Naoyuki Kotani facts for kids

Naoyuki Kotani, born on December 8, 1981, is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He is known for competing in the Lightweight division. He started his professional career in 2000. Over the years, he has fought in many big organizations. These include PRIDE, Pancrase, and the UFC. He also competed in Vale Tudo Japan and RINGS.

Naoyuki Kotani's MMA Journey

Starting His Career (2000-2003)

Kotani began his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) journey in September 2000. His first fights were with the RINGS organization. He had an amazing start to his career. For the first three years, he did not lose a single fight. He built an impressive record of 13 wins, 0 losses, and 2 draws.

Tough Challenges (2004-2005)

From 2004 to 2005, Kotani faced some very tough opponents. During this time, he had a more difficult period. He fought against several fighters who later joined the UFC. These included well-known names like Roger Huerta and Yves Edwards. In this period, his record was 3 wins, 5 losses, and 1 draw.

Fighting in the UFC (First Time)

In 2007, Kotani got the chance to fight in the UFC. This is one of the biggest MMA promotions in the world. His first UFC fight was on April 5, 2007. He faced Thiago Tavares at an event called UFC Fight Night. Kotani lost this fight by a decision from the judges.

His second UFC fight was on September 8, 2007, at UFC 75. He fought against Dennis Siver. Kotani lost this fight in the second round by knockout. After these two losses, he left the UFC.

After the UFC and a Winning Streak

After leaving the UFC, Kotani went through another challenging period. From November 2007 to April 2010, his record was 3 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws. However, things changed for him starting in September 2010. He began an incredible winning streak in Japan. For three and a half years, he remained undefeated. He won 13 fights in a row during this time.

Returning to the UFC (2014-2015)

Because of his impressive winning streak, Kotani was signed by the UFC again in May 2014. He made his return fight on July 19, 2014. He faced Norman Parke at UFC Fight Night 46 in Dublin, Ireland. Kotani lost this fight in the second round.

His next fight was at UFC 179 on October 25, 2014. He fought Yan Cabral and lost by submission in the second round. Kotani's final UFC fight was on September 27, 2015. He faced Kajan Johnson at UFC Fight Night 75. He lost this fight by a decision from the judges. After this, he was released from the UFC again.

Naoyuki Kotani's Fight Record Summary

Naoyuki Kotani has had a long career in mixed martial arts. Here is a quick look at his professional record:

Kotani has shown great skill in submissions, winning 27 fights by making his opponents give up. He has also won 6 fights by knockout. His career has included many exciting matches and challenges.

See also

• List of male mixed martial artists