# Katsunori Kikuno

Katsunori Kikuno (Japanese: 菊野 克紀, Kikuno Katsunori, born October 30, 1981) is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He was the former DEEP Lightweight Champion.

## Background

Kikuno started his martial arts training with judo when he was in high school, and was able to take third place in the Kyushu 66 kg tournament and first in Kagoshima Prefecture 66 kg tournament. After graduating from high school Kikuno took up Kyokushin Karate where he took first in the all Kyushu Tournament and a best 16 spot in the middle division of an All-Japan Tournament, Kikuno was trained under Hitoshi Kiyama. He joined Tsuyoshi Kohsaka’s A-Square MMA team in 2004 and began his career in 2005.

## Mixed martial arts
### Deep

Kikuno made his professional mixed martial arts debut in Japanese promotion DEEP's Future King Tournament 2005 defeating Hitoki Tsuti via doctor stoppage and Masashi Takeda via knockout.
At the 2009 DEEP Lightweight Tournament Kikuno became champion after defeating Koichiro Matsumoto via knockout.

### Dream

Kikuno signed with the DREAM promotion after becoming DEEP Lightweight Champion and made his debut against Andre Dida at Dream 10 on July 20, 2009. Kikuno defeated Dida via a flurry of punches, winning his DREAM debut.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Kikuno faced Quinn Mulhern on January 4, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 34. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
In his second fight with the promotion, Kikuno faced Tony Ferguson on May 24, 2014, at UFC 173. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.
Kikuno faced Sam Sicilia at UFC Fight Night 52 on September 20, 2014. He won the fight via submission in the second round.
Kikuno faced Kevin Souza on March 21, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 62. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.
Kikuno faced Diego Brandão on September 27, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 75. He lost the fight via technical knockout in the first round and was subsequently released from the promotion.

## Championships and accomplishments

* DEEP
** DEEP Lightweight Championship (One time)
** One successful title defense
** DEEP Lightweight Championship Tournament Winner
** 2005 DEEP Future King Tournament Winner

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 34 matches | 24 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 13 | 3 |
| By submission | 3 | 1 |
| By decision | 8 | 4 |
| Draws | 2 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 24–8–2 | Takuya Oyama | TKO (punches) | DEEP- 76 Impact | June 26, 2016 | 2 | 4:46 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 23–8–2 | Diego Brandão | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson | September 27, 2015 | 1 | 0:28 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Loss | 23–7–2 | Kevin Souza | KO (punch) | UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. LaFlare | March 21, 2015 | 1 | 1:31 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 23–6–2 | Sam Sicilia | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson | September 20, 2014 | 2 | 1:38 | Saitama, Japan | Featherweight debut. |
| Loss | 22–6–2 | Tony Ferguson | KO (punch) | UFC 173 | May 24, 2014 | 1 | 4:06 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 22–5–2 | Quinn Mulhern | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Saffiedine vs. Lim | January 4, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Marina Bay, Singapore | |
| Win | 21–5–2 | Yong Jae Lee | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Deep: 63 Impact | August 25, 2013 | 1 | 4:12 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 20–5–2 | Jutaro Nakao | KO (punch) | Deep: Cage Impact 2013 | June 15, 2013 | 1 | 1:07 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 19–5–2 | Takafumi Ito | KO (palm strike) | U-Spirits Again | March 9, 2013 | 1 | 0:29 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 18–5–2 | Luiz Andrade I | KO (punch) | Deep: Cage Impact 2012 in Tokyo: Semifinals | December 8, 2012 | 1 | 0:08 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 17–5–2 | Yasuaki Kishimoto | Decision (unanimous) | Deep: 60 Impact | October 19, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 16–5–2 | Satoru Kitaoka | Decision (unanimous) | Deep: 58 Impact | June 15, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 16–4–2 | Kwang Hee Lee | TKO (punches) | Deep: Cage Impact 2011 in Tokyo, 1st Round | October 29, 2011 | 1 | 4:59 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 15–4–2 | Mizuto Hirota | Decision (unanimous) | Deep: 55 Impact | August 26, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Lost DEEP Lightweight Championship |
| Win | 15–3–2 | Daisuke Nakamura | Decision (unanimous) | Dream: Fight for Japan! | May 29, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 14–3–2 | Nobuhiro Obiya | Decision (split) | Deep: 50 Impact | October 24, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Defended DEEP Lightweight Championship. |
| Loss | 13–3–2 | Gesias Cavalcante | Decision (split) | Dream 15 | July 10, 2010 | 2 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 13–2–2 | Kuniyoshi Hironaka | KO (punch) | Dream 13 | March 22, 2010 | 1 | 1:26 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Loss | 12–2–2 | Eddie Alvarez | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Dream 12 | October 26, 2009 | 2 | 3:42 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Win | 12–1–2 | Andre Amade | TKO (punches) | Dream 10 | July 20, 2009 | 1 | 3:47 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 11–1–2 | Koichiro Matsumoto | KO (punch) | Deep: 41 Impact | April 16, 2009 | 1 | 4:32 | Tokyo, Japan | DEEP Lightweight Tournament Champion. |
| Win | 10–1–2 | Jung Bu-Kyung | TKO (body kick and soccer kicks) | Deep: 40 Impact | February 20, 2009 | 1 | 4:15 | Tokyo, Japan | DEEP Lightweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 9–1–2 | Jang Yong Kim | Decision (unanimous) | Deep: 39 Impact | December 10, 2008 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | DEEP Lightweight Tournament Opening Round. |
| Win | 8–1–2 | Yoshihiro Tomioka | TKO (punches) | Deep: 37 Impact | August 17, 2008 | 2 | 2:34 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 7–1–2 | Seigo Inoue | Decision (unanimous) | Deep: 35 Impact | May 19, 2008 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 6–1–2 | Takuhiro Kamikozono | Decision (majority) | Deep: 29 Impact | April 13, 2007 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 5–1–2 | Hiroki Nagaoka | Decision (majority) | Deep: 27 Impact | December 20, 2006 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 4–1–2 | Yutaka Kobayashi | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Deep: 26 Impact | October 10, 2006 | 1 | 3:26 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 3–1–2 | Luiz Andrade I | Draw | Deep: clubDeep Tokyo | July 8, 2006 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 3–1–1 | Ichiro Kojima | TKO (punches) | ZST: Swat! 5 | June 4, 2006 | 1 | 1:18 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 2–1–1 | Yukinari Tamura | Decision (unanimous) | Deep: 23 Impact | February 5, 2006 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 2–0–1 | Masashi Takeda | KO (punch) | Deep: Future King Tournament 2005 | December 25, 2005 | 1 | 2:30 | Tokyo, Japan | DEEP Lightweight Future King Tournament Champion. |
| Win | 1–0–1 | Hitoki Tsuti | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Deep: Future King Tournament 2005 | December 25, 2005 | 1 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 0–0–1 | Junpei Chikano | Draw | ZST 8 | November 23, 2005 | 1 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |

### Mixed martial arts exhibition record

| Exhibition record breakdown | Exhibition record breakdown | |
| 1 match | 1 win | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 1–0 | Yuichiro Nagashima | TKO (punches) | Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011 | December 31, 2011 | 2 | 2:34 | Chuo-ku, Saitama City, Japan | |