Keito Yamakita

Keito Yamakita (山北渓人) is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the strawweight division of Pancrase and ONE Championship, where he is the reigning Pancrase Strawweight champion.

Early life and background
Yamakita became interested in mixed martial arts while watching Pride Fighting Championships as a child and began wrestling in the fourth grade of elementary school. He continued wrestling while attending the Inabe Sogo Gakuen High School and Senshu University. Yamakita made his mixed martial arts debut while working at a restaurant, but soon quit his job in the food industry to take up a position as a coach at the Toikatu Dojo.

Neo Blood Tournament
On December 12, 2020, it was announced that Yamakita would be one of eight participants in the 2020 Pancrase Neo Blood strawweight tournament. Yamakita faced the 0–2 Masaya Oshiro in the tournament quarterfinals, which were held at Pancrase 312 on February 16, 2020. He won the fight by a first-round technical submission by kimura.

Yamakita faced the debuting Tomoki Otsuka at Pancrase 319 on October 25, 2020, in the penultimate bout of the tournament. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Yamakita advanced to the tournament final, held at Pancrase 320 on December 13, 2020, where he faced the undefeated Taiga Tanimura. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–27, 29–28 and 29–28.

Title run
Yamakita faced Shuto Aki at Road to ONE: Young Guns on February 22, 2021. He won the fight by a second-round knockout. Yamakita took Aki down early on in the second round and finished him with grounded knees at the 2:21 minute mark.

Yamakita faced the sixth ranked Pancrase strawweight contender Tatsuki Ozaki at Pancrase 322 on June 27, 2021. He won the fight by a first-round submission, forcing Ozaki to tap with an armbar near the very end of the round.

Yamakita faced the once-defeated Ryosuke Noda at Pancrase 324 on October 16, 2021. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Two of the judges scored the fight 30–27 in his favor, while the third judge awarded him a 30–26 scorecard. Following this victory, Yamakita was ranked as the third best strawweight in the world by Fight Matrix.

Strawweight champion
His six-fight undefeated streak in Pancrase earned Yamakita a title opportunity, as he was booked to challenge the reigning Strawweight King of Pancrase Daichi Kitakata in the main event of the first part of Pancrase 328 on July 18, 2022. He captured the title by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 48–47 in his favor.

ONE Championship
On February 10, 2023, Yamakita announced that he signed with ONE Championship.

Yamakita faced Alex Silva on March 25, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 8. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Yamakita faced Bokang Masunyane on January 28, 2024, at ONE 165. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Yamakita faced Jeremy Miado on March 1, 2024, at ONE 166. He won the fight by first-round submission via bulldog choke.

Yamakita is scheduled to face Yosuke Saruta on August 3, 2024, at ONE Fight Night 24.

Mixed martial arts

 * Pancrase
 * Amateur All Japan Pancrase Flyweight Championship
 * Pancrase Neo Blood Strawweight Tournament Winner
 * Pancrase Strawweight Championship

Grappling
Freestyle Wrestling
 * 2011 National Junior High School Championship	(−47 kg) Third Place
 * 2011 National Junior High School Selection Championship (−47 kg) Third Place
 * 2014 National High School Selection Championship (−55 kg) Third Place
 * 2014 National Athletic Meet (−50 kg) Runner-up
 * 2016 East Japan Student Autumn Newcomer Championship (−57 kg) Third Place
 * 2017 East Japan Student Spring Championship (−57 kg) Runner-up
 * 2017 National Athletic Meet (−57 kg) Runner-up
 * 2018 East Japan Student Spring Championship (−57 kg) Third Place
 * 2018 East Japan Student Autumn Championship (−57 kg) Runner-up

Jiu-Jitsu
 * 2019 All Japan Nogi Jiu-Jitsu Light Featherweight Advanced Champion
 * 2022 All Japan Nogi Jiu-Jitsu Light Featherweight Expert Championship Third Place
 * 2022 All Japan Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship Blue Belt Light Featherweight Championship