# Kiichi Kunimoto

Kiichi Kunimoto (Japanese: 国本 起一, Kunimoto Kiichi, born May 1, 1981) is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the welterweight division. A professional competitor since 2006, he has also competed for the RIZIN, UFC, Bellator, and Pancrase.

## Background

Born and raised in the Nishinari-ku district Osaka, Japan, Kunimoto was a professional skateboarder from the age of 17 until he was 24, when he began training in mixed martial arts.

## Mixed martial art career
### Early career

Kunimoto made his professional debut in 2006 for Pancrase, losing via knockout. However, Kunimoto would go on to compile a record of 14-5-2 with one no contest and captured the HEAT Welterweight Championship, subsequently defending his title twice, before being signed by the UFC.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Kunimoto was originally scheduled to make his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 34 on June 4, 2014, against Hyun Gyu Lim, but instead faced Luiz Dutra Jr. as Lim was promoted to appear in the main event. Kunimoto won via disqualification due to Dutra Jr. landing multiple elbows to the back of Kunimoto's head in the first round.
Kunimoto made his next appearance at UFC 174 on June 14, 2014, facing Daniel Sarafian. Kunimoto won via rear-naked choke submission in the first round, and earned "Performance of the Night" honors for his performance.
Kunimoto then faced Richard Walsh on September 20, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 52. He won the fight via split decision.
Kunimoto faced Neil Magny on February 14, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 60. He lost the fight via rear=naked choke submission in the third round.
Kunimoto was expected to face Li Jingliang on September 27, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 75. However, Kunimoto pulled out of the fight in late August citing injury and was replaced by returning veteran Keita Nakamura.
After an extended hiatus, Kunimoto was expected to face Warlley Alves on June 11, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 110. However, Alves pulled out of the fight on May 19 and was replaced by Zak Ottow. He lost the fight via split decision.

### RIZIN Fighting Federation

Kunimoto made the move and signed with Rizin Fighting Federation. He made his against Satoru Kitaoka on December 29, 2017, at RIZIN World Grand Prix 2017: 2nd Round in a 75kg catchweight bout. Kunimoto won the fight by unanimous decision.

### Bellator MMA

In April 2019, news surfaced that Kunimoto had signed a contract with Bellator MMA. In his promotional debut, Kunimoto faced Ed Ruth at Bellator 224 on July 12, 2019 and lost the fight via TKO in the second round.
As the sophomore bout of his Bellator tenure, Kunimoto was expected to face Neiman Gracie at Bellator 236 on December 21, 2019. However, Gracie had to withdraw from the bout due to an injury and was replaced by Jason Jackson. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

### Rizin FF

Kunimoto returned to Rizin in order to face Takahiro Kawanaka on November 28, 2021 at Rizin Trigger 1. He won the bout via first-round submission.
Kunimoto then faced Daichi Abe at Rizin 34 – Osaka on March 20, 2022. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
On April 1, 2023 at Rizin 41 – Osaka, Kunimoto lost to Keita Nakamura via second round TKO stoppage after being dropped with a right straight and getting finished with a soccer kick.

## Personal life

Kunimoto and his fiancée have a daughter (born 2019).

## Championships and accomplishments
### Mixed martial arts

* Heat
** HEAT Welterweight Championship (One time; former)
*** Two successful title defenses
* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Daniel Sarafian

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 34 matches | 20 wins | 11 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 3 |
| By submission | 10 | 2 |
| By decision | 7 | 6 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
| Draws | 2 | 2 |
| No contests | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 28–11–2 (2) | Diego Nunes | KO (punches) | Fire Cage FC 1 | February 22, 2025 | 1 | 1:15 | Nilai, Malaysia | For the inaugural Fire Cage FC Welterweight Championship. |
| Loss | 20–10–2 (1) | Keita Nakamura | KO (punches and soccer kick) | Rizin 41 | April 1, 2023 | 2 | 0:49 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Loss | 20–9–2 (1) | Daichi Abe | Decision (unanimous) | Rizin 34 | March 20, 2022 | 3 | 3:00 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Win | 20–8–2 (1) | Takahiro Kawanaka | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Rizin Trigger 1 | November 28, 2021 | 1 | 4:10 | Kobe, Japan | |
| Loss | 19–8–2 (1) | Jason Jackson | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 236 | December 21, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| Loss | 19–7–2 (1) | Ed Ruth | TKO (knee and punches) | Bellator 224 | July 12, 2019 | 2 | 3:49 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Win | 19–6–2 (1) | Ryuichiro Sumimura | Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Rizin 12 | August 12, 2018 | 1 | 4:59 | Nagoya, Japan | |
| Win | 18–6–2 (1) | Satoru Kitaoka | Decision (unanimous) | Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: 2nd Round | December 29, 2017 | 2 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | Catchweight (75 kg) bout. |
| Loss | 17–6–2 (1) | Zak Ottow | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Hunt | June 11, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Loss | 17–5–2 (1) | Neil Magny | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch | February 14, 2015 | 3 | 1:22 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 17–4–2 (1) | Richard Walsh | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson | September 20, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 16–4–2 (1) | Daniel Sarafian | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 174 | June 14, 2014 | 1 | 2:52 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 15–4–2 (1) | Luiz Dutra Jr. | DQ (elbows to back of the head) | UFC Fight Night: Saffiedine vs. Lim | January 4, 2014 | 1 | 2:57 | Marina Bay, Singapore | |
| Win | 14–4–2 (1) | Edward Faaloloto | Submission (armbar) | Heat 27 | July 28, 2013 | 1 | 1:55 | Hyogo, Japan | Defended the HEAT Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 13–4–2 (1) | Fumitoshi Ishikawa | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Heat 26 | March 31, 2013 | 5 | 1:59 | Aichi, Japan | Defended the HEAT Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 12–4–2 (1) | Lee Gyu-myung | Submission (shoulder choke) | Heat 25 | November 18, 2012 | 1 | 4:40 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the HEAT Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 11–4–2 (1) | Son Seong-won | Decision (unanimous) | Heat: Heat 23 | June 23, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Hyogo, Japan | |
| Loss | 10–4–2 (1) | Takenori Sato | Decision (unanimous) | Pancrase: Progress Tour 3 | March 11, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | For the Pancrase Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–3–2 (1) | Yu Shiroi | Submission (guillotine choke) | Pancrase: Impressive Tour 12 | November 27, 2011 | 2 | 0:40 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Win | 9–3–2 (1) | Kengo Ura | Decision (unanimous) | Pancrase: Impressive Tour 4 | May 3, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 8–3–2 (1) | Seiki Ryo | Draw (unanimous) | Pancrase: Passion Tour 7 | August 8, 2010 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 8–3–1 (1) | Tomoyoshi Iwamiya | Draw (unanimous) | Pancrase: Passion Tour 2 | March 22, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Win | 8–3 (1) | Yoshifumi Dogaki | TKO (punches) | Pancrase: Changing Tour 7 | November 8, 2009 | 2 | 0:39 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Win | 7–3 (1) | Hiroki Tanaka | Decision (unanimous) | Powergate: Octave | April 19, 2009 | 2 | 5:00 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Win | 6–3 (1) | Shingo Suzuki | Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Pancrase: Changing Tour 1 | February 1, 2009 | 1 | 3:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 5–3 (1) | Tomoyoshi Iwamiya | Decision (unanimous) | Pancrase: Shining 9 | October 26, 2008 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| NC | 5–2 (1) | Hirotaka Yoshioka | NC (Yoshioka cut by accident headbutt) | Pancrase: Shining 7 | September 7, 2008 | 1 | 2:10 | Osaka, Japan | An accidental headbutt rendered Yoshioka unable to continue. |
| Win | 5–2 | Yu Shiori | Decision (unanimous) | Pancrase: Shining 4 | May 25, 2008 | 2 | 5:00 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Loss | 4–2 | Sotaro Yamada | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Pancrase: Shining 1 | January 30, 2008 | 1 | 1:42 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 4–1 | Yuta Nakamura | TKO (punches) | Pancrase: Rising 7 | September 30, 2007 | 1 | 2:37 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Win | 3–1 | Mike O'Malley | Submission (triangle choke) | Freestyle Combat Challenge 30 | September 1, 2007 | 1 | 2:33 | Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Win | 2–1 | Tim Ager | Submission (armbar) | Freestyle Combat Challenge 29 | August 11, 2007 | 1 | N/A | Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Loss | 1–1 | Masahiro Toryu | Decision (majority) | Pancrase: Rising 1 | February 4, 2007 | 2 | 5:00 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Win | 1–0 | Arito Kishimoto | Decision (majority) | Double R: 3rd Stage | April 29, 2006 | 1 | 5:00 | Osaka, Japan | |

### Amateur mixed martial arts record

| Amateur record breakdown | Amateur record breakdown | |
| 2 matches | 1 win | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 0 | 1 |
| By submission | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 1–1 | Teruyoshi Aoyama | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Pancrase: Blow 8 | October 1, 2006 | 2 | 2:58 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Loss | 0–1 | Masahiro Toryu | KO (head kick) | Pancrase: Blow 2 | March 19, 2006 | 1 | 0:05 | Osaka, Japan | |