# Kotaro Yamada

Kotaro Yamada (Japanese: 山田 彪太朗, Yamada Kotaro, born January 18, 2003) is a Japanese kickboxer and the current Shootboxing Japan Featherweight champion.
As of May 2023 he was the #8 ranked bantamweight in the world by Beyond Kick.

## Professional career
### Shootboxing
#### Early career

Yamada made his professional debut against Chihiro Sugiyama at SHOOT BOXING Hanayashiki Extreme.2 on August 24, 2019. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with two judges awarding him a 30–29 and a 30–28 scorecard respectively, while the third judge scored the fight as an even 29–29 draw.
Yamada faced Sojiro at SHOOT BOXING Hanayashiki Extreme.3 on October 27, 2019. He floored Sojiro with a right cross at the midway point of the opening round.
Yamada faced Kanta Tabuchi at SHOOT BOXING 2020 act.2 on November 28, 2020. The fight was ruled a no-contest at the 1:45 minute mark of the first round, due to an accidental clash of heads.
Yamada faced Takuya Kudo at Shoot Boxing 2021 act.1 on February 7, 2021. He won the fight by a first-round knockout. Yamada's four-streak undefeated streak was snapped by Kakeru at Shoot Boxing 2021 act.2 on April 10, 2021, who beat him by unanimous decision, with scores of 29–28, 29–28 and 28–28.
Yamada faced the third-ranked Shootboxing champion Genki at Shoot Boxing 2021 act.3 on June 20, 2021. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 30–29 and one scorecard of 29–29.
Yamada rematched Kanta Tabuchi at Shoot Boxing 2021 act.4 on September 4, 2021, having fought to a no-contest with him a year prior. The fight was ruled a draw after the first three rounds of the bout were contested, with all three ringside officials handing in a 28–28 scorecard. Yamada was declared the winner after an extra fourth round, with two of the judges scoring the fight 10–9 in his favor.
Yamada faced the former Shoot Boxing Japan Bantamweight champion Kyo Kawakami at SHOOT BOXING 2021 Young Caesar Cup on December 19, 2021, in what was the former titleholder's debut at featherweight (-57.5 kg). The fight was declared a draw, with all three judges having scored it 29–29. Kawakami was declared the winner by split decision after an extra fourth round was fought.
Yamada faced Aoshi at Shoot Boxing 2022 act.3 on June 26, 2022. He won the fight by majority decision, with scores of 30–29, 30–29 and 29–29. Yamada next faced DEEP KICK featherweight champion Shuto Miyazaki at Shoot Boxing 2022 act.4 on September 17, 2022. He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout.
Yamada took part in the 2022 Shootboxing Young Caesar Cup Dead or Alive tournament, which took place on November 20, 2022. He advanced to the tournament finals with a clear unanimous decision over Hiroki in the semifinals, as every ringside official awarded him all three rounds of the contest. Yamada captured the tournament title with another unanimous decision victory over Keito Naito in the finals, with three scorecards of 30–25 in his favor.
Yamada faced the reigning RISE featherweight champion Keisuke Monguchi in a non-title, Shootboxing rules, bout at RISE WORLD SERIES / SHOOTBOXING-KINGS on December 25, 2022, a Glory, RISE and Shootboxing cross promotional event. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. Despite being able to score a shoot point over Monguchi in the second round, he suffered two knockdowns in the third round.

#### Featherweight champion

Yamada challenged Kyo Kawakami for the Shoot Boxing Japan Featherweight title at SHOOT BOXING 2023 act.2 on April 30, 2023. He won the fight by majority decision, with scores of 50–49, 50–49 and 50–50.
Yamada faced Autor Muangphapoon at SHOOT BOXING 2023 act.3 on June 25, 2023. He won the fight by a first-round knockout.
Yamada faced Yodtanong Or.Sansuk at SHOOT BOXING 2023 Series Final on November 14, 2023. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–29, 30–28 and 30–28.
Yamada faced Phetsitong Sor.Saknarin at SHOOT BOXING 2024 act.1 on February 10, 2024. He won the fight by a first-round knockout.
Yamada faced Shogo Kuriaki at Shoot Boxing 2024 act.2 on April 13, 2024. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–28, 29–28 and 30–27.
Yamada was scheduled to face Ryusei at KNOCK OUT 2024 SUPER BOUT BLAZE on June 23, 2024. Yamada withdrew from the bout due to a workplace accident that saw him get multiple fingers partially severed.

## Titles and accomplishments
### Professional

* Shootboxing
** 2022 Shootboxing Young Ceaser Cup Tournament Winner
** 2023 Shootboxing Japan Featherweight Championship

### Amateur

* Shootboxing
** 2016 Shoot Boxing All Japan -45 kg Championship

## Fight record

Professional Kickboxing record :
| 19 Wins (7 (T)KOs), 3 Losses, 1 No Contest ||||||||
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time |
| 2025-04-12 | | Kyo Kawakami | SHOOT BOXING 2025 act.2 | Tokyo, Japan | | | |
| Defending the Shoot Boxing Japan Featherweight title. ||||||||
| 2025-02-08 | Win | Ruel Catalan | SHOOT BOXING 2025 act.1 | Tokyo, Japan | TKO (3 Knockdowns) | 2 | 1:27 |
| 2024-12-26 | Win | Ngaopayak Adsanpatong | SHOOTBOXING GROUND ZERO TOKYO 2024 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 |
| 2024-10-13 | Win | Kazuhito | SHOOT BOXING 2024 act.5 | Tokyo, Japan | KO (Left hook) | 1 | 1:18 |
| 2024-04-13 | Win | Shogo Kuriaki | Shoot Boxing 2024 act.2 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 |
| 2024-02-10 | Win | Phetsithong Sor.Saknarin | Shoot Boxing 2024 act.1 | Tokyo, Japan | KO (Left hook to the body) | 1 | 2:49 |
| 2023-11-14 | Win | Yodtanong Or.Sansuk | SHOOT BOXING 2023 Series Final | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 |
| 2023-06-25 | Win | Autor Muangphapoon | SHOOT BOXING 2023 act.3 | Tokyo, Japan | KO (Left hook to the body) | 1 | 1:26 |
| 2023-04-30 | Win | Kyo Kawakami | SHOOT BOXING 2023 act.2 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Majority) | 5 | 3:00 |
| Wins the Shoot Boxing Japan Featherweight title. ||||||||
| 2022-12-25 | Loss | Keisuke Monguchi | RISE WORLD SERIES / SHOOTBOXING-KINGS 2022 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 |
| 2022-11-20 | Win | Keito Naito | Shoot Boxing 2022 Young Caesar Cup Central #31 "Dead or Alive 05", Final | Kasugai, Aichi, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 |
| Wins the Shootboxing Young Ceaser Cup Tournament title. ||||||||
| 2022-11-20 | Win | Hiroki | Shoot Boxing 2022 Young Caesar Cup Central #31 "Dead or Alive 05", Semi Final | Kasugai, Aichi, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 |
| 2022-09-17 | Win | Shuto Miyazaki | Shoot Boxing 2022 act.4 | Tokyo, Japan | TKO (Referee stoppage) | 2 | 2:47 |
| 2022-06-26 | Win | Aoshi | Shoot Boxing 2022 act.3 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Majority) | 3 | 3:00 |
| 2022-02-13 | Win | Kakeru | Shoot Boxing 2022 act.1 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 |
| 2021-12-19 | Loss | Kyo Kawakami | SHOOT BOXING 2021 Young Caesar Cup | Tokyo, Japan | Ext.R Decision (Split) | 4 | 3:00 |
| 2021-09-04 | Win | Kanta Tabuchi | Shoot Boxing 2021 act.4 | Tokyo, Japan | Ext. R. Decision (Majority) | 3 | 3:00 |
| 2021-06-20 | Win | Genki | Shoot Boxing 2021 act.3 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Majority) | 3 | 3:00 |
| 2021-04-10 | Loss | Kakeru | Shoot Boxing 2021 act.2 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Majority) | 3 | 3:00 |
| 2021-02-07 | Win | Takuya Kudo | Shoot Boxing 2021 act.1 | Tokyo, Japan | KO (Right hook) | 1 | 2:18 |
| 2020-11-28 | NC | Kanta Tabuchi | SHOOT BOXING 2020 act.2 | Tokyo, Japan | Doctor stoppage (head clash) | 1 | 1:45 |
| 2019-10-27 | Win | Sojiro | SHOOT BOXING Hanayashiki Extreme.3 | Tokyo, Japan | KO (Right cross) | 1 | 1:45 |
| 2019-08-24 | Win | Chihiro Sugiyama | SHOOT BOXING Hanayashiki Extreme.2 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Majority) | 3 | 3:00 |
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes ||||||||

### Amateur record

Amateur Kickboxing record :
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time |
| 2019-06-02 | Win | Yuuta Matsumoto | KAMINARIMON | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 2:00 |
| 2018-12-16 | Win | Taichi Isogai | Shootboxing 2018 Young Caesar Cup act.5 | Tokyo, Japan | TKO | 2 | 1:05 |
| 2018-10-14 | Win | Kyosuke Takarabe | Shootboxing 2018 Young Caesar Cup act.4 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 2:00 |
| 2018-08-05 | Win | Kengo Sasaki | SHOOT BOXING Young Caesar act.3 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 2:00 |
| 2018-07-22 | Win | Satoshi Ogawa | MuayThaiOpen 42 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision | | |
| 2017-08-06 | Win | Tatsuya Yamahana | Amateur Shootboxing | Tokyo, Japan | KO | | |
| 2017-05-13 | Win | Hayato Misawa | Amateur Shootboxing, Final | Tokyo, Japan | KO | 1 | 1:25 |
| 2017-05-13 | Win | Ren Ogawa | Amateur Shootboxing, Semi Final | Tokyo, Japan | Decision | 2 | 1:30 |
| 2016-12-18 | Win | Takuto Hashimoto | 2016 All Japan Amateur Shootboxing Championship | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Majority) | | |
| Wins All Japan Shootboxing Junior -45kg title. ||||||||
| 2016-10-09 | Win | Ren Ogawa | Shootboxing All Japan Amateur | Tokyo, Japan | | | |
| 2014-12-21 | Loss | Ruka Tagawa | 2014 All Japan Amateur Shootboxing Championship | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 2:00 |
| For the All Japan Shootboxing Junior -40kg title. ||||||||
| 2013-10-13 | Loss | Haruto Yasumoto | Amateur Shootboxing | Tokyo, Japan | Decision | | |
| 2013-02-10 | Win | Ryusei Kashiwagi | Amateur Shootboxing | Tokyo, Japan | KO | 1 | |
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes ||||||||