Hisaki Kato (Japanese: 加藤久輝, Katō Hisaki, born September 17, 1982) is a Japanese 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.
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 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]
K-1
Kato was scheduled to face Makoto Uehara for his K-1 debut. He beat Uehara by decision, after an extra round was fought.[12]
In his second fight with K-1, Kato was scheduled to fight RUI.[13] Kato won the fight by a first-round KO.
Kato challenged for the K-1 Cruiserweight title, held at the time by Sina Karimian, during K-1 K'Festa 2.[14] He lost the fight by a unanimous decision.[15]
After his failed title shot, Kato was scheduled to fight K-Jee in December 2019.[16] He won the fight by a second-round KO.[17]
The two of them fought a rematch during Krush 112, for the Krush Cruiserweight title.[18] K-Jee won the fight in the first round, by a body shot KO.[19]
For his sixth fight with K-1, Kato was scheduled to fight Mahmoud Sattari at K-1: K’Festa 4.[20] He lost the fight by a second-round knockout, suffering a broken nose in the process.[21]
Kato faced Ryo Aitaka at K-1: K'Festa 5 on April 3, 2022, in the reserve bout of the 2022 K-1 openweight tournament.[22] He won the fight by a third-round knockout.[23] As Satoshi Ishii later withdrew from the tournament due to injury, he stepped in as the replacement to face Seiya Tanigawa in the tournament semifinals. He lost the semifinal bout by a first-round knockout.[24]
Kato faced Akira Junior at K-1 World GP 2022 in Osaka on December 3, 2022.[25] Despite scoring a knockdown in the first round, he lost the fight by a second-round knockout.[26]
