#7
Takeya Mizugaki
Summary: Striking
Fighter Info
From: | Ibaragi Japan |
Fights Out Of: | Kanagawa Japan |
Age: | 27 |
Height: | 5' 7" ( 170 cm ) |
Weight: | 135 lb ( 61 kg ) |
Mizugaki began his mixed martial arts career competed in respected Japanese promotions Shooto and Cage Force. He was the Shooto Rookie of the Year in 2003 and winner of the Cage Force Bantamweight tournament.
Mizugaki made his World Extreme Cagefighting debut on April 5, 2009 against Miguel Torres for the WEC Bantamweight Championship in which he lost by unanimous decision in the fifth round; he can lay claim as the first to push Torres all five rounds. He fought Jeff Curran on August 9, 2009 at WEC 42, he won by decision.
Mizugaki was expected to face Damacio Page on December 19, 2009 at WEC 45,[1] but Page was forced off the card due to an injury.[2] Mizugaki instead faced Scott Jorgensen[3] and lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Mizugaki recently faced Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Rani Yahya on April 24, 2010 at WEC 48.[4] He won the fight via decision.
Mizugaki was set to face former WEC Featherweight Champion Urijah Faber, who was to be making his bantamweight debut, on August 18, 2010 at WEC 50.[5] However, Faber was forced off the card with an injury. As a result, Mizugaki was also pulled from the event.[6]
Mizugaki was defeated by Faber via first round submission November 11, 2010 at WEC 52.[7][8] Mizugaki showed good take down defense but was hurt via punches toward the end of the first round, allowing Faber to take his back. After Faber was able to sink in a rear naked choke, Mizugaki refused to tap and as a result, was choked out.
On October 28, 2010, World Extreme Cagefighting merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As part of the merger, all WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC.[9]
Mizugaki was expected to face Francisco Rivera on March 3, 2011 at UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann, but Rivera had to withdraw from the bout due to injury.[10] He instead took on fellow UFC newcomer Reuben Duran[11], winning the fight via split decision.
Mizugaki is expected to face Brian Bowles on July 2, 2011 at UFC 132.
