Rinya Nakamura

Rinya Nakamura (Japanese: 中村倫也, Nakamura Rinya, born 23 March 1995) is a Japanese mixed martial artist and former freestyle wrestler who currently competes in the bantamweight division.[2] Competing at 61 kilograms, Nakamura became the 2017 U23 World Champion during his wrestling career, before retiring at age 25 to pursue mixed martial arts.[3]

Rinya Nakamura
Born中村倫也
(1995-03-23) 23 March 1995
Saitama, Japan
Other namesHybrid
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st)
DivisionBantamweight
Reach68 in (173 cm) [1]
Fighting out ofSaitama, Japan
TeamLDH Martial Arts
WrestlingFreestyle wrestling
Years active2021–present (MMA)
2011–2020 (wrestling)
Mixed martial arts record
Total8
Wins8
By knockout5
By submission1
By decision2
Losses0
UniversitySenshu University
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing  Japan
World Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Iowa 61 kg
World U23 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 Bydgoszcz 61 kg
Japanese National Championships
Silver medal – second place 2019 Tokyo 65 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Tokyo 65 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Tokyo 57 kg
World Cadets Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Szombathely 50 kg

Background

Rinya is the son of Kozo Nakamura, who was involved in the early development of Shooto in the 90's.[4] Having begun wrestling at the age of five, Nakamura's first notable accomplishment in the sport of freestyle wrestling was a bronze medal from the Cadet World Championships in 2011.[5][6] A multiple-time Japanese National medalist at two different weight classes, his most remarkable achievement of his career came at the 2017 U23 World Championships, where he became the champion at 61 kilograms.[7] After the delay of the 2020 Summer Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nakamura decided to retire from wrestling and hop into the sport of mixed martial arts.[3]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

In April 2020, Nakamura announced his serious intentions of competing in MMA.[3] Nakamura made his professional debut against Takumi Arai in a mixed martial arts reality show Fighting Dreamers on 15 May 2021. He won the fight via first-minute knockout.[8][4]

He then made his sophomore appearance against Akuri Ronda at Shooto 0725 on 25 July 2021.[4] He won the bout via second-round knockout.[9]

Nakamura faced Yasuyuki Nojiri at Shooto 0116 on January 16, 2022.[6] He won the fight via first-minute technical knockout.[10]

On April 24, 2022, he fought against Aliandro Caetano in POUNDSTORM, and although he was punched in round 1 and cut his right eyelid leading to intense bleeding, he utilised his takedown advantage and won the 3–0 decision.[11]

Road to UFC

Nakamura faced Gugun Gusman in the Quarter-Finals of the Bantamweight tournament on June 9, 2022, in Road to UFC Season 1: Episode 3.[12] He won the bout in the first round via Americana submission.[13]

Nakamura faced Shohei Nose in the Semi-Finals of the Bantamweight tournament on October 23, 2022, at Road to UFC Season 1: Episode 6.[14] He won the bout in the first round, knocking out Nose.[15]

In the finals of the tournament, Nakamura faced Toshiomi Kazama on February 4, 2023, at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Spivak.[16] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.[17] This win earned Nakamura his first Performance of the Night bonus award.[18]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Nakamura faced Fernie Garcia at UFC Fight Night 225 on August 26, 2023.[19] He won the bout in dominant fashion via unanimous decision.[20]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
8 matches 8 wins 0 losses
By knockout 5 0
By submission 1 0
By decision 2 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 8–0 Fernie Garcia Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie August 26, 2023 3 5:00 Kallang, Singapore
Win 7–0 Toshiomi Kazama KO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Spivak February 4, 2023 1 0:33 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Won the Road to UFC Season 1 Bantamweight tournament. Performance of the Night.
Win 6–0 Shohei Nose KO (punches) Road to UFC Season 1: Episode 6 October 23, 2022 1 2:21 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Road to UFC Season 1 Bantamweight tournament semifinal.
Win 5–0 Gugun Gusman Submission (keylock) Road to UFC Season 1: Episode 3 June 10, 2022 1 3:24 Kallang, Singapore Road to UFC Season 1 Bantamweight tournament quarterfinal.
Win 4–0 Aleandro Caetano Decision (unanimous) LDH Martial Arts: Pound Storm April 24, 2022 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 3–0 Yasuyuki Nojiri TKO (punches) Professional Shooto 2022 Vol. 1 January 16, 2022 1 0:25 Tokyo, Japan
Win 2–0 Akuri Ronda KO (head kick) Professional Shooto 2021 Vol. 5 July 25, 2021 2 0:20 Tokyo, Japan
Win 1–0 Takumi Arai KO (punch) Fighting Dreamers May 15, 2021 1 0:42 Japan Bantamweight debut.

See also

References
  1. "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  2. "Keisuke Sasu squeezes past Ryoji Kudo to claim featherweight crown at Shooto 0725 | Asian MMA". AsianMMA. 2021-07-26. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  3. Gallo, Ed (2020-04-03). "Wrestling breakdown: U23 World champion Rinya Nakamura announces transition to MMA". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  4. Peter Leghorn (July 23, 2021). "Shooto 2021 Vol5, Sunday 25th. Sasuke vs Kudo Featherweight Title Match!". mma-japan.net.
  5. "Japan Wrestling Federation - 日本レスリング協会公式サイト - JWF". www.japan-wrestling.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  6. Peter Leghorn (January 13, 2022). "Shooto 2022 Volume1, Sunday 16th, Generations Clash as Seasoned Veterans and Hot Prospects Collide". mma-japan.net.
  7. Dudy, Deepak. "U 23 Wrestling World Champion Rinya Nakamura Entering In MMA » FirstSportz". firstsportz.com. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  8. "Rinya Nakamura | MMA Fighter Page". Tapology. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  9. Andrew Whitelaw (July 26, 2021). "Keisuke Sasu squeezes past Ryoji Kudo to claim featherweight crown at Shooto 0725". asianmma.com.
  10. Andrew Whitelaw (January 17, 2022). "Kota Onojima outpoints Nobuki Fujii at Shooto 0116". asianmma.com.
  11. 【POUND STORM】中村倫也がカエタノに判定勝ち「絶対にUFCのトップに立てる」、大尊が宇佐美正に判定勝ち、河名が修斗世界1位の山本に勝利、齋藤が風間を必然の跳びヒザTKO！ 岩﨑が三上に判定勝ち、狩野が一本勝ち GONG格闘技 2022年4月24日
  12. Tabuena, Anton (2022-05-23). "Road to UFC: Four Asian tournament brackets, non-tournament bouts finalized". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
  13. "'Road to UFC' video: Rinya Nakamura mangles Gugun Gusman's arm with brutal kimura". MMA Junkie. 2022-06-10. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
  14. "UFC Announces Road to UFC Semifinals". Ultimate Fighting Championship. 2022-09-30. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
  15. Tabuena, Anton (2022-10-22). "Road to UFC semi-finals: Episode 5-6 full results, brackets, videos". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  16. "Road to UFC Final moved to Las Vegas". Asian MMA. 2023-01-05. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  17. Shawn Bitter (2023-01-04). "UFC Vegas 68: Rinya Nakamura wins Road to UFC Bantamweight tournament, KO's Toshiomi Kazama". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  18. "UFC Fight Night 218 bonuses: Serghei Spivac's domination worthy of an extra $50,000". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. 2023-02-05. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  19. "Rinya Nakamura faces Fernie Garcia on August 26th". asianmma.com. May 21, 2023.
  20. Theodosi, Jamie (2023-08-26). "Rinya Nakamura Impresses Once Again, Dominating Fernie Garcia Over Three Rounds". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
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