Yoshiyuki Yoshida

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1 Shooto
2 GCM
3 UFC
4 Mixed martial arts record
5 Gallery
6 External links

Shooto

The professional career of Yoshiyuki "Zenko" Yoshida (born May 10, 1974) got off to a rocky start. After a decision over Akihiro Yamazaki, to win his first pro match on February 6, 2005, Yoshida then dropped two in a row. Both losses took place in Japan's Shooto promotion, as did all Yoshiyuki's initial four bouts. This pair of decision losses, once to Yoshitaro Niimi and then to Keita Nakamura, remain the only blemishes on Yoshida's otherwise pristine record.

Yoshida was able to revive his flagging career with back to back TKO victories over Mindaugas Smirnovas, to cap off Yoshiyuki's stint with Shooto and against Luis Santos, which stands as the only time "Zenko" fought on behalf of the Kokoro organization.

GCM

The next chapter for Yoshiyuki Yoshida would unfold under the banner of the Greatest Common Multiplier promotion, or GCM. His first appearance for GCM was a September, 2006 faceoff with Hossein Ojaghi, resulting in an Armbar win for Yoshida.

Entering into GCM'c Cage Force Welterweight tournament, Yoshiyuki continued to look sharp stringing together knockout after knockout to advance in the tourney. Starting with Asato Hashimoto, then moving to Katsuya Inoue and later Matt Cain, "Zenko" KO'd them all, with a total ring time of 5:19 for all three fights!

After qualifying for the Cage Force finale Yoshida faced veteran Akira Kikuchi. And on September, 8, 2007 Yoshiyuki Yoshida joined the likes of Jake Shields and Shinya Aoki, becoming one of only three men to ever triumph over Kikuchi. Yoshida's victory also saw him crowned as the first ever Cage Force Welterweight Champion.

UFC

Yoshiyuki made his Octagon debut at UFC 84 against Jon Koppenhaver, who is today known as simply War Machine. Yoshida made quick work of Machine, choking him unconscious with an anaconda choke early in the first round.

At UFC 88, Yoshida was scheduled to face fellow judoka, Karo Parisyan. However Parisyan pulled out of the fight with a back complaint the day before the fight leaving Yoshida without an opponent.

On December 10th, Yoshida returned to the cage to fight TUF 1 veteran, Josh Koscheck at UFC: Fight For The Troops. Yoshida lost this match due to a devastating first round knockout.

Yoshida will look to rebound from the loss at UFC 98 when he faces Brandon Wolff on the show's undercard.