Japanese mixed martial artist
Michinori Tanaka (田中 路教 Tanaka Michinori is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competes in the bantamweight division of the Legacy Fighting Alliance .[ 4] Ultimate Fighting Championship .
Mixed martial arts career
Shooto
Tanaka started his professional career in 2010. Until the first half of 2012, he fought only for Shooto , where he won the 2011 rookie 132-pound tournament.[ 5]
Pacific Xtreme Combat
Tanaka faced Crisanto Pitpitunge on May 18, 2013, at PXC 37 for the bantamweight title. He won the title via unanimous decision after five rounds.[ 6]
Tanaka defended his title against Kyle Aguon on October 25, 2013, at PXC 40 . He defeated Aguon via unanimous decision over five rounds.[ 7]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
In February 2014, it was announced that Tanaka has signed a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship .[ 8]
In his debut, Tanaka faced Roland Delorme on June 14, 2014, at UFC 174 .[ 9]
Tanaka faced Kang Kyung-ho on September 20, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 52 .[ 10] Fight of the Night bonus award.[ 11] [ 12]
Tanaka was briefly linked to a bout with Russell Doane on January 2, 2016, at UFC 195 . However, Doane was forced from the bout with injury and replaced by Joe Soto .[ 13] [ 14]
Tanaka next faced Rani Yahya on September 24, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 95 .[ 15] [ 16]
Tanaka faced promotional newcomer Ricardo Ramos on February 4, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 104 .[ 17] [ 18]
In May 2017, Tanaka was released from the company.
Post-UFC career
In January 2018, it was announced that Tanaka has signed a contract with the Absolute Championship Berkut .[ 19]
After two winning bouts in his native Japan, Tanaka signed a multi-fight contract with Legacy Fighting Alliance in April 2020.[ 4] LFA 117 against Ricardo Dias on November 5, 2021.[ 20] [ 21]
Tanaka faced Ary Farias at LFA 138 on August 5, 2022. He lost the fight by split decision.[ 22] [ 23]
Tanaka rebounded against Kunihisa Sasa on April 30, 2023, at Pancrase 333, winning the bout via unanimous decision.[ 24]
Tanaka next faced Sindile Manengela on July 9, 2023, at Pancrase 336, winning the bout via unanimous decision.[ 25]
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
20 matches
16 wins
4 losses
By knockout
0
0
By submission
6
0
By decision
10
4
Res.
Record
Opponent
Method
Event
Date
Round
Time
Location
Notes
Win
16–4
Sindile Manengela
Decision (unanimous)
Pancrase 336
July 9, 2023
3
5:00
Tokyo , Japan
Win
15–4
Kunihisa Sasa
Decision (unanimous)
Pancrase 333
April 30, 2023
3
5:00
Tachikawa , Japan
Loss
14–4
Ary Farias
Decision (split)
LFA 138
August 5, 2022
3
5:00
Shawnee, Oklahoma , United States
Win
14–3
Ricardo Dias
Decision (unanimous)
LFA 117
November 5, 2021
3
5:00
Visalia, California , United States
Win
13–3
Vladimir Leontyev
Decision (unanimous)
Pancrase 303
March 17, 2019
3
5:00
Tokyo , Japan
Win
12–3
Rogério Bontorin
Submission (rear-naked choke)
Grandslam 6: Way of the Cage
October 29, 2017
3
2:27
Tokyo , Japan
Loss
11–3
Ricardo Ramos
Decision (unanimous)
UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs. The Korean Zombie
February 4, 2017
3
5:00
Houston, Texas , United States
Loss
11–2
Rani Yahya
Decision (unanimous)
UFC Fight Night: Cyborg vs. Länsberg
September 24, 2016
3
5:00
Brasília , Brazil
Win
11–1
Joe Soto
Decision (split)
UFC 195
January 2, 2016
3
5:00
Las Vegas, Nevada , United States
Loss
10–1
Kang Kyung-ho
Decision (split)
UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson
September 20, 2014
3
5:00
Saitama , Japan
Tanaka tested positive for banned substances. Fight of the Night forfeited.
Win
10–0
Roland Delorme
Decision (unanimous)
UFC 174
June 14, 2014
3
5:00
Vancouver, British Columbia , Canada
Win
9–0
Kyle Aguon
Decision (unanimous)
Pacific Xtreme Combat 40
October 25, 2013
5
5:00
Mangilao , Guam
Defended the PXC Bantamweight Championship.
Win
8–0
Crisanto Pitpitunge
Decision (unanimous)
Pacific Xtreme Combat 37
May 18, 2013
5
5:00
Pasig , Philippines
Won the PXC Bantamweight Championship.
Win
7–0
Caleb Vallotton
Submission (triangle choke)
Pacific Xtreme Combat 36
March 8, 2013
2
2:39
Mangilao , Guam
Win
6–0
Russell Doane
Submission (rear-naked choke)
Pacific Xtreme Combat 34
November 17, 2012
3
2:09
Quezon City , Philippines
Win
5–0
Jong Hoon Choi
Submission (rear-naked choke)
Shooto: 3rd Round
March 10, 2012
1
3:29
Tokyo , Japan
Win
4–0
Teruto Ishihara
Decision (unanimous)
Shooto: The Rookie Tournament 2011 Final
December 18, 2011
2
5:00
Tokyo , Japan
Won the 2011 Shooto Rookie 132 lbs Championship.
Win
3–0
Takuya Ogura
Submission (triangle choke)
Shooto: Gig Tokyo 7
August 6, 2011
1
3:09
Tokyo , Japan
Win
2–0
Hiroshi Roppongi
Technical Submission (armbar)
Shooto: Gig Saitama 3
April 10, 2011
2
1:29
Fujimi , Japan
Win
1–0
Yasutaka Hamaji
Decision (unanimous)
Shooto: Shooting Disco 13: Can't Stop Myself!
October 16, 2010
2
5:00
Tokyo , Japan
See also
References
^ "Michinori Tanaka's profile" . Tapology.com. Retrieved September 19, 2014 .^ Thomas Gerbasi (December 30, 2015). "Michinori Tanaka used 2015 to hone his skills ahead of UFC return" . Ultimate Fighting Championship ^ "Michinori Tanaka – Official UFC Fighter Profile" . UFC . Retrieved September 25, 2016 .^ a b Tristen Critchfield (April 26, 2020). "Legacy Fighting Alliance Signs UFC Veteran Michinori Tanaka" . sherdog.com. ^ a b Tony Loiseleur (December 18, 2011). "Shooto crowns 2011 rookie tournament champions in Tokyo" . Sherdog.com. Retrieved December 19, 2013 . ^ Anton Tabuena (May 20, 2013). "PXC 37 results and fight videos: Michinori Tanaka takes bantamweight title" . Bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved December 19, 2013 . ^ Wesley de Souza (October 26, 2013). "PXC 40 results: Michinori Tanaka retains title, Will Chope scores biggest win in his career" . Thefightnation.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013 . ^ Anton Tabuena (February 3, 2014). "UFC signs top Japanese prospect Michinori Tanaka" . Bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014 . ^ Joe Ferraro (2014-03-27). "Canadian Delorme added to UFC 174 in Vancouver" . sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2014-03-27 . ^ Anton Tabuena (2014-07-26). "Asian champions Michinori Tanaka and Kyung Ho Kang to face off at UFC: Japan" . bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2014-07-26 . ^ Staff (2014-09-20). "UFC Fight Night 52 bonuses: Hunt, Case, Kang, Tanaka win $50,000" . mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2014-09-20 . ^ Staff (2014-12-02). "UFC statement regarding Michinori Tanaka" . UFC . Retrieved 2014-12-02 . ^ Staff (2015-12-01). "UFC 195 gets change-up: Russell Doane out, Joe Soto in vs. Michinori Tanaka" . mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-12-01 . ^ Ben Fowlkes (2016-01-02). "UFC 195 results: Michinori Tanaka keeps submission-happy Joe Soto from first UFC win" . mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-01-02 . ^ Staff (2016-08-03). "UFC's return to Brasilia starts to take shape" . mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-08-03 . ^ Ben Fowlkes (2016-09-24). "UFC Fight Night 95 results: Rani Yahya gets fourth straight with win over Michinori Tanaka" . mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-09-24 . ^ Guilherme Cruz (2017-01-10). "Ricardo Ramos takes on Michinori Tanaka at UFC Fight Night 104 in Houston" . mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2017-01-10 . ^ Steven Marrocco (2017-02-04). "UFC Fight Night 104 results: Ricardo Lucas Ramos chases Michinori Tanaka around for decision" . mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2017-02-04 . ^ "ACB signs top Japanese Michinori Tanaka" . queel.me. January 20, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2018 .^ "Michinori Tanaka set to fight at LFA 117" . asianmma.com . October 9, 2021.^ Dan Kuhl (November 6, 2021). "LFA 117 Results: Tanaka Dominates Dias" . combatpress.com. ^ "【LFA138】「一番を目指すことが面白い」。田中路教─02─世界に立ち向かうJ-MMAファイター最終回" . mmaplanet.jp . Retrieved 6 August 2022 .^ "【LFA】元UFC田中路教が悔しいスプリット判定負け、柔術黒帯ファリアスの組みに苦しむ" . efight.jp . Retrieved 6 August 2022 .^ "【PANCRASE】アキラが久米鷹介を破り正規王者に「必ずライト級日本一になる」、中島が田嶋下し王座統一、ソルトがKAREN破り戴冠、端がNORIを完封。井村が石井に競り勝つ..." ゴング格闘技 - GONKAKU . Retrieved 2023-05-27 .^ "【パンクラス】元UFC田中路教、強豪シンディレを完封「また世界で戦いたい」（イーファイト）" . Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-08-06 .
External links
