Makoto Takahashi (fighter)

Makoto Takahashi
BornJuly 5, 2000
Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Other namesMakoto Shinryu
Height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight57 kg (126 lb)
DivisionFlyweight
StyleWrestling
TeamParaestra Matsudo
Years active2016–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total20
Wins16
By submission4
By decision12
Losses2
By submission1
By decision1
Draws1
No contests1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Makoto Takahashi (Japanese: 神龍 誠, Takahashi Makoto, born July 5, 2000) is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist who competes in the flyweight division of Deep and Rizin. He is the current Deep Flyweight Champion. A professional MMA fighter since 2016, he has also competed in Bellator MMA and previously, Pancrase and the Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC), the latter in where he is a former Cage Fury Flyweight Champion.

Mixed martial arts career

Deep

After graduating, Takahashi turned professional and made his mixed martial arts debut at Pancrase on April 24, 2016, winning by unanimous decision. He then rose to prominence with a seven-bout undefeated streak.

On April 28, 2018, Takahashi faced defending champion Ryuko Wada in a DEEP flyweight title match at DEEP 83 IMPACT. He lost his first bout by unanimous decision.

On June 29, 2019, Takahashi faced Yuya Shibata for the DEEP interim flyweight championship match. He won the bout by unanimous decision to win the interim title and become the youngest champion in DEEP history at the age of 18.

Bellator, Deep, and Rizin

Making his Bellator and Rizin debut, Takahashi faced Yusaku Nakamura December 29, 2019, at Bellator 237. He won the bout by unanimous decision.

Takahashi fought Seiichiro Ito on August 10, 2020, at Rizin 23, which was his first appearance in the RIZIN main tournament. After a fierce match, he won the bout by guillotine choke in the 2nd round.

Takahashi faced interim champion Yamato Fujita on May 8, 2022, at DEEP 107 IMPACT's DEEP flyweight championship unification match. He won the bout with a ninja choke in the third round, successfully defending the title for the first time and unifying the title.

Takahashi faced Hideo Tokoro at Rizin 37 - Saitama on July 31, 2022. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Takahashi faced Diego Paiva for the Cage Fury Flyweight Championship on November 10, 2022, at CFFC 114. He won the bout with a ninja choke in the 4th round, and succeeded in winning the CFFC championship. The finish of this fight was named Submission of the Year among all fights broadcast on UFC Fight Pass at the 2022 UFC Fight Pass Awards.

Takahashi faced Daichi Kitakata on April 1, 2023, at Rizin 41 – Osaka. He won the bout in the second round by arm-triangle choke.

Takahashi competed for the inaugural Bellator Flyweight World Championship at Bellator MMA x Rizin 2 on July 30, 2023, in Saitama, Japan where he faced Kyoji Horiguchi. The bout was declared a no contest after Horiguchi accidentally poked Takahashi in the eye which prevented him from continuing.

Takahashi rematched against Horiguchi, at Rizin 45, on December 31, 2023, this time for the inaugural Rizin Flyweight World Championship. He lost the bout via submission in the second round.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
20 matches 16 wins 2 losses
By submission 4 1
By decision 12 1
Draws 1
No contests 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 16–2–1 (1) Kyoji Horiguchi Submission (rear-naked choke) Rizin 45 December 31, 2023 2 3:44 Saitama, Japan For the inaugural Rizin Flyweight Championship.
NC 16–1–1 (1) Kyoji Horiguchi NC (accidental eye poke) Bellator MMA x Rizin 2 July 30, 2023 1 0:25 Saitama, Japan For the inaugural Bellator Flyweight World Championship. Accidental eye poke rendered Takahashi unable to continue.
Win 16–1–1 Daichi Kitakata Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) Rizin 41 April 1, 2023 2 1:17 Osaka, Japan
Win 15–1–1 Diego Paiva Submission (guillotine choke) CFFC 14 November 10, 2022 4 0:28 Tampa, Florida, United States Won the vacant Cage Fury Flyweight Championship.
Win 14–1–1 Hideo Tokoro Decision (unanimous) Rizin 37 July 31, 2022 3 5:00 Saitama, Japan
Win 13–1–1 Yamato Fujita Submission (ninja choke) Deep 107 Impact May 8, 2022 3 0:53 Tokyo, Japan Defended and unified the Deep Flyweight Championship.
Win 12–1–1 Ryuya Fukuda Decision (unanimous) Deep 104 Impact October 23, 2021 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan Non-title bout.
Win 11–1–1 Seiichiro Ito Submission (flying guillotine choke) Rizin 23 August 10, 2020 2 4:30 Yokohama, Japan Catchweight (130 lb) bout.
Win 10–1–1 Yusaku Nakamura Decision (unanimous) Bellator 237 December 29, 2019 3 5:00 Saitama, Japan
Win 9–1–1 Yuya Shibata Decision (unanimous) Deep 90 Impact June 29, 2019 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan Won the interim Deep Flyweight Championship. Later promoted to undisputed champion.
Win 8–1–1 Chikara Shimabukuro Decision (unanimous) Deep 88 Impact March 9, 2019 2 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 7–1–1 Haruki Nakayama Decision (unanimous) Deep 86 Impact October 27, 2018 2 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 6–1–1 Tatsumitsu Wada Decision (unanimous) Deep 83 Impact April 28, 2018 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan For the Deep Flyweight Championship.
Win 6–0–1 Kota Ishibashi Decision (split) Deep 82 Impact February 24, 2018 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 5–0–1 Hiroki Yamashita Decision (unanimous) Pancrase vs. Deep: Osaka December 24, 2017 3 5:00 Amagasaki, Japan
Win 4–0–1 Yuto Nakamori Decision (majority) Deep 79 Impact September 16, 2017 2 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Draw 3–0–1 Yasutaka Ishigami Draw (majority) Deep Cage Impact 2017 May 13, 2017 2 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 3–0 Takuya Maruoka Decision (unanimous) Deep Cage Impact 2016: DEEP vs. WSOF-GC December 17, 2016 2 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 2–0 Hidemasa Soga Decision (unanimous) Deep 77 Impact August 27, 2016 2 5:00 Tokyo, Japan Flyweight debut.
Win 1–0 Shinichi Maeno Decision (unanimous) Pancrase 277 April 24, 2016 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan Bantamweight debut.

See also