Takashi Nakakura (Japanese: 中蔵隆志, Nakakura Takashi, born March 23, 1977) is a Japanese mixed martial artist, and the former Shooto welterweight champion. Nakakura is also a seido kaikan karate and Judo black belt. He took up Judo for three years in high school and soon after started training in seido kaikan karate where he took 2nd in the West Japan B-league competition losing only to Tsuyoshi Nakasako, a current K-1 fighter.

MMA career

Nakakura made his Shooto debut in 2002, in GIG: East 11. He won by submission (rear naked choke) over Heima Hashimoto in a fight that lasted a bit over three minutes. He remained undefeated for two years, until losing by decision to Takumi Nakayama in 2004. On May 3, 2008, he fought Ganjo Tetsuku at Shooto's Tradition 01 event for Shooto's Vacant welterweight championship, which he won by Unanimous Decision. May 10, 2009 Shooto Tradition Final, Nakakura fought a non-title bout against former Pride Fighting Championships lightweight title holder Takanori Gomi. Although Nakakura was willing stand and strike with Gomi, he was dominated from the opening bell. Takanori Gomi had dropped and stopped the Shooto champion with strikes at 4:42 into the second round. A few months later he vacates his Shooto belt due to eye injury.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Footnotes