Koji Yoshimoto (Japanese: 吉本光志, Yoshimoto Koji, born February 6, 1980) is a Japanese retired kickboxer and mixed martial artist. A professional competitor between 2000 and 2016, Yoshimoto held the RISE super lightweight title and was the 2007 Pancrase Neo Blood Featherweight Tournament winner.
Kickboxing career
RISE
Super lightweight champion
Yoshimoto was scheduled to fight Yūsuke Sugawara for the inaugural RISE super lightweight title at RISE 60 on November 22, 2009.[1] He won the fight by unanimous decision, after two extra rounds were contested.[2]
After capturing the inaugural title, Yoshimoto faced Naoki in a non-title bout at RISE 63 on April 7, 2010.[3] He lost the fight by split decision, after an extra round was fought. Yoshimoto next faced TURBΦ in another non-title bout at RISE 68 on July 31, 2010.[4] He won the fight by a late second-round knockout, flooring his opponent with a right cross.[5] Yoshimoto faced Yuto Watanabe in his third consecutive non-title bout at RISE 71 on October 3, 2010. He won the fight by majority decision.[6]
Yoshimoto moved down in weight for his next bout, in order to face Yuki for the inaugural RISE lightweight title at RISE 73R on December 19, 2010.[7] He was stopped with low kicks at the 2:09 minute mark of the second round.[8]
Yoshimito faced Yūsuke Sugawara for the second time in his career in his first RISE super lightweight title defense at RISE 74 on February 27, 2011. The fight was ruled a unanimous decision draw.[9]
After making his first title defense, Yoshimoto faced Shohei Asahara at K-1 WORLD MAX 2011 –63 kg Japan Tournament FINAL on June 25, 2011. He won the fight by unanimous decision, after an extra round was fought.[10] Yoshimoto next faced Hiroshi Mizumachi in a non-title bout at RISE 83 on September 23, 2011.[11] He won the fight by unanimous decision. Yoshimoto faced Lee Sung-hyun in another non-title bout at RISE 85 on November 23, 2011. He once again won by unanimous decision.
Yoshimoto faced Yasuomi Soda in his second RISE title defense at RISE 86 on January 28, 2012. He won the fight by unanimous decision.[12] Yoshimoto next beat Raz Sarkisjan by unanimous decision in a non-title bout at RISE/M-1MC ～INFINITY～ on December 2, 2012, before being booked to rematch Yasuomi Soda in his third RISE title defense at RISE 92 on March 17, 2013. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[13]
Later RISE career
Yoshimoto faced Xie Lei at K-1 WORLD MAX 2013 Final on October 11, 2014. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[14] Yoshimoto rebounded from this loss with a decision win against Hanji at K-1 CHINA vs JAPAN on February 1, 2015. Yoshimoto extended his winning streak to two fights with a third-round knockout of Daniel Zahra at RISE 105 on May 31, 2015.[15] This winning streak was snapped by Hiroki Shishido at SHOOT BOXING 30th ANNIVERSARY "CAESAR TIME!" on August 22, 2015, who beat him by a fifth-round technical knockout. Yoshimoto faced Zakaria Zouggary in his retirement fight at RISE 109 on January 31, 2016. He won the fight by a third-round technical knockout.[16]
