple fouls from Yvel, but he failed in submitting him while Yvel landed several knockouts until one of them caused the fight to be stopped. They rematched in August, when an improved Kohsaka immediately threw Yvel, hit him with extensive body punches and submitted him with a toehold for a rope escape, but the bout was interrupted for Kohsaka falling out the ring in another hip throw and getting injured. As TK was ahead on points, the victory was granted to him. Finally, Yvel and Kohsaka had a rubber match during the King of Kings Tournament, but it was short and uneventful, as TK was stopped again by a cut despite he wasn't knocked out.
In August 2000, TK faced the King of Kings semi-finalist Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira. Started the fight, Kohsaka sprawled a takedown and tried a hip throw, but Nogueira managed to led him to the ground and mounted him. The judoka escaped from under him, only to Nogueira to regain position, but this time Kohsaka reversed him into a leglock, then pressing into his guard. The next round, Kohsaka sprawled again and continued pressing, blocking Nogueira's attempts to work submission from the bottom and striking when possible. At the third round, Nogueira mounted him again and threw punches, but Kohsaka performed again his escape into leglock and kept attacking his guard. A pair of sweeps later, Kohsaka controlled position until the end of the match, which was ruled a draw.
During the next King of Kings tournament, Kohsaka advanced over Mikhail Ilyukhin via knockout and Mikhail's teammate Fedor Emelianenko by doctor stoppage. The latter was again a technical victory which was controversial, as the cut was caused by a missed looping punch where Kohsaka's elbow struck Emelianenko's head, reopening a cut sustained in his previous fight against Ricardo Arona. Since the fight was in a tournament format, a winner and loser were required because draws and no-contests were not awarded, and as Emelianenko could not advance due to the injury, Kohsaka did. He faced Randy Couture in an even match, which saw Kohsaka hip throwing down the wrestling champion to perform ground and pound and using his "TK scissors" move to counter a north/south position, but the split decision was finally given to Couture, eliminating the Japanese.
UFC
In 1998, Kohsaka signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and debuted at the event UFC 18, facing Kimo Leopoldo. The much heavier Kimo controlled the first moments of the fight and tried a kneebar, but the Japanese shooter showed his field of expertise reversing the hold and attempting his own leglocks, always keeping a strong defense. At one point, Leopoldo gained the mount, only for Kohsaka to use the TK scissors and reverse the position into a heel hook attempt. After minutes of fight, TK controlled the standing, landing precise punches and leg kicks before getting down to the mat and performing ground and pound on Kimo until the end of the bout. Kohsaka won by unanimous decision.
Later that year TK fought Pete Williams at UFC Brazil. Williams went aggressively against Kohsaka using his vaunted striking, but Kohsaka kept taking him down with judo throws and attempting armlocks, also using his defensive guard whenever Williams managed to get back his offensive. At the end, Tsuyoshi won again by unanimous decision, which gained him a spot in a tournament for the title which was vacated by Randy Couture.
At 1999's UFC 18, Kohsaka returned to UFC fighting the legendary Bas Rutten in the first round of the "Road to the Heavyweight Title", which was a four-man tournament that would crown the next UFC Heavyweight Champion.[2] Kohsaka dominated the majority of the fight with his superiority at wrestling and ground and pound game plan, but ultimately lost by TKO when Rutten recovered in overtime and knocked him out with knees and punches. However, the fight was the source of heated controversy because referee John McCarthy seemed to unfairly stand the fight back to the feet even though at some moments Kohsaka was mounted on Rutten and actively landing clean effective punches.
In the same year, TK faced Tim Lajcik at UFC 21, where he won via TKO when Lajcik quit between rounds. Kohsaka again utilized a strategy of skilled defense and reversions to set up submissions attempts, eventually sweeping Lajcik against the cage wall and performing a lengthy ground and pound, which made Tim's corner throw the towel after the end of the round.
Kohsaka also took part in the second UFC event in Japanese soil, UFC 23, where he was pitted against Ruas Vale Tudo exponent Pedro Rizzo. The two contenders spent a round cautiously, until Rizzo switched to aggressive leg kicks and Kohsaka tried to take him down in return. Through the match, Pedro blocked TK's efforts to get it to the ground and landed more punches and leg kicks. At the end, after Kohsaka had absorbed a long punishment, Rizzo landed a right hand for the TKO, being declared winner.
Tsuyoshi's last fight in UFC was at UFC 37, fighting Ricco Rodriguez. The fight featured a long, back and forth grappling action, with Rodriguez taking dominant position and Kohsaka reversing and blocking him, until Ricco finally secured a mount and threw punches to the face for the TKO victory.
PRIDE
After RINGS's demise, Kohsaka wandered between Pancrase and the MMA division of New Japan Pro Wrestling. He then landed in PRIDE Fighting Championships, in which his first fight would be a rematch against Fedor Emelianenko for the latter's technical defeat in RINGS, taking place in PRIDE Bushido 6. The fight was one-sided and brutal, with Fedor landing strikes through Kohsaka's guard while the Japanese tried unsuccesfuly to counterattack. At the end, after taking punches during most of the round, a bloody Kohsaka's corner threw the towel between rounds.
Kohsaka returned in PRIDE 31 against legendary Brazilian grappler and Brazilian Top Team coach Mario Sperry. The bout was even shorter, as Kohsaka knocked him out with punches after a brief struggle. Knowing the end of his career was near, TK announced his intentions to retire should he lose any of his matches in 2006. The day of his fight with Sperry was also the same day of his son's birth.
At PRIDE Total Elimination Absolute, Kohsaka fought Mark Hunt in what would be his last fight. TK struggled with the much heavier kickboxer, taking his back and performing an inverted triangle keylock only to Hunt to force his way out via raw strength. Back to standing, Kohsaka traded strikes with Hunt and landed effective hits despite the difference in level, absorbing heavy punches and delivering combos against the ropes. At the second round, the Japanese shooter again tried unsuccessfully to grapple with Hunt, and after long series of strikes, the kickboxer knocked him out with a right punch, finally ending the match.[3]
Post-PRIDE
From 2003 to 2005, he worked sporadically in pro wrestling for New Japan Pro Wrestling, challenging Yoshihiro Takayama for the NWF Heavyweight Championship and feuding with Yuji Nagata. He also would defeat the 50ibs heavier Ricardo Morais in a MMA match for NJPW.
He also fought for Pancrase, defeating the similarly much heavier Ron Waterman for the Pancrase Super Heavyweight Championship. He returned to the company for a match against Mike Kyle, losing by doctor decision in a controversial fashion, as as Kyle eye-gouged Kohsaka and actually damaged his cornea during the match without being penalized.[4]
Rizin Fighting Federation
Rizin Fighting Federation announced Kohsaka would debut for the promotion against James Thompson.[5][6] The bout took place on December 29, 2015 and Kohsaka won the fight via TKO in the second round.
Personal life
Kohsaka now owns and operates a dojo in Japan where he trains his A-Square team along with Hidehiko Yoshida and his stable.[7]
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Signature moves
Championships and accomplishments
- Fighting Network RINGS
- 2000 Rising Stars Heavyweight Tournament Semifinalist[9]
- Lumax Cup
- Tournament of J'95 Winner
Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown | ||
49 matches | 29 wins | 18 losses |
By knockout | 8 | 8 |
By submission | 7 | 2 |
By decision | 9 | 6 |
Unknown | 5 | 2 |
Draws | 2 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 29–18–2 | James Thompson | TKO (punches) | Rizin Fighting Federation 1: Day 1 | December 29, 2015 | 2 | 1:58 | Saitama, Japan | |
Loss | 28–18–2 | Mark Hunt | TKO (punches) | Pride FC - Total Elimination Absolute | May 5, 2006 | 2 | 4:15 | Osaka, Japan | Pride 2006 Openweight Grand Prix opening round. |
Win | 28–17–2 | Mario Sperry | TKO (punches) | Pride 31 - Dreamers | February 26, 2006 | 1 | 1:20 | Saitama, Japan | |
Loss | 27–17–2 | Mike Kyle | Technical decision (unanimous) | Pancrase: Spiral 8 | October 2, 2005 | 3 | 1:17 | Yokohama, Japan | |
Win | 27–16–2 | David Shvelidze | Submission (armbar) | Rings Russia: CIS vs. The World | August 20, 2005 | 1 | N/A | Yekaterinburg, Russia | |
Loss | 26–16–2 | Fedor Emelianenko | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Pride: Bushido 6 | April 3, 2005 | 1 | 10:00 | Yokohama, Japan | |
Win | 26–15–2 | Ron Waterman | Decision (unanimous) | Pancrase: Brave 10 | November 7, 2004 | 3 | 5:00 | Urayasu, Japan | Won Pancrase Super Heavyweight Championship |
Win | 25–15–2 | Ricardo Morais | Decision (unanimous) | NJPW: Ultimate Crush | October 13, 2003 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
Win | 24–15–2 | Dolgorsürengiin Sumyaabazar | TKO (doctor stoppage) | NJPW: Ultimate Crush | May 2, 2003 | 1 | 2:56 | Tokyo, Japan | |
Loss | 23–15–2 | Antônio Rogério Nogueira | Decision (unanimous) | Deep - 6th Impact | September 7, 2002 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
Loss | 23–14–2 | Ricco Rodriguez | TKO (punches) | UFC 37 | May 10, 2002 | 2 | 3:25 | Bossier City, Louisiana, United States | |
Loss | 23–13–2 | Bazigit Atajev | Decision (majority) | Rings: World Title Series 5 | December 21, 2001 | 3 | 5:00 | Yokohama, Japan | |
Win | 23–12–2 | Koba Tkeshelashvili | KO (knee) | Rings: 10th Anniversary | August 11, 2001 | 1 | 2:17 | Tokyo, Japan | |
Loss | 22–12–2 | Renato Sobral | Decision (majority) | Rings: World Title Series 2 | June 15, 2001 | 3 | 5:00 | Yokohama, Japan | |
Loss | 22–11–2 | Randy Couture | Decision (unanimous) | Rings: King of Kings 2000 Final | February 24, 2001 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | King of Kings 2000 Tournament Quarterfinal |
Win | 22–10–2 | Fedor Emelianenko | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Rings: King of Kings 2000 Block B | December 22, 2000 | 1 | 00:17 | Osaka, Japan | King of Kings 2000 Tournament 2nd Round. Kohsaka cut Emelianenko with an illegal elbow, which led to doctor stoppage |
Win | 21–10–2 | Mikhail Ilyukhin | KO (punches) | Rings: King of Kings 2000 Block B | December 22, 2000 | 2 | 01:53 | Osaka, Japan | King of Kings 2000 Tournament 1st Round |
Draw | 20–10–2 | Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | Draw | Rings: Millennium Combine 3 | August 23, 2000 | 2 | 5:00 | Osaka, Japan | |
Win | 20–10–1 | Greg Wikan | Submission (toe hold) | Rings USA: Rising Stars Block A | July 15, 2000 | 1 | 02:53 | Orem, Utah, United States | Rising Stars Heavyweight Tournament 2000 2nd Round. Later pulls out due to injury |
Win | 19–10–1 | Travis Fulton | Decision (unanimous) | Rings USA: Rising Stars Block A | July 15, 2000 | 3 | 05:00 | Orem, Utah, United States | Rising Stars Heavyweight Tournament 2000 1st Round |
Loss | 18–10–1 | Gilbert Yvel | TKO (cut) | Rings: King of Kings 1999 Block B | December 22, 1999 | 3 | 05:00 | Osaka, Japan | |
Win | 18–9–1 | Chris Haseman | Decision (split) | Rings: King of Kings 1999 Block B | December 22, 1999 | 1 | 01:17 | Osaka, Japan | |
Loss | 17–9–1 | Pedro Rizzo | TKO (punches) | UFC 23 | November 19, 1999 | 3 | 01:12 | Urayasu, Japan | |
Win | 17–8–1 | Gilbert Yvel | Technical Decision (lost points) | Rings: Rise 5th | August 19, 1999 | 1 | 08:17 | Japan | |
Win | 16–8–1 | Tim Lajcik | TKO (corner stoppage) | UFC 21 | July 16, 1999 | 2 | 05:00 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States | |
Loss | 15–8–1 | Yoshihisa Yamamoto | TKO (palm strikes) | Rings: Rise 3rd | May 22, 1999 | 3 | 00:44 | Japan | |
Loss | 15–7–1 | Gilbert Yvel | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Rings: Rise 2nd | April 23, 1999 | 1 | 14:58 | Japan | |
Loss | 15–6–1 | Bas Rutten | TKO (punches) | UFC 18 | January 8, 1999 | 1 | 14:15 | Kenner, Louisiana, United States | Road to the Heavyweight Title Tournament Semifinals |
Win | 15–5–1 | Pete Williams | Decision | UFC Brazil | October 16, 1998 | 1 | 15:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | Qualifies for the Road to the Heavyweight Title Tournament |
Draw | 14–5–1 | Kiyoshi Tamura | Draw | Rings: Fourth Fighting Integration | June 27, 1998 | 1 | 30:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
Win | 14–5 | Volk Han | Submission | Rings: Third Fighting Integration | May 29, 1998 | 1 | 10:10 | Tokyo, Japan | |
Win | 13–5 | Kimo Leopoldo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 16 | March 13, 1998 | 1 | 15:00 | Kenner, Louisiana, United States | |
Win | 12–5 | Rob van Esdonk | Submission (heel hook) | Rings Holland: The King of Rings | February 8, 1998 | 2 | 0:57 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | |
Loss | 11–5 | Mikhail Ilyukhin | N/A | Rings: Battle Dimensions Tournament 1997 Final | January 21, 1998 | N/A | N/A | ||
Win | 11–4 | Jerry Askoff | N/A | Rings: Battle Dimensions Tournament 1997 Opening Round[10] | October 25, 1997 | N/A | N/A | United States | |
Win | 10–4 | Borislav Jeliazkov | Decision (lost points) | Rings - Mega Battle Tournament 1997 Semifinal 1 | October 25, 1997 | 1 | 00:00 | Japan | |
Loss | 9–4 | Frank Shamrock | Decision | Rings - Extension Fighting 7 | September 26, 1997 | 1 | 30:00 | Japan | |
Loss | 9–3 | Kiyoshi Tamura | Submission (toe hold) | Rings - Extension Fighting 2 | April 22, 1997 | 1 | 13:57 | Japan | |
Win | 9–2 | Mikhail Ilyukhin | N/A | Rings - Budokan Hall 1997 | January 22, 1997 | N/A | N/A | Tokyo, Japan | |
Loss | 8–2 | Volk Han | Submission (armbar) | Rings - Battle Dimensions Tournament 1996 Final | January 1, 1997 | 1 | 13:52 | ||
Win | 8–1 | Dick Vrij | N/A | Rings - Battle Dimensions Tournament 1996 Opening Round | October 25, 1996 | N/A | N/A | ||
Loss | 7–1 | Volk Han | Submission (armbar) | Rings - Maelstrom 6 | August 24, 1996 | 1 | 13:52 | Japan | |
Win | 7–0 | Scott Sollivan | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Various Fights[11] | June 6, 1996 | 1 | 2:58 | United States | |
Win | 6–0 | Willie Peeters | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Rings Holland - Kings of Martial Arts | February 18, 1996 | N/A | N/A | Amsterdam, Netherlands | |
Win | 5–0 | Maurice Smith | Submission (heel hook) | Rings - Budokan Hall 1996 | January 24, 1996 | 1 | 4:13 | Tokyo, Japan | |
Win | 4–0 | Egan Inoue | Decision (unanimous) | Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '95 | October 13, 1995 | 1 | 3:40 | Japan | Won Lumax Cup Tournament of J '95 |
Win | 3–0 | Susumu Yamasaki | Submission (heel hook) | Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '95 | October 13, 1995 | 1 | 0:52 | Japan | Tournament of J '95 Semifinals |
Win | 2–0 | Hiroyuki Yoshioka | TKO (punches) | Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '95 | October 13, 1995 | 3 | 3:00 | Japan | Tournament of J '95 First Round |
Win | 1–0 | Wataru Sakata | N/A | Rings - Budokan Hall 1995 | January 25, 1995 | N/A | N/A | Tokyo, Japan |
Submission grappling record
Result | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
Loss | ![]() |
Points | ADCC 2003 +99 kg | 2003 | |||
Loss | ![]() |
Submission (armbar) | ADCC 2001 Absolute | 2001 | |||
Loss | ![]() |
Points | ADCC 2001 -99 kg | 2001 | |||
Loss | ![]() |
Decision | The Contenders | 1997 | 5 | 5:00 |
References
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- ↑ Sherdog.com Preview: PRIDE 31 “Unbreakable” Tsuyoshi Kohsaka vs. Mario Sperry
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External links
- Official blog (Japanese)
- Alliance Square official website (Japanese)
- Professional MMA record for Tsuyoshi Kohsaka from SherdogLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Tsuyoshi Kosaka on UFC.com