# Naoyuki Kotani

Naoyuki Kotani Japanese: 小谷直之 (born December 8, 1981) is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Lightweight division. A professional competitor since 2000, he has formerly competed in PRIDE, Pancrase, UFC, Vale Tudo Japan, and RINGS.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

Kotani made his professional MMA debut in September 2000 for the RINGS promotion. He was unbeaten for the first three years of his career, earning a record of 13–0–2.
From 2004 to 2005, Kotani suffered a rough patch in his career as he went 3-5-1 against several UFC fighters including Roger Huerta, Yves Edwards, Marcus Aurélio and Rich Clementi.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Kotani was signed by the UFC in 2007. In his debut, he faced Thiago Tavares at UFC Fight Night: Stevenson vs Guillard on April 5, 2007. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
For his second fight with the promotion, Kotani faced Dennis Siver at UFC 75 on September 8, 2007. He lost the fight via knockout in the second round. Following this loss, Kotani was released by the promotion.

### Post-UFC

Following his release, Kotani encountered another rough streak as he went 3-3-2 from November 2007 until April 2010. However, beginning in September 2010, Kotani started an undefeated streak of 13–0 over the next three and a half years in his native Japan.

### UFC return

In May 2014, it was announced that Kotani had re-signed with the UFC. He made his return against Norman Parke on July 19, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 46. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.
Kotani then faced Yan Cabral at UFC 179 on October 25, 2014. He lost the fight via submission in the second round.
Kotani next faced Kajan Johnson on September 27, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 75. He lost the fight by unanimous decision and was subsequently released from the promotion.

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 62 matches | 37 wins | 18 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 9 |
| By submission | 27 | 2 |
| By decision | 4 | 7 |
| Draws | 7 | 7 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 37–18–7 | Shin Haraguchi | TKO (elbows and punches) | Grachan 59 × Brave Fight 27 | February 11, 2023 | 1 | 3:57 | Tokyo, Japan | For the GRACHAN Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 37–17–7 | Yutaka Ueda | Decision (unanimous) | Grachan 45 | September 20, 2020 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 36–17–7 | Koshi Matsumoto | TKO (knee and punches) | Shooto 30th Anniversary Tour at Korakuen Hall | May 6, 2019 | 4 | 0:57 | Tokyo, Japan | For the Shooto Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 36–16–7 | Shutaro Debana | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Shooto 11/17 | November 17, 2018 | 2 | 0:51 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 35–16–7 | Akihito Mamiya | TKO (punches) | Grachan 35.5 | July 16, 2018 | 1 | 2:33 | Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan | |
| Loss | 34–16–7 | Marif Piraev | Decision (unanimous) | WCFA 44 | December 17, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Grozny, Chechnya, Russia | |
| Loss | 34–15–7 | Yuki Kawana | Decision (majority) | Shooto: Professional Shooto 10/15 | October 15, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Chiba, Japan | |
| Win | 34–14–7 | Yoichi Fukumoto | Submission (Armbar) | Shooto - Professional Shooto 4/23 | April 23, 2017 | 1 | 2:10 | Chiba, Japan | |
| Loss | 33–14–7 | Dmitriy Parubchenko | TKO (punches) | Real 5: Real Fight Championship 5 | June 12, 2016 | 2 | 3:17 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 33–13–7 | Kajan Johnson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson | September 27, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Loss | 33–12–7 | Yan Cabral | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 179 | October 25, 2014 | 2 | 3:06 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Loss | 33–11–7 | Norman Parke | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Brandao | July 19, 2014 | 2 | 3:41 | Dublin, Ireland | |
| Win | 33–10–7 | Yoshihiro Koyama | Decision (unanimous) | Vale Tudo Japan: VTJ 4th | February 23, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 32–10–7 | Daisuke Hoshino | Submission (armbar) | Vale Tudo Japan: VTJ 3rd | October 5, 2013 | 1 | 3:57 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 31–10–7 | Vitali Krat | Submission (armbar) | RINGS: The Outsider | June 9, 2013 | 1 | 2:47 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Win | 30–10–7 | Jung Min Kang | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ZST.35 | April 7, 2013 | 1 | 2:45 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 29–10–7 | Koji Mori | Submission (kneebar) | ZST.33: 10th Anniversary | November 23, 2012 | 1 | 1:40 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 28–10–7 | Shinichi Taira | Decision (unanimous) | ZST.33: 10th Anniversary | November 23, 2012 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 27–10–7 | Darius Minkevicius | Submission (kimura) | ZST.32 | September 17, 2012 | 1 | 2:42 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 26–10–7 | Ryuki Ueyama | TKO (punches) | RINGS: Reincarnation | March 9, 2012 | 1 | 2:32 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 25–10–7 | Daisuke Hanazawa | TKO (punches) | Rings - Battle Genesis Vol. 9 | January 22, 2012 | 2 | 4:03 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 24–10–7 | Katsuya Inoue | Submission (armbar) | Pancrase: Impressive Tour 9 | September 4, 2011 | 1 | 1:44 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 23–10–7 | Ryo Asami | TKO (doctor stoppage) | RINGS: The Outsider 17 | July 7, 2011 | 1 | 1:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 22–10–7 | Keigo Hirayama | Submission (guillotine choke) | ZST.27 | February 6, 2011 | 1 | 1:44 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 21–10–7 | Eriya Matsuda | Submission (heel hook) | ZST.25 | September 26, 2010 | 1 | 1:04 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 20–10–7 | Jorge Masvidal | Decision (split) | Astra | April 25, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 20–9–7 | Kenichi Ito | Draw | ZST.23 | February 20, 2010 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 20–9–6 | Daisuke Nakamura | Submission (leg scissor choke) | ZST.22 | November 23, 2009 | 1 | 1:37 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 19–9–6 | Yojiro Uchimura | Submission (achilles lock) | ZST.21 | September 21, 2009 | 1 | 1:25 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 18–9–6 | Kuniyoshi Hironaka | Submission (reverse full-nelson) | ZST.20 | May 24, 2009 | 2 | 2:43 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 18–8–6 | Katsuhiko Nagata | Submission (heel hook) | ZST.18: Sixth Anniversary | November 23, 2008 | 2 | 4:38 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 17–8–6 | Koji Oishi | Decision (unanimous) | Pancrase: Shining 8 | October 1, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 17–7–6 | Masanori Kanehara | Draw | ZST.15: Fifth Anniversary | November 23, 2007 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 17–7–5 | Dennis Siver | KO (punch) | UFC 75 | September 8, 2007 | 2 | 2:04 | London, England | |
| Loss | 17–6–5 | Thiago Tavares | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Stevenson vs. Guillard | April 5, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17–5–5 | Masayuki Okude | Submission (armbar) | ZST.12 | February 12, 2007 | 1 | 0:58 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 16–5–5 | Erikas Petraitis | Draw | ZST.11 | November 23, 2006 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 16–5–4 | Shinya Sato | Submission (armbar) | ZST: GT-F2 | May 27, 2006 | 1 | 2:09 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 15–5–4 | Darius Skliaudys | Draw | ZST.9 | February 18, 2006 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 15–5–3 | Vito Woods | Submission (armbar) | Xtreme Fighting Organization 8 | December 10, 2005 | 1 | 1:23 | Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 14–5–3 | Luiz Azeredo | KO (punch) | PRIDE Bushido 9 | September 25, 2005 | 1 | 0:11 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 14–4–3 | Darius Skliaudys | Draw | ZST Grand Prix 2: Final Round | January 23, 2005 | 3 | 3:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 14–4–2 | Roger Huerta | TKO (punches) | Xtreme Fighting Organization 4 | December 3, 2004 | 1 | 1:29 | Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 14–3–2 | Yves Edwards | TKO (head kick and punches) | Euphoria: Road to the Titles | October 15, 2004 | 1 | 3:10 | New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 14–2–2 | Hideo Tokoro | Submission (heel hook) | ZST.6 | September 12, 2004 | 1 | 1:44 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 13–2–2 | Remigijus Morkevicius | Submission (armbar) | ZST: Battle Hazard 1 | July 4, 2004 | 1 | 2:07 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 12–2–2 | Marcus Aurélio | TKO (doctor stoppage) | ZST.5 | May 5, 2004 | 2 | 3:34 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 12–1–2 | Rich Clementi | Decision (unanimous) | ZST Grand Prix: Final Round | January 11, 2004 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 12–0–2 | Mindaugas Smirnovas | Submission (armbar) | ZST Grand Prix: Opening Round | November 23, 2003 | 1 | 0:41 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 11–0–2 | Mindaugas Smirnovas | Technical Submission (heel hook) | ZST 4: The Battle Field 4 | September 7, 2003 | 1 | 1:36 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 10–0–2 | Mindaugas Smirnovas | Draw | RINGS Lithuania: Bushido RINGS 7: Adrenalinas | April 5, 2003 | 3 | 3:00 | Vilnius, Lithuania | |
| Win | 10–0–1 | Antoine Skinner | Submission (toe hold) | ZST 2: The Battle Field 2 | March 9, 2003 | 1 | 1:35 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 9–0–1 | Mindaugas Laurinaitis | Technical Submission (triangle choke) | ZST 1: The Battle Field 1 | November 23, 2002 | 1 | 2:16 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 8–0–1 | Kenichi Serizawa | TKO (punches) | GCM: Demolition 1 | September 8, 2002 | 1 | 0:20 | Japan | |
| Win | 7–0–1 | Masaya Takita | Submission (triangle armbar) | GCM: ORG 3rd | June 16, 2002 | 1 | 2:32 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 6–0–1 | Yoshinobu Ota | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | RINGS: World Title Series Grand Final | February 15, 2002 | 1 | 1:41 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Win | 5–0–1 | Takahito Iida | Submission (armbar) | RINGS: World Title Series 5 | December 21, 2001 | 1 | 3:02 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Win | 4–0–1 | Hideo Tokoro | Decision (majority) | RINGS: Battle Genesis Vol. 8 | September 21, 2001 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 3–0–1 | Jiro Wakabayashi | Draw | RINGS: World Title Series 1 | April 20, 2001 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 3–0 | Curtis Brigham | Submission (kimura) | RINGS USA: Battle of Champions | March 17, 2001 | 2 | 1:59 | Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Tashiro Nishiuchi | Submission (armbar) | RINGS: Battle Genesis Vol. 6 | September 5, 2000 | 1 | 0:32 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 1–0 | Kiyohito Sugata | TKO (doctor stoppage) | RINGS: Battle Genesis Vol. 6 | September 5, 2000 | 1 | 0:42 | Tokyo, Japan | |