Hisaki Kato

Hisaki Kato (加藤久輝, Katō Hisaki, born September 17, 1982) is a Japanese-French professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer who most recently competed in Bellator's Middleweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2013, he has also competed for Rizin.

Hisaki Kato
Born	(1982-09-17) September 17, 1982 Paris, France
Other names	The Japanese Musketeer
Residence	Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Nationality	French
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	185.2 lb (84.0 kg; 13.23 st)
Division	Middleweight
Reach	74 in (188 cm)
Style	Kūdō
Stance	Southpaw
Fighting out of	Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Team	Alive MMA
Rank	Black belt in Kudo
Years active	2013–present
Kickboxing record
Total	3
Wins	3
By knockout	2
Mixed martial arts record
Total	11
Wins	8
By knockout	7
By decision	1
Losses	3
By knockout	2
By decision	1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background

Born and raised in Paris, Kato's father was a Japanese judoka who moved to Paris to pursue a career teaching the martial art, and become one of the top instructors in the country. However, he died when Kato was only a few years old. Kato's mother is French. Growing up, Kato pursued judo but favored the striking techniques of traditional Japanese martial arts such as karate. Kato was also a highly-talented handball player; he began competing in junior high and moved to Japan at the age of 18 where he competed for the national team and attended college. He later returned to his martial arts roots at the age of 23, joining the Kudo Federation of Japan where he competed and won five consecutive national tournaments. After winning his fifth title, Kato was offered a contract by the Japanese MMA promotion HEAT.[1][2]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Kato made his professional debut in March 2013. In the first two years of his career, Kato competed exclusively for the Japan-based promotion, Heat. He compiled a 4–1 record, which included a first-round TKO of Yuki Niimura to win the vacant Heat Middleweight Championship.

Bellator MMA

Kato faced Joe Schilling in his promotional and United States debut at Bellator 139 on June 26, 2015.[3] Despite being a sizable underdog, Kato won the bout in highlight-reel fashion, knocking out the seasoned kickboxer with a superman punch early in the second round.[4]

In August 2015, Kato signed an exclusive, multi-fight contract with the promotion.[5]

Kato faced another experienced kickboxer, Melvin Manhoef, at Bellator 146 on November 20, 2015 in the main event.[6] Kato lost the fight via knockout due to a left hook from Manhoef in the first round.[7]

Kato returned to Bellator in a mixed martial arts bout against A.J. Matthews on October 21, 2016 at Bellator 162. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.

Kato faced Ralek Gracie at Bellator 170 on January 21, 2017. He won the fight via unanimous decision.[8]

Kato faced Chidi Njokuani at Bellator 189 on December 1, 2017.[9] He lost the fight by unanimous decision. Kato was subsequently released from the promotion.[10]

Kickboxing

Bellator Kickboxing

On June 24, 2016, Kato made his professional kickboxing debut for Bellator Kickboxing. He faced Joe Schilling in a rematch at Bellator Kicking 2. Despite Schilling being the more experienced kickboxer, Kato again won the fight by knockout due to a spinning back fist in the second round.[11]

Championships and accomplishments

• Heat
  • Heat Middleweight Championship (One time)
• MMA Junkie
  • June 2015 Knockout of the Month vs. Joe Schilling on June 26[12]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
11 matches	8 wins	3 losses
By knockout	7	2
By submission	0	0
By decision	1	1

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Loss	8–3	Chidi Njokuani	Decision (unanimous)	Bellator 189	December 1, 2017	3	5:00	Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Win	8–2	Ralek Gracie	Decision (unanimous)	Bellator 170	January 21, 2017	3	5:00	Inglewood, California, United States
Win	7–2	A.J. Matthews	TKO (punches)	Bellator 162	October 21, 2016	1	4:58	Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Win	6–2	Yuta Watanabe	TKO (punches)	Rizin Fighting Federation 1	April 17, 2016	1	1:05	Nagoya, Japan
Loss	5–2	Melvin Manhoef	KO (punch)	Bellator 146	November 20, 2015	1	3:43	Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Win	5–1	Joe Schilling	KO (superman punch)	Bellator 139	June 26, 2015	2	0:34	Mulvane, Kansas, United States
Loss	4–1	Henrique Shigemoto	TKO (punches)	Heat 35	March 22, 2015	1	4:16	Nagoya, Aichi, Japan	Lost Heat Middleweight Championship.
Win	4–0	Yuki Niimura	TKO (punches)	Heat 31	April 19, 2014	1	0:53	Nagoya, Aichi, Japan	Won vacant Heat Middleweight Championship.
Win	3–0	Yusuke Sakashita	TKO (head kick and punches)	Heat 30	February 23, 2014	2	0:28	Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
Win	2–0	Yuta Nakamura	TKO (punches)	Heat 28	September 29, 2013	1	2:14	Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Win	1–0	Tsukasa Kawaoka	TKO (punches)	Heat 26	March 31, 2013	1	1:29	Nagoya, Aichi, Japan

Kickboxing record

Professional kickboxing record

4 Wins (2 KO), 2 Losses, 0 draws Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time Record 2020-03-28 Loss K-Jee Krush 112 Nagoya, Japan KO (Left Hook to the Body) 1 2:10 4-2 For the Krush Cruiserweight title. 2019-12-28 Win K-Jee K-1 World GP 2019 Inaugural Women's Flyweight Championship Tournament Nagoya, Japan KO (Left Cross) 2 1:17 4-1 2019-03-10 Loss Sina Karimian K-1 World GP 2019: K’FESTA 2 Saitama, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 3-1 For the K-1 World GP Cruiserweight title. 2018-11-03 Win RUI K-1 World GP 2018: 3rd Super Lightweight Championship Tournament Saitama, Japan KO (Left Overhand) 1 1:59 3-0 2018-06-17 Win Makoto Uehara K-1 World GP 2018: 2nd Featherweight Championship Tournament Saitama, Japan Extra Round Decision (Split) 4 3:00 2-0 2016-06-24 Win Joe Schilling Bellator Kickboxing 2: St. Louis St. Louis, Missouri, USA KO (spinning back fist) 2 2:59 1–0 Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

• List of current Bellator fighters

References

1. "Hisaki Kato Pledges to Turn the Tables on KO Artist Joe Schilling at Bellator 139 - MMAWeekly.com". www.mmaweekly.com. 2015-06-25.
2. "Bellator 146: Hisaki Kato, The Time Is Now (Interview/Article) - TMMAC - The MMA Community Forum". themmacommunity.com.
3. Marc Raimondi (May 18, 2015). "Joe Schilling gets quick Bellator turnaround, meets Hisaki Kato in June". mmafighting.com.
4. Newswire (June 26, 2015). "Joe Schilling brutally knocked out with one punch by Hisaki Kato". mmafighting.com.
5. Tristen Critchfield (August 4, 2015). "Bellator MMA Signs Hisaki Kato to Exclusive, Multi-Fight Contract". sherdog.com.
6. Staff (September 8, 2015). "Hisaki Kato vs. Melvin Manhoef headlines Bellator 146 in November". mmajunkie.com.
7. Brian Knapp (November 20, 2015). "Merciless Melvin Manhoef Left Hook KOs Hisaki Kato in Bellator 146 Headliner". sherdog.com.
8. Steven Marrocco (January 22, 2017). "Bellator 170 results: Tito Ortiz stuns Chael Sonnen, taps him out in first". mmajunkie.com.
9. "Chidi Njokuani Moves Up To Middleweight, Meets Hisaki Kato at Bellator 189 in Oklahoma".
10. Nolan King (August 16, 2019). "Chidi Njokuani, Hisaki Kato among nine fighters released by Bellator". mmajunkie.com.
11. "Bellator Kickboxing 2 Highlights". 2016-08-19.
12. "MMAjunkie's 'Knockout of the Month' for June: Superman punch, or sick head kick?". 2 July 2015.