Satoru Kitaoka

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Profile

Satoru Kitaoka (born February 4, 1980) is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist training out of Nippon Top Team.

He stands 5 ft. 6 in. (168 cm) tall and fights in the lightweight division (154 lbs.).

Kitaoka was the 2008 Sengoku Lightweight Grand Prix Champion and is the current Sengoku lightweight champion.

Pancrase

Satoru Kitaoka made his professional mixed martial arts debut as a welterweight for the Japan based, Pancrase organization on October 31, 2000 against Yoshinori Kawasaki. After ten minutes of fighting, Kitaoka dropped a majority decision to Kawasaki.

Kitaoka achieved his first professional victory in December of that year when he scored a unanimous decision victory over Kazuhito Kikuchi.

In 2001, Kitaoka fought six times amassing a record of 1-1-4 in that time while fighting exlusively in Japan.

2002 began with a disappointing majority decision loss to UFC veteran, Koji Oishi at Pancrase: Spirit 2.

After defeating Kenji Arai in May of 2002, Kitaoka fought three times in the one night as part of Pancrase: 2002 Neo-Blood Tournament. He defeated his first two opponents via decision and toe hold respectively before being knocked cold with a knee by future DREAM competitor, Hidetaka Monma at just five seconds of the first round.

Kitaoka scored a decision win to round out 2002 and then went on to fight four times in 2003 and six times in 2004. Over the two year span, he went 4-2-4, which included a guillotine choke submission victory over Kurt Pellegrino and a decision loss to Katsuya Inoue.

By the end of 2005, Kitaoka was sporting a 13-6-8 record with his highest profile victory being a heel hook submission win over future WEC welterweight champion, Carlos Condit in October.

Kitaoka faced off against Katsuya Inoue in January of 2005 for a second time at Pancrase: Blow 1. This time the two fought to a draw after three rounds.

After splitting his next two fights, Kitaoka went on a five fight win streak which included a guillotine choke submission win over tough British fighter, Paul Daley.

The win streak was snapped however on January 30, 2008 when he went down in a match for the vacant Pancrase welterweight championship via split decision to a familiar opponent in Katusya Inoue.

Sengoku

Shortly after the loss to Inoue, Kitaoka decided to drop to the lightweight division and signed with upstart Japanese organization, World Victory Road's Sengoku promotion.

He made his Sengoku debut at Sengoku: Second Battle where he submitted Ian James Schaffa with a guillotine choke in 50 seconds.

At Sengoku: Fourth Battle, Kitaoka entered the promotion's 2008 Lightweight Grand Prix. In the opening round he faced American, Clay French and quickly submitted him with an achilles lock in just 30 seconds.

With the win, he moved into the semi-finals which would be held on the same night as the final on November 1, 2008 at Sengoku: Sixth Battle. He faced fellow Japanese fighter, Eiji Mitsuoka in what was seen as a 1 vs. 2 match-up. Somewhat surprisingly, Kitaoka submitted Mitsuoka quickly with a heel hook to move on to face another Japanese fighter in Kazunori Yokota in the final.

There was no quick submission this time as Kitaoka rode out a unanimous decision victory over the tough Yokota to claim the tournament and a shot for the vacant title against Sengoku poster boy and former PRIDE lightweight champion, Takanori Gomi.

Kitaoka faced Gomi at Sengoku: No Ran 2009 and quickly submitted the fallen star with an achilles lock in just 1:41 of the first round to be crowned the first ever, Sengoku lightweight champion.

Kitaoka's next fight will take place outside of the Sengoku promotion as he aims to become the Pancrase lightweight champion when he faces off against Pancrase champ, Katsuya Inoue for the fourth time.