Yuji Nashiro (名城裕司) (born September 13, 1983) is a Japanese kickboxer who competes in the welterweight division.

Biography and career

Nashiro was born in Nara City and is the brother of world champion boxer Nobuo Nashiro. He began his martial arts career in Kyokushin karate, in which he was the Japanese and Asian champion in the middleweight division. He was also the amateur Muay Thai champion of Japan.

He made his professional kickboxing debut in 2006 and won his first three fights by knockout before taking a break from the sport for almost three years. He returned at the K-1 World MAX 2010 -70kg Japan Tournament where he was knocked out by Yuichiro Nagashima in the quarter-finals. Following this, he went on to compete in the Krush promotion where he won his first two fights before losing to Yoshihiro Sato.

He returned to the Japan MAX Tournament at K-1 World MAX 2011 -70kg Japan Tournament Final where he caused an upset by winning the tournament. He defeated 2002 World MAX champion Albert Kraus in the quarter-finals and Takafumi Morita in the semis, both by decision, before going on to knock out Yuya Yamamoto in the first round of the final.

On February 25, 2012, he defeated Yukihiko Komiya via majority decision at Big Bang 8 in Tokyo.

Nashiro moved down in weight to compete in the Krush Grand Prix 2013 ~67kg First Class Tournament~ on January 14, 2012, facing Abdallah Ezbiri at the quarter-finals. He came in overweight on his first two attempts and lost by unanimous decision.

He challenged Danilo Zanolini for his HEAT Middleweight (-70 kg/154 lb) Championship at HEAT 27 in Kobe, Japan on July 28, 2013, losing by unanimous decision.

Titles

  • All Japan Kyokushin Open Middle Weight Class Knockdown Karate Champion 2002
  • Middle Asian Kyokushin Middle Weight Class Knockdown Karate Champion 2003
  • K-2 Gloved Karate Kansai Tournament Champion 2006
  • All Japan Glove Karate Competition Champion 2006
  • WMFJ Japanese Amateur Muay Thai Champion
  • All Japan Glove Karate Tournament Champion
  • 2011 K-1 -70kg Japan Tournament Champion

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing record
DateResultOpponentEventLocationMethodRoundTimeRecordNotes
10 wins (6 KOs), 6 losses
July 28, 2013LossBrazil Danilo ZanoliniHEAT 27Kobe, JapanDecision (unanimous)33:0010-6For the HEAT Middleweight (-70 kg) Championship.
January 14, 2013LossFrance Abdellah EzbiriKrush Grand Prix 2013 ~67 kg Tournament First Round~Tokyo, JapanDecision (unanimous)33:0010-5Quarter-finals.
May 27, 2012LossEngland Reece McAllisterK-1 World MAX 2012 World Championship Tournament Final 16Madrid, SpainDecision (unanimous)33:0010-4First round.
February 25, 2012WinJapan Yukihiko KomiyaBig Bang 8Tokyo, JapanDecision (majority)33:0010-3
September 25, 2011WinJapan Yuya YamamotoK-1 World MAX 2011 -70kg Japan Tournament FinalOsaka, JapanKO (punches)13:009-32011 Japan MAX Tournament final.
September 25, 2011WinJapan Takafumi MoritaK-1 World MAX 2011 -70kg Japan Tournament FinalOsaka, JapanDecision (unanimous)33:008-32011 Japan MAX Tournament semi-final.
September 25, 2011WinNetherlands Albert KrausK-1 World MAX 2011 -70kg Japan Tournament FinalOsaka, JapanDecision (unanimous)33:007-32011 Japan MAX Tournament quarter-final.
May 29, 2011LossJapan Kosuke YamauchiKrush Championship Tournament: Round 1JapanDecision33:006-3
January 29, 2011WinJapan Daisuke TsutsumiKrush Championship Tournament: Round 2JapanDecision33:006-2
August 14, 2010LossJapan Yoshihiro SatoKrush.9Tokyo, JapanDecision (unanimous)33:005-2
July 9, 2010WinJapan KentaKrush.8JapanDecision33:005-1
May 27, 2010WinJapan Hiroshi YamauchiKrush.7JapanKO (left high kick)11:574-1
March 27, 2010LossJapan Yuichiro NagashimaK-1 World MAX 2010 –70 kg Japan TournamentSaitama, JapanKO (left hook)10:393-12010 Japan MAX Tournament quarter-final.
June 28, 2007WinJapan HakutoK-1 World MAX 2007 World Tournament Final EliminationTokyo, JapanTKO (three knockdowns)22:463-0
April 4, 2007WinJapan Teppei YasudaK-1 World MAX 2007 World Elite ShowcaseYokohama, JapanKO (left knee)12:122-0
September 23, 2006WinCanada Phil LeierH2H ShockwaveCalgary, Alberta, CanadaKO (right hook)3-1-0
Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest

External links