is a retired Japanese

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

who competed in the flyweight (114 lbs) division. He is a four-time Shooto World Flyweight (114lbs) Championship title challenger and the former Shooto Flyweight (114 lbs) champion. He's recognized as the seventh greatest strawweight in the history of the sport by

Fight Matrix Fight Matrix is a mixed martial arts ranking system portal. It is one of the sport's most recognized ranking websites. Software According to website, "The rankings on this site are software generated, produced by a proprietary engine (CIRRS � ...

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Ito made his professional debut against Takahisa Toyoshima at Shooto: Back To Our Roots 4 on July 15, 2007, and won by a 53-second technical knockout. He amassed an 8-2 record over the next three years, during which he finished as a runner-up in the 2008 Shooto Rookie Tournament.

Shooto

Consecutive title fights

Ito was scheduled to fight

Junji Ikoma Junji Ikoma ()is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist from Osaka, Japan, who competed in the strawweight and flyweight division. He has fought throughout his career exclusively for the Shooto organization and is currently a part of Shooto's pro ...

for the vacant Shooto World Flyweight Championship at Shooto: Shooto Tradition 2011 on April 29, 2011. Ito was at the time the #1 ranked flyweight contender in the Shooto rankings, while Ikoma came in as the #4 ranked flyweight contender. Ikoma won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges awarding him a 29-28 scorecard. Ito was scheduled to face the #8 ranked Shooto flyweight contender

Yuki Shoujou is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist. He is currently fighting in Shooto's bantamweight division, equivalent to North America's flyweight division which is . Mixed martial arts career From 2004 to 2005 he went 1-2-2 but rebounded in ...

in the co-main event of Shooto: 3rd Round on March 10, 2012. He won the fight by majority decision. Ito was scheduled to challenge for the Shooto World Flyweight Championship, for the second time in his career, against

Mikihito Yamagami is a retired Japanese mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist who competed in the Strawweight (MMA), Strawweight divisions of Shooto and Road Fighting Championship. He is the former Shooto Strawweight (MMA), Flyweight (114 lb, 52 kg) C ...

at Shooto: 10th Round on September 30, 2012. He lost the fight by a second-round technical submission, losing consciousness due to a rear-naked choke at the 1:36 minute mark. Ito was scheduled to face Tadaaki Yamamoto at Shooto: Gig Tokyo 15 on August 25, 2013. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Ito made his third career Shooto World Flyweight title challenge against Shinya Murofushi at Shooto: 1st Round 2014 on January 13, 2014. He lost the fight by a first-round technical submission. Murofushi managed to take Ito down, take his back and lock in a figure four lock, before choking him unconscious with an RNC at the 3:33 minute mark.

Fourth Shooto title run

Ito was scheduled to face Hiroaki Shishino at Shooto: 7th Round 2014 on September 27, 2014. He won the fight by a first-round knockout. Ito was scheduled to face the 33-fight veteran Kenichi Sawada at Shooto: Gig Tokyo 18 on February 11, 2015. He won the fight by a second-round knockout. Ito was scheduled to face the undefeated Ryohei Kurosawa at Shooto: Mobstyles 15th Anniversary Tour Fight & Mosh on May 3, 2015. He won the fight by a second-round knockout. Ito was scheduled to challenge

Yoshitaka Naito Yoshitaka Naito (born February 17, 1984) is a Japanese mixed martial artist from Inzai, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. He is a former two-time ONE Strawweight World Champion. Naito is furthermore a former Shooto World Flyweight (114 lb) Champi ...

for the Shooto World Flyweight title at Shooto - Professional Shooto 11/29 on November 29, 2015. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Fifth Shooto title run

Ito had his first overseas fight at World Series of Fighting Global Championship: Japan 1 on February 7, 2016, when he was scheduled to face

Jarred Brooks Jarred Brooks Ford (born May 2, 1993) known professionally as Jarred Brooks, is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in ONE Championship, where he is the former ONE Strawweight World Champion and former Interim ONE ...

. Brooks won the fight by a second-round knockout. Ito then returned to the Japanese circuit, and was scheduled to face Takahiro Kohori at Shooto - Professional Shooto 11/12 on November 12, 2016. He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout. Ito fought the future Shooto Flyweight champion

Yosuke Saruta is a Japanese mixed martial artist who last competed in the strawweight division of ONE Championship. A professional competitor since 2008, he is the former ONE Strawweight Champion and former Shooto World Flyweight (114lbs) Champion. P ...

at Shooto - Professional Shooto 1/29 on January 29, 2017. The fight was ruled a majority draw. Ito was scheduled to fight Itchaku Murata at Shooto - Professional Shooto 1/28 on January 28, 2018. He lost the fight by a first-round knockout. Ito was scheduled to fight Mijikai Nagai at Shooto - Professional Shooto 5/13 on May 13, 2018. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Ito was scheduled to face Ryosuke Honda at Shooto - Professional Shooto 11/17 on November 17, 2018. He won the fight by a second-round technical decision, as Ito was unable to continue fighting following a low blow 17 seconds into the round. Ito was scheduled to face Michael Nakagawa at Shooto - 30th Anniversary Tour 7th Round on September 22, 2019. The fight was ruled a split draw. Ito was scheduled to fight Jerome Wanawan at Shooto 2020 in Korakuen Hall on January 26, 2020. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Ito was scheduled to face Tateo Iino at Professional Shooto 2020 Vol. 6 on September 19, 2020. He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout, stopping Iino with six seconds left in the round.

Shooto Flyweight champion

Ito was booked to face Ryohei Kurosawa for the interim Shooto Flyweight Championship at Professional Shooto 2021 vol. 7 on November 7, 2021. Ito and Kurosawa previously fought on May 3, 2015, when Ito handed Kurosawa his sole professional loss. Ito won the rematch by a first-round submission. On August 1, 2022, it was announced that the previous Shooto flyweight champion Hiroba Minowa had vacated the title. As such, Ito was promoted to undisputed champion status. Ito faced Jo Arai in his first title defense at Professional Shooto 2022 vol. 6 on September 19, 2022. He lost the fight by a first-round knockout. On December 2, 2023, Ito faced Shuto Aki on December 2, 2023 at Shooto: Mobstyles, winning the bout via TKO stoppage in the first round and declaring his retirement after the bout.

Championships and accomplishments

Shooto is a combat sport and mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission (ISC). Shooto was originally formed in 1985, first as a particular fighting system and then in 1989 as a ...

** Shooto Flyweight (114 lbs) Championship **Interim Shooto Flyweight (114 lbs) Championship **2008 Shooto Rookie Tournament Runner-up

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Win , align=center, 20–8–2 , Shuto Aki , TKO (punches) , Shooto : MOBSTYLES presents FIGHT&MOSH , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:18 ,

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 19–9–2 , Jo Arai , TKO (punch) , Shooto 2022 Vol.6 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:50 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 19–8–2 , Ryohei Kurosawa , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Shooto 2021 Vol.7 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:23 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 18–8–2 , Tateo Iino , TKO (punches) , Shooto 2020 Vol. 6 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:54 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 17–8–2 , Jerome Wanawan , Decision (unanimous) , Shooto 2020 in Korakuen Hall , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Draw , align=center, 16–8–2 , Michael Nakagawa , Draw (split) , Shooto - 30th Anniversary Tour 7th Round , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 16–8–1 , Ryosuke Honda , Technical Decision (unanimous) , Shooto - Professional Shooto 11/17 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 0:17 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 15–8–1 , Mijikai Nagai , Decision (unanimous) , Shooto - Professional Shooto 5/13 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 15–7–1 , Itchaku Murata , KO (punch) , Shooto - Professional Shooto 1/28 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:53 ,

, Japan , , - , Draw , align=center, ,

, Draw (majority) , Shooto - Professional Shooto 1/29 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 14–7 , Takahiro Kohori , TKO (punches) , Shooto - Professional Shooto 11/12 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:07 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 13–7 ,

, KO (elbows) , World Series of Fighting Global Championship: Japan 1 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 3:29 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 13–6 ,

, Decision (unanimous) , Shooto - Professional Shooto 11/29 , , align=center, 5 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 13–5 , Ryohei Kurosawa , KO (punch) , Shooto: Mobstyles 15th Anniversary Tour Fight & Mosh , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 12–5 , Kenichi Sawada , KO (punches) , Shooto: Gig Tokyo 18 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:04 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 11–5 , Hiroaki Shishino , KO (punches) , Shooto: 7th Round 2014 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:52 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 10–5 , Shinya Murofushi , Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) , Shooto: 1st Round 2014 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:33 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 10–4 , Tadaaki Yamamoto , Decision (unanimous) , Shooto: Gig Tokyo 15 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 9–4 ,

, Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) , Shooto: 10th Round , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:36 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 9–3 ,

, Decision (majority) , Shooto: 3rd Round , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 8–3 ,

, Decision (unanimous) , Shooto: Shooto Tradition 2011 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 8–2 , Atsushi Takeuchi , KO (punch) , Shooto: The Rookie Tournament 2010 Final , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:58 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 7–2 , Jesse Taitano , TKO (punches) , Shooto: The Way of Shooto 5: Like a Tiger, Like a Dragon , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 4:50 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 6–2 ,

Hiroaki Yoshioka Hiroaki Yoshioka (born January 3, 1974) is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He competed in the Strawweight, Flyweight and Bantamweight divisions. Mixed martial arts record , - , Loss , align=center, 6-10-2 , Junji Ito , Decision (unanimo ...

, Decision (unanimous) , Shooto: Shooting Disco 11: Tora Tora Tora! , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 5–2 , Takeshi Sato , Decision (unanimous) , Shooto: The Rookie Tournament 2009 Final , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 4–2 , Kenichi Sawada , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Shooto: Gig Tokyo 2 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 0:47 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 3–2 ,

, Submission (guillotine choke) , Shooto: The Rookie Tournament 2008 Final , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:15 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 3–1 , Yoshitaka Aki , TKO (punches) , Shooto: Shooto Tradition 3 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:01 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 2–1 , Kazuyuki Yoshida , TKO (punches) , Shooto: Back To Our Roots 7 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:52 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 1–1 ,

Noboru Tahara is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist, who competed in the strawweight divisions of Pancrase and Shooto. He is a one-time Pancrase light flyweight and one-time Shooto flyweight title challenger. He is recognized as the tenth best strawwei ...

, Decision (unanimous) , Shooto: Shooting Disco 3: Everybody Fight Now , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Takahisa Toyoshima , TKO (punches) , Shooto: Back To Our Roots 4 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:53 ,

, Japan ,

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ito, Junji Living people Japanese male mixed martial artists Strawweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing shootfighting 1986 births Martial artists from Yokohama