Tsuyoshi Kohsaka
From FightWiki
Tsuyoshi "TK" Kohsaka is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist. He has competed in notable mixed martial arts promotions such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), RINGS, and Pancrase. A 4th dan in judo, he holds notable wins over Kimo Leopoldo, Mario Sperry and Egan Inoue. Kohsaka is known for his conditioning and grappling prowess. His "TK guard" is famous for its efficiency and Frank Shamrock and Maurice Smith have both credited him with having vastly improved their work from that particular position.
Technically he is the only man to have ever beaten Fedor Emelianenko. However the cut by which the fight was ended, was made due to an elbow, which was illegal in the competition.
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Name | Tsuyoshi Kohsaka |
| Nickname | TK | |
| Association | X | |
| Weight Class | Super Heavyweight/Heavyweight | |
| Height | 5' 11" (181cm) | |
| Style | Judo, Submission Grappling | |
| Birth Date | March 6, 1970 | |
| Fighting Out Of | X, X | |
| Country | Japan |
Contents |
Professional Record
| Record | 25 - 18 - 2 (Win – Loss – Draw) |
| Wins | 7 (T)KOs 6 Submissions 8 Decisions |
| Losses | 8 (T)KOs 2 Submissions 6 Decisions |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event Title | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | Mark Hunt | TKO (Punches) | PRIDE: Total Elimination Absolute | 5/05/2006 | 2 | 4:15 | |
| Win | Mario Sperry | TKO (Punches) | PRIDE 31: Dreamers | 2/26/2006 | 1 | 1:20 | |
| Loss | Mike Kyle | Decision (Unanimous) | Pancrase: Spiral 8 | 10/02/2005 | 3 | 1:17 | |
| Win | David Shvelidze | Submission (Armbar) | Rings: Lithuania | 8/20/2005 | 1 | N/A | |
| Loss | Fedor Emelianenko | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | PRIDE: Bushido 6 | 4/03/2005 | 1 | 10:00 | |
| Win | Ron Waterman | Decision (Unanimous) | Pancrase: Brave 10 | 11/7/2004 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Ricardo Morais | Decision | NJPW: Ultimate Crush | 10/13/2003 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Sumiyabazar | TKO (Injury) | NJPW: Ultimate Crush | 5/02/2003 | 1 | 2:58 | |
| Loss | Antonio Rogerio Nogueira | Decision (Unanimous) | DEEP: 6th Impact | 9/07/2002 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Ricco Rodriguez | TKO (Punches) | UFC 37: High Impact | 5/10/2002 | 2 | 3:25 | |
| Loss | Bazigit Atajev | Decesion (Majority) | Rings: World Title Series 5 | 12/21/2001 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Koba Tkeshelashvili | KO (Knee) | Rings: 10th Anniversary | 8/11/2001 | 1 | 2:17 | |
| Loss | Renato Sobral | Decision (Majority) | Rings: World Title Series 2 | 6/15/2001 | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Randy Couture | Decision (Unanimous) | Rings: King of Kings 2000 Final | 2/24/2001 | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Mikhail Illoukhine | KO (Punches) | Rings: King of Kings 2000 Block B | 12/22/2000 | 2 | 1:53 | |
| Win | Fedor Emelianenko | TKO (Cut) | Rings: King of Kings 2000 Block B | 12/22/2000 | 1 | 0:17 | |
| Draw | Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira | Draw | Rings: Millenium Combine 3 | 8/23/2000 | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Greg Wikan | Submission (Toe Hold) | Rings USA: Rising Stars Block A | 7/15/2000 | 1 | 2:53 | |
| Win | Travis Fulton | Decision (Unanimous) | Rings USA: Rising Stars Block A | 7/15/2000 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Gilbert Yvel | TKO (Cut) | Rings: King of Kings 1999 Block B | 12/22/1999 | 1 | 1:17 | |
| Win | Chris Haseman | Decision (Split) | Rings: King of Kings 1999 Block B | 12/22/1999 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Pedro Rizzo | TKO (Strikes) | UFC 23: Ultimate Japan 2 | 11/19/1999 | 3 | 1:12 | |
| Win | Gilbert Yvel | TKO (Injury) | Rings: Rise 5th | 8/19/1999 | 1 | 8:17 | |
| Win | Tim Lajcik | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | UFC 21: Return of the Champions | 7/16/1999 | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Yoshihisa Yamamoto | KO | Rings: Rise 3rd | 5/22/1999 | 3 | 0:41 | |
| Loss | Gilbert Yvel | TKO (Doctor Stoppage from a Cut) | Rings: Rise 2nd | 4/23/1999 | 1 | 14:58 | |
| Loss | Bas Rutten | KO | UFC 18: Road to the Heavyweight Title | 1/08/1999 | 1 | 14:15 | |
| Win | Pete Williams | Decision | UFC Brazil: Ultimate Brazil | 10/16/1998 | 1 | 15:00 | |
| Draw | Kiyoshi Tamura | Draw | Rings: Fourth Fighting Integration | 6/27/1998 | 1 | 30:00 | |
| Win | Volk Han | Submission | Rings: Third Fighting Integration | 5/29/1998 | 1 | 10:10 | |
| Win | Kimo Leopoldo | Decision | UFC 16: Battle in the Bayou | 3/13/1998 | 1 | 15:00 | |
| Win | Rob van Esdonk | Submission (Heel Hook) | Rings Holland: The King of Rings | 2/08/1998 | 2 | 0:57 | |
| Loss | Mikhail Illoukhine | N/A | Rings: Battle Dimensions Tournament 1997 Final | 1/21/1998 | N/A | N/A | |
| Win | Borislav Jeliazkov | Decision (Lost Points) | Rings: Mega Battle Tournament 1997 Semifinal 1 | 10/25/1997 | 1 | N/A | |
| Loss | Frank Shamrock | Decision | Rings: Extension Fighting 7 | 9/26/1997 | 1 | 30:00 | |
| Loss | Kiyoshi Tamura | Submission (Toe Hold) | Rings: Extension Fighting 2 | 3/22/1997 | 1 | 13:57 | |
| Win | Mikhail Illoukhine | N/A | Rings: Budokan Hall 1997 | 1/22/1997 | N/a | N/A | |
| Loss | Volk Han | N/A | Rings: Battle Dimensions Tournament 1996 Final | 1/01/1997 | N/A | N/A | |
| Win | Dick Vrij | N/A | Rings: Battle Dimensions Tournament 1996 Opening Round | 10/25/1996 | N/A | N/A | |
| Loss | Volk Han | Submission (Armbar) | Rings: Maelstrom 6 | 8/24/1996 | 1 | 13:52 | |
| Win | Willie Peeters | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | Rings Holland: Kings of Martial Arts | 2/18/1996 | 2 | 0:12 | |
| Win | Maurice Smith | N/A | Rings: Budokan Hall 1996 | 1/24/1996 | N/A | N/A | |
| Win | Egan Inoue | Decision (Unanimous) | Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '95 | 10/13/1995 | 3 | 3:00 | |
| Win | Susumu Yamasaki | Submission (Heel Hook) | Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '95 | 10/13/1995 | 1 | 0:52 | |
| Win | Hiroyuki Yoshioka | TKO (Punches) | Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '95 | 10/13/1995 | 1 | 3:40 | |
| Win | Wataru Sakata | N/A | Rings: Budokan Hall 1995 | 1/25/1995 | N/A | N/A | |
MMA Career
Tsuyoshi Kohsaka won the prestigious Lumox Cup tournament to begin his MMA career, beating out the likes of Akihiro Gono and Egan Inoue. Small heavyweight for a heavyweight, at 215 pounds, Kosaka has also defeated Ron Waterman and Ricardo Morais, both of whom weighed in for their contests against him in excess of 300 pounds. One of his biggest wins arrived late in his career, when he knocked out Brazilian Top Team coach Mario Sperry on the same day of his son's birth.
Fedor Emelianenko Controversy
In 2000, Tsuyoshi Kohsaka scored a controversial "victory" over future PRIDE Fighting Championship heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko in the opening round of the RINGS: King of Kings 2000 tournament. Kohsaka landed an accidental elbow from a missed punch to the forehead of Emelianenko, opening a cut that prevented Emelianenko from continuing. Due to the tournament structure, a winner had to be chosen to advance so Kohsaka was declared the victor. Emelianenko avenged the loss at PRIDE Bushido 6, defeating Kohsaka via TKO.
On October 2, 2005, Kohsaka would lose his Pancrase super heavyweight title to up and comer Mike Kyle. He announced his intentions to retire should he lose any of his matches in 2006. On May 5, 2006, he lost to Mark Hunt at PRIDE Total Elimination Absolute and has not competed in MMA since.
Personal Life
Tsuyoshi Kohsaka now owns and operates a dojo in Japan where he trains his A-Square team along with Hidehiko Yoshida and his stable.
