# Toby Imada

Timoteo Tobias "Toby" Imada (born April 20, 1978) is a retired American mixed martial artist, grappler and kickboxer of Japanese and Mexican descent. A professional from 1998 until 2013, Imada competed for Bellator, King of the Cage, and the RFA. Imada won the 2009 Submission of the Year award for an inverted triangle choke, defeating Jorge Masvidal.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Bellator

In the first season Bellator Lightweight Tournament, Imada advanced to the finals after defeating Alonzo Martinez and Jorge Masvidal. The upset win over Masvidal was notable for Imada's bizarre inverse triangle choke while Masvidal was standing up. The submission has been acknowledged by many MMA mediums as the Submission of the Year for 2009. He was awarded a Bazzie award from Inside MMA on HDNet for the unorthodox submission victory and Submission of the Year Honors at the World MMA Awards.
At Bellator 12, Imada fought top five ranked Eddie Alvarez for the chance to become the first Bellator Lightweight Champion. Alvarez got the better of the battle and won the fight in the second round via rear-naked choke.
Imada returned to Bellator the following April, entering the Lightweight Tournament for the second time. His first fight was originally to be a rematch against Jorge Masvidal. He was then scheduled to fight against Ferrid Kheder at Bellator 15, but an injury forced Kheder out of the bout. Instead, at Bellator 14 Imada fought James Krause and won via armbar submission. With the win over Krause, Imada moved onto the semi-final round against Carey Vanier. In the second round after Vanier lost his footing, Imada capitalized and applied an armbar that caused Vanier to tap out.
Imada then moved on to the finals taking place at Bellator 22. There, Imada fought Pat Curran in the Season Two Lightweight Tournament finals to see who would advance to fight champion Eddie Alvarez. Curran defeated Imada via controversial split decision. Immediately following the decision, some in the crowd began booing. Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez weighed in on the decision, saying "It was a tough fight. It could’ve gone either way.”
Bellator again signed Imada for their Lightweight Tournament taking place during their fourth season. Imada had his quarterfinal fight at Bellator 36. He was originally set to fight Ferrid Kheder who was overweight and decided to leave the arena and not weigh-in. Imada instead fought replacement Josh Shockley. Imada won the fight in the first round after Shockley verbally submitted from Imada's reverse omaplata. The win moved Imada into the semifinals. In the semifinals Imada fought Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Patricky Freire at Bellator 39. He was knocked out at 2:53 of the first round with a flying knee followed by a left hook.
Imada has also fought professionally in kickboxing. In his most recent bout, he defeated Mostafa Abdollahi by majority decision (27–27, 29–27, 29–27) in a non-tournament bout at the Shoot Boxing World Tournament 2012 in Tokyo, Japan on November 17, 2012.

## Championships and accomplishments
### Mixed martial arts

* Bellator Fighting Championships
** Bellator Season One Lightweight Tournament Runner-Up
** Bellator Season Two Lightweight Tournament Runner-Up
* Total Combat
** Total Combat Lightweight Championship (One time)
* Neutral Grounds
** Neutral Grounds 6 Four-Man Tournament Runner-Up
** Neutral Grounds 13 Four-Man Tournament Runner-Up
* World MMA Awards
** 2009 Submission of the Year vs. Jorge Masvidal at Bellator 5
* Sherdog
** 2009 Submission of the Year vs. Jorge Masvidal on May 1
* HDNet
** 2009 Bazzie Awards: Submission of the Year vs. Jorge Masvidal on May 1
* FIGHT! Magazine
** 2009 Submission of the Year vs. Jorge Masvidal on May 1
* Inside Fights
** 2009 Submission of the Year vs. Jorge Masvidal on May 1

### Kickboxing

* Shoot Boxing
** Shoot Boxing World Tournament 2010 Runner-Up

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 49 matches | 30 wins | 18 losses |
| By knockout | 8 | 4 |
| By submission | 20 | 6 |
| By decision | 2 | 8 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Draw | 30–18–1 | Hiroyuki Takaya | Draw (majority) | Shoot Boxing: Ground Zero Tokyo 2013 | November 16, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Featherweight debut. |
| Loss | 30–18 | James Krause | Decision (unanimous) | Resurrection Fighting Alliance 6 | January 18, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |
| Loss | 30–17 | Luiz Firmino | Decision (unanimous) | CFA 08: Araujo vs. Bradley | October 6, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 30–16 | Sean Wilson | TKO (punches) | C3 Fights: Rumble at Red Rock | August 18, 2012 | 2 | 1:51 | Red Rock, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Loss | 29–16 | Patricky Freire | KO (flying knee and punches) | Bellator 39 | April 2, 2011 | 1 | 2:53 | Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States | Bellator Season Four Lightweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 29–15 | Josh Shockley | Submission (armbar) | Bellator 36 | March 12, 2011 | 1 | 1:36 | Shreveport, Louisiana, United States | Bellator Season Four Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 28–15 | Ludwing Salazar | Submission (armbar) | Fite Nite 14 | November 9, 2010 | 2 | 1:49 | San José, Costa Rica | |
| Loss | 27–15 | Pat Curran | Decision (split) | Bellator 21 | June 10, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | Bellator Season Two Lightweight Tournament Final. |
| Win | 27–14 | Carey Vanier | Submission (armbar) | Bellator 17 | May 6, 2010 | 2 | 3:33 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | Bellator Season Two Lightweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 26–14 | James Krause | Submission (armbar) | Bellator 14 | April 15, 2010 | 2 | 2:44 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Bellator Season Two Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 25–14 | Daisuke Hanazawa | KO (punch) | KOTC: Toryumon | January 30, 2010 | 2 | 0:29 | Okinawa Prefecture, Japan | |
| Loss | 24–14 | Eddie Alvarez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 12 | June 19, 2009 | 2 | 0:38 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | Bellator Season One Lightweight Tournament Final; For Bellator Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 24–13 | Jorge Masvidal | Technical Submission (inverted triangle choke) | Bellator 5 | May 1, 2009 | 3 | 3:22 | Dayton, Ohio, United States | Bellator Season One Lightweight Tournament Semifinal; Submission of the Year (2009). |
| Win | 23–13 | Alonzo Martinez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 1 | April 3, 2009 | 1 | 3:26 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | Bellator Season One Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 22–13 | Jason Meaders | TKO (corner stoppage) | UnleashedFIGHT | October 11, 2008 | 1 | 5:00 | Alpine, California, United States | |
| Win | 21–13 | Shad Smith | TKO (punches) | Total Combat: Nevada | May 10, 2008 | 1 | 2:25 | Laughlin, Nevada, United States | Defended Total Combat Lightweight Championship; Smith tested positive for marijuana |
| Win | 20–13 | Preston Scharf | TKO (submission to punches) | Total Combat 26 | February 16, 2008 | 1 | 4:29 | San Diego, California, United States | Defended the Total Combat Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 19–13 | David Gardner | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Total Combat 22 | August 3, 2007 | 2 | N/A | San Diego, California, United States | Won the Total Combat Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 18–13 | Zach Light | Submission (armbar) | Total Combat 21 | June 8, 2007 | 1 | 2:35 | San Diego, California, United States | Welterweight bout. |
| Win | 17–13 | Randy Velarde | Submission (armbar) | KOTC: Caged Chaos | March 10, 2007 | 2 | 2:23 | Laughlin, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 16–13 | João Cunha | Submission (armbar) | Cage of Fire 5 | January 27, 2007 | 2 | 2:30 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Win | 16–12 | Brandon Adamson | TKO (cut) | TC 18: Nightmare | November 4, 2006 | 1 | 3:00 | San Diego, California, United States | |
| Win | 15–12 | Danny Affleje | KO (punches) | Proving Ground | October 21, 2006 | 1 | N/A | Yuma, Arizona, United States | |
| Loss | 14–12 | Tetsuji Kato | TKO (punches) | FFCF 6: Undisputed | June 21, 2006 | 1 | 0:13 | Mangilao, Guam | |
| Loss | 14–11 | Hermes França | Submission (armbar) | TC 14: Throwdown | May 13, 2006 | 1 | 0:53 | Del Mar, California, United States | Return to Lightweight. |
| Win | 14–10 | Akbarh Arreola | Decision (unanimous) | Total Combat 12 | December 13, 2005 | 3 | 5:00 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Win | 13–10 | Jerimiah Carson | TKO (punches) | Total Combat 11 | December 10, 2005 | 2 | N/A | Yuma, Arizona, United States | |
| Loss | 12–10 | Jake Shields | Decision (unanimous) | Kage Kombat | November 12, 2005 | 3 | 5:00 | California, United States | |
| Win | 12–9 | Tim Carey | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Total Combat 10 | October 15, 2005 | 1 | 2:25 | San Diego, California, United States | |
| Win | 11–9 | Akbarh Arreola | TKO (corner stoppage) | Total Combat 9 | July 30, 2005 | 2 | 5:00 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Loss | 10–9 | Cassio Werneck | Submission (triangle choke) | WEC 15 | May 19, 2005 | 2 | 2:54 | Lemoore, California, United States | Return to Welterweight. |
| Loss | 10–8 | Antonio McKee | Decision (unanimous) | Ultimate Cage Fighting 1 | May 9, 2002 | 2 | 5:00 | Los Angeles, California, United States | Lightweight bout. |
| Loss | 10–7 | Jason Miller | Decision | Xtreme Pankration 2 | April 12, 2002 | 2 | 5:00 | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| Loss | 10–6 | Dennis Asche | Submission (triangle choke) | IFC: Warriors Challenge 12 | April 11, 2001 | 2 | 3:42 | Friant, California, United States | Middleweight debut. |
| Loss | 10–5 | Joe Stevenson | Decision | KOTC 3: Knockout Nightmare | April 15, 2000 | 2 | 5:00 | San Jacinto, California, United States | Lightweight bout. |
| Win | 10–4 | Sean McCaan | Submission (armbar) | IFC: Warriors Challenge 6 | March 25, 2000 | 1 | 2:51 | Friant, California, United States | |
| Loss | 9–4 | Dave Strasser | Submission (armbar) | Neutral Grounds 13 | November 20, 1999 | 1 | N/A | Lakeside, California, United States | Neutral Grounds 13 Four-Man Tournament Final. |
| Win | 9–3 | David Harris | Decision (unanimous) | Neutral Grounds 13 | November 20, 1999 | 3 | 5:00 | Lakeside, California, United States | Return to Welterweight; Neutral Grounds 13 Four-Man Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 8–3 | Brennan Kamaka | Submission (armbar) | Rage in the Cage 2 | October 15, 1999 | 1 | 6:00 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | Lightweight bout. |
| Win | 7–3 | Ken Tonaria | Submission (armbar) | Ready to Rumble | October 13, 1999 | N/A | N/A | Woodland Hills, California, United States | |
| Loss | 6–3 | Steve Heath | Decision (unanimous) | Extreme Challenge 27 | September 18, 1999 | 2 | 5:00 | Fresno, California, United States | Light Heavyweight debut. |
| Loss | 6–2 | Adrian Serrano | TKO (corner stoppage) | Extreme Challenge 27 | August 21, 1999 | 2 | 5:00 | Davenport, Iowa, United States | Welterweight debut. |
| Win | 6–1 | Jason Von Flue | Submission (armbar) | IFC: Warriors Challenge 4 | August 7, 1999 | 2 | 5:08 | Jackson, California, United States | |
| Win | 5–1 | Johnny Molano | Submission (triangle armbar) | Kage Kombat 18 | May 28, 1999 | 1 | 4:03 | United States | |
| Win | 4–1 | Thiago De Fritas | Submission (heel hook) | Neutral Grounds 12 | May 28, 1999 | 1 | N/A | United States | |
| Win | 3–1 | Giovanni Lemm | Submission (armbar) | Neutral Grounds 11 | March 31, 1999 | 1 | 5:01 | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| Win | 2–1 | Ken Kellenberger | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Neutral Grounds 9 | January 10, 1999 | 1 | 0:45 | United States | |
| Loss | 1–1 | Jason Dallas | TKO (punches) | Neutral Grounds 6 | August 2, 1998 | 1 | N/A | United States | Neutral Grounds 6 Four-Man Tournament Final. |
| Win | 1–0 | Lee Cox | Submission (armbar) | Neutral Grounds 6 | August 2, 1998 | 1 | N/A | United States | Neutral Grounds 6 Four-Man Tournament Semifinal. |

## Kickboxing and shootboxing record

Kickboxing Record :
| 5 Wins (2 (T)KO's, 3 decisions), 3 Losses, 0 Draws |||||||||
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location |
| Win | 5-3 | Mostafa Abdollahi | Decision (majority) | Shoot Boxing World Tournament 2012 | November 17, 2012 | 3 | 3:00 | Tokyo |
| Win | 4-3 | Satoru Suzuki | KO (Front Choke) | Shoot Boxing 2012 - Act 3 | June 3, 2012 | 2 | 3:00 | Tokyo |
| Loss | 3-3 | Andy Souwer | Decision (Unanimous) | Shoot the Shooto 2011 | October 9, 2011 | 3 | 3:00 | Bunkyō, Tokyo |
| Loss | 3-2 | Bovy Sor Udomson | Decision (Unanimous) | Shootboxing 2011 - Act 4 | September 10, 2011 | 3 | 3:00 | Koto, Tokyo |
| Win | 3-1 | Hiroki Shishido | Decision (Unanimous) | Shootboxing 2011 - Act 3 | June 5, 2011 | 3 | 3:00 | Bunkyō, Tokyo |
| Loss | 2-1 | Buakaw Por. Pramuk | TKO (Leg Kicks) | S-Cup 2010 | November 23, 2010 | 2 | 2:29 | Bunkyō, Tokyo |
| Shoot Boxing World Tournament 2010 Final |||||||||
| Win | 2-0 | Andy Souwer | Decision (Split) | S-Cup 2010 | November 23, 2010 | 3 | 3:00 | Bunkyō, Tokyo |
| Shoot Boxing World Tournament 2010 Semifinal |||||||||
| Win | 1-0 | Takaaki Umeno | KO (Uppercut) | S-Cup 2010 | November 23, 2010 | 3 | 3:00 | Bunkyō, Tokyo |
| Shoot Boxing World Tournament 2010 Quarterfinal |||||||||
| Legend: Win  Loss  Draw/No contest  Notes |||||||||

## Submission grappling record

KO PUNCHES
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time |
| Loss | Ricardo Morais | Choke | 1998 ADCC World Championships | March 20, 1998 | 1 | 9:22 |
| Loss | Karimula Barkalaev | Choke | 1998 ADCC World Championships | March 20, 1998 | 1 | 3:05 |
| Win | Lafee Al Ajloony | Shoulder Injury | 1998 ADCC World Championships | March 20, 1998 | 1 | 3:46 |