Hiromasa Ougikubo

Hiromasa Ougikubo (扇久保 博正) is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing as a flyweight in the Rizin Fighting Federation. A professional since 2006, he has also competed for Shooto, Vale Tudo Japan, and The Ultimate Fighter.

He is the former Shooto World Bantamweight (123 lb) Champion, a former Shooto Featherweight Champion and the 2014 Vale Tudo Japan flyweight tournament champion. As an amateur, he was the 12th All Japan Amateur Shooto Featherweight tournament champion and the 4th Tohoku Amateur Shooto Open Tournament champion.

He holds notable wins over the former ONE Championship and Shooto strawweight champion Yosuke Saruta, the former Pancrase Flyweight Champion Kiyotaka Shimizu, the current Pancrase Bantamweight Champion Shintaro Ishiwatari, as well as wins over Alexandre Pantoja and Adam Antolin.

Shooto
Hiromasa Ougikubo began his mixed martial arts career in 2005, as an amateur in Shooto. He first competed in the East Japan Amateur Shooto Freshman tournament, where he lost the finals. Following that loss he entered and won the 4th Tohoku Amateur Shooto Open Tournament. His last amateur appearance was at the 12th All Japan Amateur Shooto Featherweight Championship Tournament. Ougikubo defeated all four of his opponents to win the tournament.

Ougikubo made his professional debut with Shooto in 2006, when he defeated Nobuhiro Hayakawa by a unanimous decision. After a draw against Naoki Yahagi, Ougikubo would beat Satoru Ota and Kazuya Tamura to set up a fight in the Shooto Rookie Featherweight tournament finals fight against Yasuhiro Kanayama. He won the bout in the second round by way of a rear naked choke.

Over the next five years, Ougikubo would accumulate a 5-2-1 record, most notably losing to the future Shooto Featherweight Champion Koetsu Okazaki, and winning the Shooto Pacific Rim featherweight title by defeating Teriyuki Matsumoto. In 2012, at Shooto 5th Round, Ougikubo would get a chance to avenge that loss. Hiromasa would win the fight in the third minute of the third round, by way of a rear naked choke, in what was considered, at the time, a major upset. His first title defense was scheduled against the young prospect Kyoji Horiguchi. Horiguchi would defend or reverse the takedowns, deliver ground and pound from the guard, and would eventually submit Ougikubo in the second round.

Looking to bounce back, Ougikubo entered the 2014 Vale Tudo Japan Flyweight tournament. In the quarterfinals he defeated Takeshi Kasugai by a majority decision. In the semifinals he submitted Kana Hyatt in the first round. Proceeding to the finals against Czar Sklavos, Ougikubo came out the victor after 25 minutes, being declared the tournament champion, by a clear unanimous decision.

Returning to Shooto he was scheduled to face Mamoru Yamaguchi. The fight had to cancelled, after Ougikubo dislocated his shoulder.

His next fight was scheduled against Yosuke Saruta, which he won by a unanimous decision. This gave him his second chance at Shooto gold, as he was set to fight the bantamweight champion Masaaki Sugawara. He won the fight in the last seconds of the fifth round by a guillotine choke.

The Ultimate Fighter
Considered a standout fighter in the Asian MMA scene, with an impressive fight style and being undefeated in three years, Ougikubo was invited to the 24th season of The Ultimate Fighter, called The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions.

His first fight was against the EFC flyweight champion Nkazimulo Zulu. Ougikubo entered the fight as a favorite, being the no.5 seed, while Zulu was the no.12 seed. Ougikubo submitted Zulu in the second round, with a rear naked choke.

Next, he faced Adam Antolin, in a fight between two high level grapplers. Ougikubo would aggressively out grapple Antolin, with the American being forced to defend for the entirety of the fight. The Japanese fighter won a clear unanimous decision.

Ougikubo would then face the no.1 seed Alexandre Pantoja. He would force wrestling exchanges with Pantoja, working from his opponents guard, grinding away a unanimous decision win.

In his final fight of the show, Ougikubo fought against Tim Elliott. He fell short for the first time, and lost the finals by a unanimous decision.

Return to Shooto
Returning to Shooto he fought against the Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Danny Martinez. Ougikubo won a unanimous decision.

He would then defend the Shooto World Bantamweight (123 lb) Championship against Tadaaki Yamamoto. He won the fight with a rear naked choke to defend his Shooto title.

Rizin Fighting Federation
Ougikubo signed with Rizin and made his debut at Rizin 11, when he was scheduled to rematch Kyoji Horiguchi. Horiguchi once again won, this time through a unanimous decision.

Ougikubo fought the former Shooto and ONE Championship champion Yoshitaka Naito in a Shooto exhibition bout. The fight ended in a no contest after just three minutes.

Making his second bantamweight title defense, Ougikubo faced Kiyotaka Shimizu. While the fight saw little action in the first three rounds, Ougikubo managed to cut his opponent with a head kick. In the fourth round a head clash ended the fight prematurely and went to the judge's scorecards. Hiromasa won a unanimous decision to secure his second title defense.

Returning to Rizin, he fought against the former DEEP champion Yuki Motoya. Ougikubo won a split decision.

During Rizin 20, he fought against Shintaro Ishiwatari. He won another split decision.

He fought against Kai Asakura for the Rizin Bantamweight Championship at Rizin 23. He lost via first-round knockout.

Ougikubo was scheduled to fight Kenta Takizawa during Rizin 25. He defeated Takizawa by unanimous decision.

On January 31, 2021, Ougikubo vacated the Shooto Shooto Bantamweight (123 lb) Championship.

Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix 2021
Ougikubo faced Takeshi Kasugai in the opening round of the Bantamweight Grand Prix at Rizin 28 on June 13, 2021. Ougikubo won the fight by unanimous decision. Ougikubo faced Takafumi Otsuka in the quarterfinals on September 19, 2021 at Rizin 30. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

In the semi-finals, Ougikubo faced Naoki Inoue on December 31, 2021 at Rizin 33. He won the fight by unanimous decision, and faced Kai Asakura in the tournament finals, which were held during Rizin 33 as well. He won the bout via unanimous decision, winning the 2021 Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix.

Later Rizin career
Ougikubo was booked to face the Road FC Featherweight champion Soo Chul Kim at Rizin 38 on September 25, 2022. Although he was scrambled from start to finish, he was outnumbered by Kim's punches and suffered two facial fractures, resulting in a 0-3 unanimous decision loss.

Moving down to Flyweight, Ougikubo faced Kyoji Horiguchi at Bellator MMA vs. Rizin on December 31, 2022. Facing Horiguchi for the third time in his career, Ougikubo lost the bout via unanimous decision, making it the third straight loss to Horiguchi.

Stepping in as a replacement for an injured Kai Asakura, Ougikubo faced former Bellator Bantamweight Champion Juan Archuleta for the vacant Rizin Bantamweight Championship title on July 30, 2023, as part of the Bellator MMA x Rizin 2 card. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Ougikubo faced John Dodson on December 31, 2023, at Rizin 45, and won the bout via unanimous decision.

Amateur titles

 * Shooto
 * 12th All Japan Amateur Shooto Featherweight Tournament Championship
 * 4th Tohoku Amateur Shooto Open Tournament

Professional titles

 * Shooto
 * 2007 Shooto Rookie Featherweight Tournament Champion
 * Shooto Pacific Rim Featherweight Championship (One time)
 * Shooto Featherweight (132 lb) Championship (One time)
 * Shooto World Bantamweight (123 lb) Championship (One time)
 * Two Successful Title Defenses
 * Vale Tudo Japan
 * 2014 VTJ Flyweight Tournament Championship
 * Rizin Fighting Federation
 * 2021 Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix Champion
 * eFight.com
 * October 2014 and December 2021 Fighter of the Month

Mixed martial arts record

 * Win
 * align=center|26–8–2
 * John Dodson
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * Rizin 45
 * December 31 2023
 * align=center|3
 * align=center|5:00
 * Saitama, Japan
 * Return to Flyweight.
 * Loss
 * align=center|25–8–2
 * Juan Archuleta
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * Super Rizin 2
 * July 30 2023
 * align=center|3
 * align=center|5:00
 * Saitama, Japan
 * For the vacant Rizin Bantamweight Championship.
 * Loss
 * align=center| 25–7–2
 * Kyoji Horiguchi
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * Bellator MMA vs. Rizin
 * December 31 2022
 * align=center| 3
 * align=center| 5:00
 * Saitama, Japan
 * Flyweight bout.
 * Loss
 * align=center|25–6–2
 * Kim Soo-chul
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * Rizin 38
 * September 25 2022
 * align=center|3
 * align=center|5:00
 * Saitama, Japan
 * Win
 * align=center|25–5–2
 * Kai Asakura
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * rowspan=2|Rizin 33
 * rowspan=2|December 31 2021
 * align=center|3
 * align=center|5:00
 * rowspan=2|Saitama, Japan
 * Won the 2021 Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix.
 * Win
 * align=center|24–5–2
 * Naoki Inoue
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * align=center|3
 * align=center|5:00
 * 2021 Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix Semifinal.
 * Win
 * align=center|23–5–2
 * Takafumi Otsuka
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * Rizin 30
 * September 19 2021
 * align=center|3
 * align=center|5:00
 * Saitama, Japan
 * 2021 Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal.
 * Win
 * align=center|22–5–2
 * Takeshi Kasugai
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * Rizin 28
 * June 13 2021
 * align=center|3
 * align=center|5:00
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * 2021 Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix Opening Round.
 * Win
 * align=center|21–5–2
 * Kenta Takizawa
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * Rizin 25
 * November 21 2020
 * align=center|3
 * align=center|5:00
 * Osaka, Japan
 * Loss
 * align=center|20–5–2
 * Kai Asakura
 * KO (knee and soccer kicks)
 * Rizin 23
 * August 10 2020
 * align=center|1
 * align=center|4:31
 * Yokohama, Japan
 * For the vacant Rizin Bantamweight Championship.
 * Win
 * align=center|20–4–2
 * Shintaro Ishiwatari
 * Decision (split)
 * Rizin 20
 * December 31 2019
 * align=center|3
 * align=center|5:00
 * Saitama, Japan
 * Win
 * align=center|19–4–2
 * Yuki Motoya
 * Decision (split)
 * Rizin 17
 * July 28 2019
 * align=center|3
 * align=center|5:00
 * Saitama, Japan
 * Return to Bantamweight.
 * Win
 * align=center|18–4–2
 * Kiyotaka Shimizu
 * Technical Decision (unanimous)
 * Shooto 30th Anniversary Tour at Korakuen Hall
 * May 6 2019
 * align=center|4
 * align=center|0:40
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Defended the Shooto Bantamweight Championship.
 * Loss
 * align=center|17–4–2
 * Kyoji Horiguchi
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * Rizin 11
 * July 28 2018
 * align=center|2
 * align=center|5:00
 * Saitama, Japan
 * 60 kg catchweight bout
 * Win
 * align=center|17–3–2
 * Tadaaki Yamamoto
 * Submission (rear-naked choke)
 * Professional Shooto 10/15
 * October 15 2017
 * align=center|1
 * align=center|4:26
 * Chiba, Japan
 * Defended the Shooto Bantamweight Championship.
 * Win
 * align=center|16–3–2
 * Danny Martinez
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * Professional Shooto 4/23
 * April 23 2017
 * align=center|3
 * align=center|5:00
 * Chiba, Japan
 * Flyweight bout.
 * Win
 * align=center|15–3–2
 * Masaaki Sugawara
 * Technical Submission (guillotine choke)
 * Mobstyles Presents Fight & Mosh
 * April 23 2016
 * align=center|5
 * align=center|4:48
 * Chiba, Japan
 * Won the Shooto Bantamweight Championship.
 * Win
 * align=center|14–3–2
 * Yosuke Saruta
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * Professional Shooto 11/29
 * November 29 2015
 * align=center|3
 * align=center|5:00
 * Chiba, Japan
 * Win
 * align=center|13–3–2
 * Czar Sklavos
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * VTJ 6th
 * October 4 2014
 * align=center|5
 * align=center|5:00
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Won the VTJ Flyweight Tournament.
 * Win
 * align=center|12–3–2
 * Kana Hyatt
 * Submission (rear-naked choke)
 * VTJ 5th in Osaka
 * June 28 2014
 * align=center|1
 * align=center|1:20
 * Osaka, Japan
 * VTJ Flyweight Tournament Semifinal.
 * Win
 * align=center|11–3–2
 * Takeshi Kasugai
 * Decision (majority)
 * VTJ 4th
 * February 23 2014
 * align=center|3
 * align=center|5:00
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * VTJ Flyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
 * Loss
 * align=center|10–3–2
 * Kyoji Horiguchi
 * Submission (rear-naked choke)
 * Shooto - 2nd Round 2013
 * March 16 2013
 * align=center|2
 * align=center|1:35
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Lost the Shooto Featherweight Championship.
 * Win
 * align=center|10–2–2
 * Koetsu Okazaki
 * Submission (rear-naked choke)
 * Shooto - 5th Round
 * May 18 2012
 * align=center|3
 * align=center|3:32
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Won the Shooto Featherweight Championship.
 * Win
 * align=center|9–2–2
 * Tetsu Suzuki
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * Survivor Tournament Final
 * January 8 2012
 * align=center|3
 * align=center|5:00
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Win
 * align=center|8–2–2
 * Teruyuki Matsumoto
 * Decision (majority)
 * Shooto - Border: Season 3 - Spring Thunder
 * April 3 2011
 * align=center|3
 * align=center|5:00
 * Osaka, Japan
 * Won the Shooto Pacific Rim Featherweight Championship.
 * Win
 * align=center|7–2–2
 * So Tazawa
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * The Way of Shooto 5: Like a Tiger, Like a Dragon
 * September 23 2010
 * align=center|3
 * align=center|5:00
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Loss
 * align=center|6–2–2
 * Eduardo Dantas
 * Submission (rear-naked choke)
 * The Way of Shooto 3: Like a Tiger, Like a Dragon
 * May 30 2010
 * align=center|3
 * align=center|1:21
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Loss
 * align=center|6–1–2
 * Koetsu Okazaki
 * TKO (punches)
 * Shooto - Gig Tokyo 3
 * October 18 2009
 * align=center|2
 * align=center|2:08
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Win
 * align=center|6–0–2
 * Tetsu Suzuki
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * Shooto Tradition 6
 * March 20 2009
 * align=center|3
 * align=center|5:00
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Draw
 * align=center|4–0–2
 * So Tazawa
 * Draw
 * Shooto Tradition 4
 * November 29 2008
 * align=center|3
 * align=center|5:00
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Win
 * align=center|4–0–1
 * Hiroyuki Tanaka
 * TKO (punches)
 * Shooto Tradition 2
 * July 18 2008
 * align=center|1
 * align=center|1:35
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Win
 * align=center|4–0–1
 * Yasuhiro Kanayama
 * Submission (rear-naked choke)
 * Shooto - Rookie Tournament 2007 Final
 * December 8 2007
 * align=center|2
 * align=center|3:35
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Won the Shooto Rookie Featherweight Tournament.
 * Win
 * align=center|3–0–1
 * Kazuya Tamura
 * Submission (rear-naked choke)
 * Shooto - Back To Our Roots 5
 * September 22 2007
 * align=center|1
 * align=center|3:43
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Win
 * align=center|2–0–1
 * Satoru Ota
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * Shooto 2007 - 6/30 in Kitazawa Town Hall
 * June 30 2007
 * align=center|2
 * align=center|5:00
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Draw
 * align=center|1–0–1
 * Naoki Yahagi
 * Draw
 * Shooto - It's Strong Being a Man
 * March 4 2007
 * align=center|2
 * align=center|5:00
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Win
 * align=center|1–0
 * Nobuhiro Hayakawa
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * Shooto 2006 - 10/1 in Kitazawa Town Hall
 * October 1 2006
 * align=center|2
 * align=center|5:00
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * }
 * Shooto - Rookie Tournament 2007 Final
 * December 8 2007
 * align=center|2
 * align=center|3:35
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Won the Shooto Rookie Featherweight Tournament.
 * Win
 * align=center|3–0–1
 * Kazuya Tamura
 * Submission (rear-naked choke)
 * Shooto - Back To Our Roots 5
 * September 22 2007
 * align=center|1
 * align=center|3:43
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Win
 * align=center|2–0–1
 * Satoru Ota
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * Shooto 2007 - 6/30 in Kitazawa Town Hall
 * June 30 2007
 * align=center|2
 * align=center|5:00
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Draw
 * align=center|1–0–1
 * Naoki Yahagi
 * Draw
 * Shooto - It's Strong Being a Man
 * March 4 2007
 * align=center|2
 * align=center|5:00
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Win
 * align=center|1–0
 * Nobuhiro Hayakawa
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * Shooto 2006 - 10/1 in Kitazawa Town Hall
 * October 1 2006
 * align=center|2
 * align=center|5:00
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * }
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * Shooto 2006 - 10/1 in Kitazawa Town Hall
 * October 1 2006
 * align=center|2
 * align=center|5:00
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * }
 * }
 * }

Amateur mixed martial arts record

 * Win
 * align=center|10–1
 * Atsushi Asano
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * 12th All Japan Amateur Shooto Championship
 * September 18 2005
 * align=center|2
 * align=center|3:00
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Won the Shooto Amateur Featherweight Tournament
 * Win
 * align=center|9–1
 * Kazuya Tamura
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * 12th All Japan Amateur Shooto Championship
 * September 18 2005
 * align=center|1
 * align=center|4:00
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Shooto Amateur Featherweight Tournament Semifinals
 * Win
 * align=center|8–1
 * Kobe Takuyaki
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * 12th All Japan Amateur Shooto Championship
 * September 18 2005
 * align=center|1
 * align=center|4:00
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Shooto Amateur Featherweight 2nd Round
 * Win
 * align=center|7–1
 * Akitoshi Mori
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * 12th All Japan Amateur Shooto Championship
 * September 18 2005
 * align=center|1
 * align=center|4:00
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Shooto Amateur Featherweight 1st Round
 * Win
 * align=center|6–1
 * Yuichiro Takase
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * 4th Tohoku Amateur Shooto Open Tournament
 * July 24 2005
 * align=center|2
 * align=center|3:00
 * Tōhoku, Japan
 * Won the Tohoku Amateur Shooto Open Tournament
 * Win
 * align=center|5–1
 * Yoshihiko Matsumoto
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * 4th Tohoku Amateur Shooto Open Tournament
 * July 24 2005
 * align=center|1
 * align=center|4:00
 * Tōhoku, Japan
 * Tohoku Amateur Shooto Open Tournament Semifinals
 * Win
 * align=center|4–1
 * Kikuchi
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * 4th Tohoku Amateur Shooto Open Tournament
 * July 24 2005
 * align=center|1
 * align=center|4:00
 * Tōhoku, Japan
 * Tohoku Amateur Shooto Open Tournament Quarterfinals
 * Loss
 * align=center|3–1
 * Takahiro Ogoshi
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * East Japan Amateur Shooto Freshman tournament
 * July 24 2005
 * align=center|1
 * align=center|4:00
 * N/A, Japan
 * East Japan Amateur Shooto Freshman tournament finals
 * Win
 * align=center|3–0
 * Yuki Yasunaga
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * East Japan Amateur Shooto Freshman tournament
 * July 24 2005
 * align=center|1
 * align=center|4:00
 * N/A, Japan
 * East Japan Amateur Shooto Freshman tournament semifinals
 * Win
 * align=center|2–0
 * Masato Seki
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * East Japan Amateur Shooto Freshman tournament
 * July 24 2005
 * align=center|1
 * align=center|4:00
 * N/A, Japan
 * East Japan Amateur Shooto Freshman tournament 2nd Round
 * Win
 * align=center|1–0
 * Yosuke Ota
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * East Japan Amateur Shooto Freshman tournament
 * July 24 2005
 * align=center|1
 * align=center|4:00
 * N/A, Japan
 * East Japan Amateur Shooto Freshman tournament 1st Round
 * }
 * Win
 * align=center|1–0
 * Yosuke Ota
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * East Japan Amateur Shooto Freshman tournament
 * July 24 2005
 * align=center|1
 * align=center|4:00
 * N/A, Japan
 * East Japan Amateur Shooto Freshman tournament 1st Round
 * }
 * }