Takashi Satō (佐藤天, Satō Takashi, born June 9, 1990) is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competes in the Welterweight division. A professional since 2013, he is most notable for his time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Takashi Satō
Born (1990-06-09) June 9, 1990 (age 34)
Tokyo, Japan[1]
Other namesTen
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
DivisionWelterweight
Reach73 in (185 cm)
StyleJudo
StanceSouthpaw
Fighting out ofTokyo, Japan
TeamTribe Tokyo MMA
Sanford MMA[2]
TrainerHenri Hooft
Rank2nd dan black belt in Judo[3]
Years active2013–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total22
Wins15
By knockout11
By submission2
By decision2
Losses7
By knockout2
By submission3
By decision2
UniversitySenshu University[4]
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Early life

edit

Born to a Japanese father and Taiwanese mother,[5] Sato grew up in Shinjuku, Tokyo, with his parents and older brother. He was a big fan of reading comics just like many other Japanese children. However one day, his older brother accidentally threw them all out. Sato says he cried the whole day until the following day his father felt very bad and came home from work with a new comic based on a kid becoming a judo champion. This then inspired Sato to pursue Judo and he used to train at the local police station.[6]

Mixed martial arts career

edit

Japan

edit

Sato started his MMA career fighting in various promotions in Japan. Sato then fought for Pancrase and Deep promotions in Japan.[7] He earned a Pancrase title shot but lost to Glaico França. Sato earned the opportunity to fight in the UFC after beating former UFC fighter Matt Vaile.[8]

Ultimate Fighter Championship

edit

Sato signed with the UFC on April 2, 2019, and made his UFC debut on April 27, 2019, against Ben Saunders at UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson.[9] After being tagged by Saunders early, Sato won the fight by knockout.[10]

Sato's next Fight was against Belal Muhammad on September 7, 2019, in the United Emirates at UFC 242.[11] Sato lost by rear-naked choke in the third round.[12]

Sato was scheduled to face Maki Pitolo at UFC Fight Night 168 on February 23, 2020. However, Pitolo was unable to make weight and the bout was scrapped from the card.[13]

Sato was scheduled to face Ramiz Brahimaj on June 27, 2020[14] at UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker but the fight was scratched due to one of Brahimaj's cornermen testing positive for COVID-19.[15] Two days before the fight, Sato's opponent was switched to UFC newcomer Jason Witt.[16] Sato won the fight via knock out in 48 seconds in round one.[1][17]

Sato was scheduled to face Daniel Rodriguez on August 22, 2020, at UFC on ESPN 15.[18] However, despite making the required weight, Sato was not cleared to fight by Nevada State Athletic Commission medical personnel and was removed from the card.[19] Later, Sato revealed that a skin infection in his torso was the reason for the removal.[20]

As the last fight of his contract, Sato faced Miguel Baeza on November 28, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Smith vs. Clark.[21][20] He lost the fight via second round arm-triangle choke.[22]

Sato returned after more than a one-year hiatus and faced Gunnar Nelson, replacing injured Cláudio Silva, on 19 March 2022 at UFC Fight Night 204.[23] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[24]

Sato faced Bryan Battle on August 6, 2022, at UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill.[25] He lost the fight via knockout in round one.[26]

Sato faced Themba Gorimbo on May 20, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 223.[27] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[28]

On June 8, it was announced that Sato was not extended a new contract and was no longer on the UFC roster.[29]

Mixed martial arts record

edit
Professional record breakdown
22 matches 15 wins 7 losses
By knockout 11 2
By submission 2 3
By decision 2 2
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 15–7 Themba Gorimbo Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill May 20, 2023 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 15–6 Bryan Battle KO (head kick) UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill August 6, 2022 1 0:44 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 15–5 Gunnar Nelson Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall March 19, 2022 3 5:00 London, England
Loss 15–4 Miguel Baeza Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC on ESPN: Smith vs. Clark November 28, 2020 2 4:28 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 15–3 Jason Witt TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker June 27, 2020 1 0:48 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 14–3 Belal Muhammad Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 242 September 7, 2019 3 1:55 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 14–2 Ben Saunders TKO (punches and elbows) UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson April 27, 2019 2 1:18 Sunrise, Florida, United States
Win 13–2 Matt Vaile TKO (punches) Pancrase 300 October 21, 2018 2 3:35 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 12–2 Glaico França Submission (rear-naked choke) Pancrase 297 July 1, 2018 4 1:15 Tokyo, Japan For the vacant Pancrase Welterweight Championship.
Win 12–1 Masayuki Hamagishi TKO (elbows and punches) GRANDSLAM 7 March 25, 2018 2 3:59 Tokyo, Japan
Win 11–1 Akihiro Murayama TKO (punches) Pancrase 292 December 10, 2017 1 0:52 Tokyo, Japan
Win 10–1 Kenta Takagi TKO (punches) Pancrase 289 August 20, 2017 1 4:15 Tokyo, Japan
Win 9–1 Anton Radman TKO (knee) Pancrase 286 April 23, 2017 1 3:43 Tokyo, Japan
Win 8–1 Eric Michael Fought Decision (split) Pancrase 273 December 13, 2015 3 3:00 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 7–1 Kenta Takagi TKO (punch) Pancrase 269 August 8, 2015 1 2:27 Tokyo, Japan
Win 7–0 Yusaku Tsukumo TKO (doctor stoppage) DEEP 72 Impact May 16, 2015 1 2:09 Tokyo, Japan
Win 6–0 Vyron Phillips Decision (unanimous) Pancrase 265 March 15, 2015 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 5–0 Hidetora TKO (punches) DEEP DREAM Impact December 31, 2014 1 4:21 Saitama, Japan
Win 4–0 Yasuaki Miura TKO (punch) TTF Challenge 03 November 2, 2014 1 0:29 Tokyo, Japan
Win 3–0 Genpei Hayashi TKO (punches) Pancrase 260 August 10, 2014 1 2:51 Tokyo, Japan
Win 2–0 Makoto Kawawa Submission (rear-naked choke) Pancrase 258 May 11, 2014 3 2:36 Tokyo, Japan
Win 1–0 Joe Proctor Submission (arm-triangle choke) Pancrase Bayside Fight 2 December 31, 2013 1 2:31 Yokohama, Japan

[30]

See also

edit
edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Andrew McNicol (June 28, 2020), Sato shrugs off coronavirus drama, South China Morning Post
  2. ^ Nissi Icasiano (June 28, 2020). "Takashi Sato scores quickfire KO win at UFC on ESPN 12". asianmma.com.
  3. ^ "Takashi Sato | UFC". UFC.com. 25 March 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  4. ^ Hinjuku, Japan's Takashia Sato knocks out Jason Witt at UFC Vegas 4, Conandaily, 28 June 2020
  5. ^ "I have half the blood of Taiwanese. I am as proud of having Taiwanese blood as I am proud of being Japanese".
  6. ^ "佐藤天 Takashi Sato on Instagram: "I started an online English lesson.😂☝🏻 実はオンライン英会話を始めまして、そこから英語で自分のストーリーを英語で話すことになりました!😂笑..."". Instagram. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  7. ^ Thomas Gerbasi (April 26, 2019). "Takashi Sato now where he's always wanted to be". UFC.com.
  8. ^ Trent Reinsmith (September 2, 2019), "Can Taskashi Sato keep moving up Welterweight rankings?", Forbes
  9. ^ Trent Reinsmith (April 27, 2019), "How to watch Glover Teixeira ca Io Cutelaba", Forbes
  10. ^ Adam Martin (April 27, 2019), Fight Night 150 Results, Sherdog
  11. ^ Belal Muhammad s Takashi Sato, MMA Junkie, September 7, 2019
  12. ^ Anderson, Jay (2020-06-29). "UFC 242 Results: Belal Muhammad Wraps Up Win Over Takeshi Sato With Third-Round Submission". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  13. ^ Jesse Holland (February 21, 2020). "UFC cancels Auckland fight following unexpected illness". mmamania.com.
  14. ^ Farah Hannoun (June 19, 2020), Ramiz Brahimaj vs Takashi Sato, MMA Junkie
  15. ^ Cassandra Negley (June 26, 2020), Ramiz Brahimaj removed from UFC debut after cornerman tests positive for COVID-19, Yahoo Sports
  16. ^ Jay Pettry (June 26, 2020), Jason Witt In Against Takashi Sato After Ramiz Brahimaj's Corner Tests Positive for COVID-19, Sherdog
  17. ^ Thomas Albano (June 28, 2020), Takashi Sato spoils Jason Witts Cinderella story, Fansided
  18. ^ Farah Hannoun and Nolan King (2020-07-22). "Daniel Rodriguez vs. Takashi Sato joins UFC's Aug. 22 lineup". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  19. ^ Staff (2020-08-21). "With opponents out, Dwight Grant and Daniel Rodriguez now open UFC on ESPN 15 main card". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  20. ^ a b John Hyon Ko (November 25, 2020). Takashi Sato looks to finish Miguel Baeza, earn new UFC deal. South China Morning Post – via Youtube.
  21. ^ DNA, MMA (2020-11-07). "BREAKING: Miguel Baeza vs. Takashi Sato toegevoegd aan UFC evenement op 28 november". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2020-11-07.
  22. ^ McClory, Mike (2020-11-28). "UFC Vegas 15 Results: Miguel Baeza Earns Another Finish with Sub of Takashi Sato". cagesidepress. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  23. ^ Damon Martin (2022-03-07). "Gunnar Nelson now expected to face Takashi Sato at UFC London card". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  24. ^ Behunin, Alex (2022-03-19). "UFC London: Gunnar Nelson Defeats Takashi Sato Via Unanimous Decision After A Two Year Layoff". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  25. ^ Mike Heck (2022-06-13). "TUF 28 champ Bryan Battle drops to welterweight, faces Takashi Sato at Aug. 6 UFC event". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  26. ^ Anderson, Jay (2022-08-06). "UFC Vegas 59: Bryan Battle Announces Welterweight Arrival with Crushing Head Kick on Takashi Sato". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
  27. ^ "Two Competitive Fights Added To May 20 Fight Night | UFC". www.ufc.com. 2023-05-05. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  28. ^ Theodosi, Jamie (2023-05-20). "UFC Vegas 73: Gorimbo Grinds Out Unanimous Decision Win Over Takashi Sato". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  29. ^ "8 more UFC fighters removed, just days after recent roster purge". Bloody Elbow. 2023-06-09. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  30. ^ Sherdog.com. "Takashi". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-08-07.