# Namiki Kawahara

Namiki Kawahara (Japanese: 川原波輝, born 17 July 1989) is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competed in the Strawweight division of ONE Championship. He is the former DEEP Strawweight champion.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

Kawahara made his professional debut at Pancrase Osaka on July 26, 2015, against Tsukasa Zenji. The fight ended in a draw, as neither fighter achieved a stoppage inside the time limit. He won his next fight against Tatsuki Ozaki, which was likewise contested under the Pancrase banner, by unanimous decision.
He moved briefly to DEEP, where he made his promotional debut against Icho Tomonaga at DEEP Osaka Impact 2016. He won the fight by TKO, after just 16 seconds. He next fought Magisa at DEEP Cage Impact 2016 in Osaka, and won the fight by an armbar in the second round.
Returning to Pancrase, Kawahara suffered his first professional loss to Takuya Goto, by split decision.
He rebounded from this loss with a first-round TKO of Noriyuki Takei at DEEP Osaka Impact. He was then scheduled to fight Yutaro Muramoto at DEEP Cage Impact 2017, whom he beat by a second-round TKO.
His next fight was against Yuya Kodama at DEEP 80. The fight ended in a no-contest, as Kawahara landed an accidental low blow which rendered Kodama unable to continue. His next fight against Yutaro Muramoto, at DEEP 85, ended in a majority draw.
Following this four-fight unbeaten streak, Kawahara was scheduled to fight Haruo Ochi at DEEP 88 for the DEEP Strawweight title. Ochi won the fight by unanimous decision.
After his failed title bid, Kawahara was scheduled to make his RIZIN debut at Rizin 16 - Kobe, when he was scheduled to fight Takaki Soya. Soya won the fight by a first-round TKO.

### DEEP title reign

Kawahara was scheduled to fight Jun Nakamura in a Pancrase and DEEP cross-promotional event, in a DEEP Strawweight title eliminator. Kawahara won the fight by a first-round TKO. After beating Nakamura, Kawahara was scheduled to once again challenge for the DEEP Strawweight title, in a rematch with Haruo Ochi. He beat Ochi by a second-round submission, locking in a rear-naked choke in the dying seconds of the second round. It was the highest profile victory of Kawahara's career up to that point.
Following his win against Haruo Ochi, and prior to signing with ONE Championship, Fight Matrix ranked him as the second best strawweight in the world.

### ONE Championship

Kawahara then made his ONE Championship debut at ONE Championship: Unbreakable, being scheduled to fight Lito Adiwang as a late notice replacement for Hexigetu. Adiwang won the fight by a second-round TKO.
Kawahara was booked to face Danial Williams at ONE 156 on April 22, 2022. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

## Championships and accomplishments

* DEEP
** DEEP Strawweight championship (One time, former)
* eFight.jp
** August 2020 Fighter of the Month

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 17 matches | 9 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 4 | 2 |
| By submission | 2 | 1 |
| By decision | 3 | 3 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No contests | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 9–6–1 (1) | Charlie Falco | Decision (unanimous) | Cage Warriors Academy South East 36 | October 5, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Colchester, England | Won the CWSE Strawweight Championship. |
| Loss | 8–6–1 (1) | Haruo Ochi | Submission (guillotine choke) | DEEP Tokyo Impact 2024 3rd Round | May 26, 2024 | 1 | 1:59 | Tokyo, Japan | Lost the DEEP Strawweight championship. |
| Win | 8–5–1 (1) | Anthony Do | Decision (unanimous) | Urijah Faber's A1 Combat 19 | March 29, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Wheatland, California, United States | Return to Strawweight. Won the vacant A1C Strawweight Championship. |
| Loss | 7–5–1 (1) | Danial Williams | Decision (unanimous) | ONE 156 | April 22, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Loss | 7–4–1 (1) | Lito Adiwang | KO (punch) | ONE: Unbreakable | January 22, 2021 | 2 | 2:02 | Kallang, Singapore | Flyweight debut. |
| Win | 7–3–1 (1) | Haruo Ochi | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Deep 96 Impact | 23 August 2020 | 2 | 4:43 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the DEEP Strawweight championship. |
| Win | 6–3–1 (1) | Jun Nakamura | KO (punch) | Deep & Pancrase: Osaka Tournament | November 17, 2019 | 1 | 1:54 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 5–3–1 (1) | Takaki Soya | KO (punch) | Rizin 16 - Kobe | June 2, 2019 | 1 | 4:02 | Kobe, Japan | |
| Loss | 5–2–1 (1) | Haruo Ochi | Decision (unanimous) | Deep 88 Impact | March 9, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | For the DEEP Strawweight championship. |
| Draw | 5–1–1 (1) | Yutaro Muramoto | Draw (majority) | Deep 85 Impact | August 26, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| NC | 5–1 (1) | Yuya Kodama | NC (accidental groin kick) | Deep 80 Impact | October 21, 2017 | 1 | 4:06 | Tokyo, Japan | Accidental groin kick rendered Kodama unable to continue. |
| Win | 5–1 | Yutaro Muramoto | KO (knee and punches) | Deep: Cage Impact 2017 in Korakuen Hall | July 15, 2017 | 2 | 1:42 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 4–1 | Noriyuki Takei | TKO (punches) | Deep Osaka Impact 2017 | March 20, 2017 | 1 | 4:24 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Loss | 3–1 | Takuya Goto | Decision (split) | Pancrase Osaka | December 11, 2016 | 3 | 3:00 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Win | 3–0 | Magisa Magisa | Submission (armbar) | Deep: Cage Impact 2016 in Osaka | October 9, 2016 | 2 | 1:25 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Win | 2–0 | Icho Tomonaga | TKO (punches) | Deep Osaka Impact 2016 | March 21, 2016 | 1 | 0:16 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Win | 1–0 | Tatsuki Ozaki | Decision (unanimous) | Pancrase Osaka | December 23, 2015 | 3 | 3:00 | Osaka, Japan | |

### Amateur mixed martial arts record

| Amateur record breakdown | Amateur record breakdown | |
| 3 matches | 3 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 3 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location |
| Win | 3–0 | Ryoma Uemura | TKO (punches) | JML Kansai 12 | 17 May 2015 | 1 | 1:14 | Osaka, Japan |
| Win | 2–0 | Yuki Doi | TKO (referee stoppage) | JML Kansai 11 | 15 February 2015 | 1 | 2:46 | Osaka, Japan |
| Win | 1–0 | Naoto Arimura | TKO (referee stoppage) | JML Kansai 11 | 15 February 2015 | 1 | 0:58 | Osaka, Japan |