#5
Hatsu Hioki
Birth Date: 1983-07-18
Association: Alive
Height: 5'11" (181cm)
Weight: 145lbs (66kg)
City: Nagoya, Aichi Country Japan
Hioki won his first Mixed Martial Arts Championship title in the Canadian promotion TKO Major League MMA, by defeating Mark Hominick for the Featherweight belt. Prior to this Hioki had only one loss to Hiroyuki Takaya in Shooto and had a record of 8-1-1. He successfully defended this title twice before participating in the Sengoku Featherweight Grand Prix tournament.Hioki defeated Masanori Kanehara in the semi-final of the tournament but was unable to continue on to the final to fight Michihiro Omigawa due to an injury in his bout with Kanehara. Kanehara replaced Hioki for the final and ended up winning the tournament.On May 30, 2010 Hioki fought Takeshi Inoue for the Shooto Lightweight Championship (143 lbs) and won by a split decision making him the 9th fighter to win it and the 8th Japanese fighter to do so. The Lightweight division in Shooto is the just above the equivalent of a Featherweight division in other Mixed Martial Arts promotions.After defeating Jeff Lawson at Sengoku Raiden Championships 14 Hioki received a title shot against the WVR: Sengoku Featherweight Champion at the time Marlon Sandro. The Championship fight was held at World Victory Road Presents: Soul of Fight on December 30, 2010. Hioki defeated Sandro via Unanimous decision. Hioki's superior reach and movement allowed him to out land and counter the aggressive Brazilian in the first half of the fight. By the third round, Hioki seemed to have entirely figured out his foe's timing on the feet. Hioki took the Nova Uniao black belt down and punished him with punches on top, before locking up a tight straight armbar that nearly popped the champion's elbow. The final rounds of the fight Hioki became even more impressive by continuing to dominate Sandro with tight submissions and transitions to top it off for a clear decision win.[2] Hioki becomes the third Featherweight Champion for Sengoku.
