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Yusuke Fujimoto
Born Fujimoto Yūsuke
(1975-07-22) July 22, 1975 (age 49)
Kyoto, Japan
Native name 藤本 祐介
Other names Bun Bun Maru
Nationality Japan Japanese
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 98 kg (216 lb; 15.4 st)
Division Heavyweight
Style Seidokaikan
Team Monster Factory
Years active 11 (1999–2010)
Kickboxing record
Total 45
Wins 27
By knockout 13
Losses 17
By knockout 15
No contests 1
last updated on: December 11, 2010

Yusuke Fujimoto (Japanese: 藤本祐介 [ɸɯʑiꜜmoto juꜜːsɯ̥ke]; born July 22, 1975) is a Japanese former heavyweight kickboxer who competed in K-1 and was the K-1 World GP 2007 in Hong Kong tournament champion. He is nicknamed "Bun Bun Maru" because of his tendency to throw big, swinging punches, and is distinguishable by his bald head and lack of eyebrows. He holds notable victories over Musashi, Dewey Cooper, and Francois Botha.

Career

Fujimoto made his professional kickboxing debut at K-1 Rising 2000 on January 25, 2000 and scored a second round TKO victory over Masanobu Yamanaka. He briefly stepped down to amateur status the same year, winning the Monster Challenge 2000 K-2 Tournament via decision over the returning Yamanaka. This was the only championship Fujimoto would win for some time: he entered four regional tournaments within the following three years but was regularly defeated, advancing no further than the last match of the K-1 Survival 2003 Japan Grand Prix Final.

At K-1 Burning 2004, Fujimoto broke his right arm during a match with Montanha Silva. The injury kept him out of competition for 14 months. He returned to fight Carter Williams at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Las Vegas, but was injured again when Williams broke his nose, ending the match via no contest. Fujimoto later made it to the finals of the K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Hawaii but was knocked out by Gary Goodridge.

The following year saw a change in Fujimoto’s fortune. On June 3, he bested ssireum wrestler Dong-wook Kim, karateka Tsuyoshi Nakasako, and Olympic judoka Kim Min-soo to win the K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Seoul – becoming the first Japanese K-1 competitor to win an overseas tournament. His victory brought him to the K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Osaka opening round, where he fought the legendary Ernesto Hoost to a third round KO loss. In March 2007, he entered a tournament to determine the first K-1 Heavyweight Champion and met Musashi in the semifinals at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Yokohama. In one of the most significant wins of his career, Fujimoto exercised great timing and reach over the two-time WGP runner-up, eventually securing a TKO with a kick to the head. He subsequently met Badr Hari at the finals and suffered a KO loss within the first minute of the opening round.

Later that year, Fujimoto won the K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Hong Kong – his second regional tournament. It was a controversial event, with Fujimoto losing his semifinal match to Taiei Kin but nevertheless advancing due to Kin suffering a facial injury. Fujimoto entered his finals match to conspicuous silence from the crowd, but eventually elicited cheers upon defeating sanshou champion Wang Qiang. Fujimoto subsequently reached the WGP final elimination for a second time but forfeited to opponent Junichi Sawayashiki following multiple knockdowns.

Fujimoto lost his only 2008 bout to karate champion Ewerton Teixeira after breaking his right arm for a second time. He was out of action for over a year, and declared on his personal blog to be considering withdrawal from kickboxing. These considerations proved concrete, as Fujimoto engaged in his retirement match on November 3, 2009 – defeating Junpei Hamada by unanimous decision at the Japan-Korea International Martial Arts Competition. Over a year later, he fought an additional retirement bout for K-1 so as to bid farewell to the company responsible for his career. On December 10 at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final, Fujimoto competed against Hesdy Gerges. Over 8 inches (22 cm) shorter than his opponent and considerably less muscular than his norm, he was knocked down three times in the first round and lost via TKO. After the bout, a retirement ceremony commenced wherein Fujimoto received flowers from his family and thanked his authorities and fans. He retired with a record of 27 wins, 17 losses, and 1 no contest.

Personal life

Fujimoto claims that his signature look of a bald head and brows is the result of natural causes, stating he suffered from alopecia areata because of stress involved in his participation in martial arts competitions, and decided to shave his head. He had previously suffered from the condition during high school. His eyebrows began growing back in July 2005.

He is an avid bodybuilder and weightlifter, bench pressing a personal best of 140 kilos (308 pounds).

He has a sister, as well as one niece and one nephew. His favorite food is ayu.

Titles

  • Professional
    • 2007 K-1 World Grand Prix in Hong Kong champion
    • 2006 K-1 World Grand Prix in Seoul champion
    • 2005 K-1 World Grand Prix in Hawaii runner up
    • 2005 Japan GP 3rd place
    • 2003 K-1 Japan GP runner up
    • 2002 K-1 Japan GP 3rd place
  • Amateur
    • Monster Challenge 2000 K-2 Tournament Heavyweight Winner

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing record
27 Wins (13 KOs), 17 Losses, 1 No contest
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2010-12-11 Loss Netherlands Hesdy Gerges K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final Super-fight Ariake, Japan KO (right leg kicks) 1 1:41
2009-11-03 Win Japan Junpei Hamada Japan-Korea International Martial Arts Competition: Gladiator Okayama Okayama, Japan Decision (unanimous) 3 3:00
2008-04-13 Loss Brazil Ewerton Teixeira K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Yokohama Yokohama, Japan KO (right cross) 2 Ext R.(5) 2:01
2007-09-29 Loss Japan Junichi Sawayashiki K-1 World GP 2007 final elimination  Seoul, Korea KO (gave up/3 knockdowns) 3 1:34
2007-08-05 Win China Wang Qiang K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Hong Kong Final Hong Kong KO (left hook) 1 2:49
Wins K-1 World GP 2007 in Hong Kong Tournament.
2007-08-05 Loss Japan Taiei Kin K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Hong Kong Semi-final Hong Kong KO (Knee attack) 2 1:59
Yusuke Fujimoto replaced Taiei Kin in the final as Taiei Kin was unable to continue due to an injury.
2007-08-05 Win China Shi Hongjian K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Hong Kong Quarter-final Hong Kong Decision (unanimous) 3 3:00
2007-04-28 Loss Morocco Badr Hari K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii KO (left high kick) 1 0:56
The bout was for the vacant 1st K-1 Heavyweight championship title.
2007-03-04 Win Japan Musashi K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Yokohama Yokohama, Japan KO (left high kick) Ex.1(4) 1:23
Elimination match for challenging the vacant 1st K-1 Heavyweight championship title.
2006-12-16 Loss France Freddy Kemayo K-1 Fighting Network Prague Round '07 Prague, Czech Republic KO 3 2:35
2006-09-30 Loss Netherlands Ernesto Hoost K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Osaka opening round Elimination Fight Osaka, Japan KO (right low kick) 3 2:09
2006-07-30 Win Nigeria Bobby Ologun K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Sapporo Sapporo, Japan Decision (unanimous) 3 3:00
2006-06-03 Win South Korea Min-Soo Kim K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Seoul Final Seoul, South Korea KO (right hook) 2 0:23
Winning the title of K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Seoul tournament.
2006-06-03 Win Japan Tsuyoshi Nakasako K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Seoul Semi-final Seoul, South Korea Decision (Majority 2-0) 3 3:00
2006-06-03 Win South Korea Dong-Wook Kim K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Seoul Quarter-final Seoul, South Korea Decision (unanimous) 3 3:00
2006-04-29 Loss United States Carter Williams K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada Decision (unanimous) 3 3:00
2005-07-29 Loss Trinidad and Tobago Gary Goodridge K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Hawaii Final Honolulu, Hawaii KO (left hook) 3 1:19
The bout was for K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Hawaii tournament title.
2005-07-29 Win United States Marcus Royster K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Hawaii Semi final Honolulu, Hawaii KO (left hook) 1 2:16
2005-07-29 Win United States Scott Junk K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Hawaii Quarter final Honolulu, Hawaii KO (right hook) 3 2:21
2005-06-14 Loss Japan Tatsufumi Tomihira K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Hiroshima Semi-final Hiroshima, Japan KO (right high kick) 1 2:39
2005-06-14 Win Japan Ryu Moriguchi K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Hiroshima Quarter-final Hiroshima, Japan Decision (unanimous) 3 3:00
2005-04-30 NC United States Carter Williams K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Las Vegas Quarter-final Las Vegas, Nevada No contest 1  ?
Match resulted in a No Contest due to an injury to Yusuke Fujimoto - Carter Williams advanced due to the Survivor Rule.
2004-02-15 Loss Brazil Montanha Silva K-1 Burning 2004 Ginowan, Japan KO (right cross) 3 1:04
2003-12-31 Win South Africa Francois Botha K-1 PREMIUM 2003 Dynamite!! Nagoya, Japan Decision (unanimous) 3 3:00
2003-12-06 Win France Matthias Riccio K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Final Opening-fight Tokyo, Japan KO (left hook) 2 2:34
2003-09-21 Loss Japan Musashi K-1 Survival 2003 Japan Grand Prix Final Final Yokohama, Japan Decision (Majority 0-2) Ex 1(4) 3:00
2003-09-21 Win Japan Hiromi Amada K-1 Survival 2003 Japan Grand Prix Final Semi-final Yokohama, Japan Decision (unanimous) 3 3:00
2003-09-21 Win Japan Nobu Hayashi K-1 Survival 2003 Japan Grand Prix Final Quarter-final Yokohama, Japan Decision (Split 2-1) Ex 1(4) 3:00
2003-09-21 Loss United States Eric Esch K-1 Beast II 2003 Saitama, Japan KO (left hook) 1 1:02
2003-06-29 Loss United States Carter Williams K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 in Las Vegas Semi-final Las Vegas, Nevada TKO (right hook/2 knockdowns) 2 2:26
2003-05-03 Win United States Dewey Cooper K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 in Las Vegas Quarter-final Las Vegas, Nevada Decision (Majority 2-0) 3 3:00
2003-04-06 Win New Zealand Kerri Karena K-1 Beast 2003 Yamagata, Japan KO (right cross) 3 1:20
2002-09-22 Loss Japan Tsuyoshi Nakasako K-1 Andy Spirits Japan GP 2002 Final Semi-final Osaka, Japan KO (left hook) 2 2:18
2002-09-22 Win Japan Toru Oishi K-1 Andy Spirits Japan GP 2002 Final Quarter-final Osaka, Japan KO (left high kick) 3 1:47
2002-08-10 Loss New Zealand Rony Sefo Ichigeki Urayasu, Japan KO (right uppercut/3 knockdowns) 1 2:51
2002-07-14 Win Japan Ryo Takigawa K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 in Fukuoka Fukuoka, Japan KO(left cross) 1 3:00
2002-01-27 Win Tonga Cedric Kongaika K-1 Rising 2002 Shizuoka, Japan Decision(unanimous) 5 3:00
2001-08-19 Loss Denmark Nicholas Pettas K-1 Andy Memorial 2001 Japan GP Final Quarter-final Saitama, Japan KO(right low kick) 1 2:57
2001-06-24 Win Japan Noboru Uchida K-1 Survival 2001 Sendai, Japan KO Ex 1R(4) 1:15
2001-04-15 Win Japan Yasuhiro Anbe K-1 Burning 2001 Kumamoto, Japan Decision(unanimous) 3 3:00
2000-11-19 Loss United Kingdom Ricky Nickolson K-1 UK Global Heat 2000 Birmingham, England KO (right hook) 2 0:33
2000-10-09 Win Japan Shinji Yoda K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 in Fukuoka Fukuoka, Japan KO (right low kick) 2 2:54
2000-07-07 Win Japan Issei Nakai K-1 Spirits 2000 Sendai, Japan Decision (unanimous) 3 3:00
2000-03-19 Win Japan Ryo Takigawa K-1 Burning 2000 Yokohama, Japan KO (right cross/3 knockdowns) 2 1:10
2000-01-25 Win Japan Masanobu Yamanaka K-1 Rising 2000 Pro debut fight Nagasaki, Japan TKO 2 0:36
Amateur kickboxing record
5 wins, 0 Losses, 0 Draws
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2000-09-03 Win Japan Masanobu Yamanaka Monster Challenge 2000 Japan Open "The Road to K-1" K-2 Tournament Heavyweight Final Tokyo, Japan Decision (4-0) 1 3:00
Winning K-2 Tournament Heavyweight Championship.
2000-09-03 Win Japan Tatsunori Momose Monster Challenge 2000 Japan Open "The Road to K-1" K-2 Tournament Heavyweight Semi-final Tokyo, Japan KO (left middle kick)
Legend:       Win       Loss       Draw/No contest       Notes

See also

  • List of male kickboxers
  • List of K-1 Events
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