Taiki Sawatani (Japanese: 澤谷大樹, Sawatani Taiki, born June 11, 1999) is a Japanese kickboxer, currently competing in the super featherweight division of RISE.
As of May 2022 he was the #10 ranked Super Flyweight in the world by Combat Press.[1]
Kickboxing career
Featherweight
Sawatani's martial art experience started with full contact karate, after competing in numerous junior tournaments he switched to amateur kickboxing which led him to participate to the 2016 Japan Cup as a Shin Karate representant. He won the tournament and the event MVP award which earned him an opportunity to turn professional with the RISE organization.[2]
Sawatani made his professional on March 5, 2017, at RISE 116 against Maiki Flyskygym. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. He traded wins and losses in his next bouts, winning by majority decision against Takuya Taira at RISE 117[3] and losing by unanimous decision to Yuki Kawate at RISE 118.[4] On February 4, 2018, Sawatani faced YA-MAN at RISE 122. He lost the fight by split decision.[5]
On August 5, 2018, Sawatani was selected to participate to the 2018 RISE Rookies Cup in the featherweight division. He defeated Silencer Higuchi by unanimous decision in a fight serving as the semifinal bout. In the final he rematched YA-MAN and defeated him by unanimous decision to win the Cup.[6]
On February 3, 2019, Sawatani faced Teppei Tsuda at RISE 130. He won the fight by unanimous decision.[7]
On January 13, 2020, Sawatani faced Shuto Miyazaki at RISE 136. He won the fight by majority decision.[8]
Sawatani faced Keisuke Monguchi at RISE 143 on November 14, 2020.[9] He lost the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 29–28, 30–28 and 30–28.[10]
On April 11, 2021, Sawatani entered a tournament for the vacant DEEP KICK Super Featherweight title at DEEP KICK 51. He faced Kaito in the semi-final, the fight was ruled a majority draw after the first three rounds, with two judges scoring it as a 29–29 draw, while the third judge scored it 29–28 for Sawatani. Sawatani was awarded a majority decision, after an extension round was fought.[11] The final of the tournament happened on July 4, 2021, at DEEP KICK 54 where Sawatani defeated Taisei Iwagoe by split decision to capture the vacant title.[12]
On December 19, 2021, Sawatani faced Tasuto at Professional Shooto 2021 Vol.8 in Osaka. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[13]
On February 23, 2022, Sawatani made his first appearance on a Rizin show at Rizin Trigger 2 where he defeated Kota Nakgawa by unanimous decision.[14]
On April 24, 2022, Sawatani faced Daiki Toita at RISE 157. He won the fight by unanimous decision.[15]
Sawatani was scheduled to defend his DEEP KICK -60 kg title at DEEP KICK 62 on June 12, 2022, against Koki Oomae.[16] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[17]
Sawatani faced Ryoga Hirano at RISE 163 on December 10, 2022. He lost the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 29–28 for Hirano. Sawatani was knocked down with a right hook early in the first round.[18]
Super featherweight
Sawatani faced the #4 ranked RISE super featherweight contender Masaaki Ono at RISE 167 on April 21, 2023.[19] He won the fight by unanimous decision, after an extra fourth round was contested.[20]
Sawatani faced Haruto Yasumoto at RISE 173 on November 18, 2023.[21] He lost the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–28, 30–29 and 30–29.[22]
