is a Japanese kickboxer competing in K-1 at middleweight (−70 kg). He is the former world champion of Muay Thai in WKA and WPKC, and he won the Japanese national tournament of K-1 twice in 2006 and 2007. His official nickname is "Mugen Sniper" which means Infinite Sniper.
Biography
Amateur era Born in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan on January 25, 1981, Sato began training in kickboxing in 1994 when he was in his second year of junior high school. Originally, Sato had been going to visit a boxing gym with his friend, but he argued and fought just before visiting. Sato was defeated completely in the fight. For this incident, he visited "Nagoya JK Factory", a kickboxing gym near to Sato's house, and started learning kickboxing. He won the Glove Karate Open Championship Tournament when he was just 16 years old, still in his second year of high school. He also won the championship the next year in 1997.
Fight as a professional kickboxer He passed the examination for professional kickboxing of New Japan Kickboxing Federation (NJKF) in 1998. He won his first match against Isao Miyamoto by decision on December 25, 1998. He changed his weight class from lightweight to welterweight in April 2000. He moved to All Japan Kickboxing Federation from NJKF in June 2001. He won the title of WKA World Muay Thai Welterweight by KO Milan Stevic in Germany on 23 November 2001. It was the first time for him to fight in the oversea.
Entry to K-1 In his K-1 debut on May 3, 2005, he beat William Diender by decision. He lost to Virgil Kalakoda in a K-1 Superfight in the K-1 MAX Finals. On October 12, 2005, he defeated Kaoklai Kaennorsing, the only fighter who has fought in both K-1's heavyweight division and in K-1 MAX. On February 4, 2006 he defeated Akeomi Nitta, Ryuki Ueyama and Tatsuji to win the K-1 MAX Japan Grand Prix 2006 tournament. On February 5, 2007 he won the K-1 MAX Japan Grand Prix 2007 tournament. In April 2007 he lost to Dutch fighter Andy Souwer by decision. His latest fight was on July 7, 2008 in which he defeated Buakaw Por. Pramuk by KO in the 3rd round in the Quarterfinals for the K-1 MAX Finals and he is set to fight Masato on October 10, 2008.
On February 17, 2012, Sato defeated Fadi Merza via unanimous decision after 5th round to take the Merza's ISKA World Light Middleweight (-72.3 kg) Championship under Oriental rules in Tokyo, Japan.Krush.16 Results: Kubo and Sato Claim ISKA Titles, Xu Yan KOs Yuya Yamamoto
He was scheduled to face Dzhabar Askerov in a tournament reserve bout at Glory 3: Rome - 2012 Middleweight Slam Final 8 to be held on November 3, 2012 in Rome, Italy.GLORY 3 Rome: Final 8 Matches Set, Petrosyan Fights Hollenbeck However, when quarter finalist Albert Kraus came down with the flu, Sato was given his place in the tournament proper.Kraus Out With Flu, Yoshihiro Sato in Glory Final 8 Tournament He was TKO'd by Sanny Dahlbeck.GLORY 3 Rome - Final 8: Live ResultsGlory 3 Live Play By Play
In an upset, Sato lost a unanimous decision to Kenta in the co-main event of Krush.26 in Tokyo on January 28, 2013.Krush Adds Bennoui, Ezbiri to 67kg TournamentYoshihiro Sato vs Kenta Added to Krush.26Fights To Watch In January 2013Krush.26 Results: Kido Defends 70kg Title
He broke a three-fight losing streak when he took a majority decision win over Henri van Opstal at Shootboxing 2013 - Act 1 in Tokyo on February 22, 2013.Ten Kickboxing Fights to Watch in FebruaryYoshihiro Sato Wins at Shootboxing 2013 Act. 1Japanese Kickboxing Scene: February Recap
Sato defeated Lee Sun-Hyun via unanimous decision at Glory 8: Tokyo - 2013 65kg Slam in Tokyo on May 3, 2013.Japanese Scene Weekly Recap: April 14th - 21stGLORY 8 Tokyo Live ResultsGLORY 8 Tokyo Results and Review: Yuta Kubo Proves Why He is the Number One Japanese Fighter in the World Glory 8 Results: Yuta Kubo wins featherweight tournament
He beat Yuichiro Nagashima by unanimous decision at Hoost Cup: Kings in Nagoya, Japan on June 16, 2013.Japanese Kickboxing Scene: June PreviewSaenchai Wins Kickboxing Debut in Japan, Considering Move to K-1 Saenchai Wins at the Hoost Cup - Will He Go to K-1?
Sato beat Shintaro Matsukura by unanimous decision at Krush.32 in Nagoya on September 1, 2013.Yuta Kubo and Masaaki Noiri Fight For Third Time at Krush.32Revenge is Sweet: Masaaki Noiri Defeats Yuta Kubo at Krush .32
In their fourth meeting, Sato lost to Buakaw Banchamek on points at MAX Muay Thai 4 in Sendai, Japan on October 6, 2013.MAX Japan Roster Released: Could We See Buakaw vs. Sato IV?Buakaw Banchamek Will Face Yoshihiro Sato at MAX JapanMax Muay Thai Japan – Big names on board Buakaw Victorious Over Yoshihiro Sato at MAX Muay Thai IVMAX Muay Thai IV: Sendai Results
He lost to Dzhabar Askerov by unanimous decision at Tech-Krep FC: Southern Front 2 in Kyiv, Ukraine on December 8, 2013.
Sato lost via unanimous decision to Petchmankong Gaiyanghaadao at Hoost Cup: Legend in Nagoya, Japan on March 23, 2014.Photo of the Day: Ernesto Hoost Victorious in Japan
Titles Amateur All Japan Glove Karate Federation 1996 Glove Karate Open championship winner 1997 Glove Karate Open championship winner
Professional World Kickboxing Association WKA Muay Thai World Welterweight champion (Defence: 1)
World Professional Kickboxing Council WPKC Muay Thai World Super welterweight champion (Defence: 1) K-1 K-1 World MAX 2006 Japan Tournament winner K-1 World MAX 2007 Japan Tournament winner K-1 World MAX 2010 runner up
International Sport Karate Association ISKA World Light Middleweight (-72.3 kg) Championship
All Japan Kickboxing Federation 2004 AJFK Skill Award
New Japan Kickboxing Federation 1999 The Rookie of the Year (NJKF)
Fight record
|- bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 2015-05-04 || Loss || align=left| Jordann Pikeur || Krush 54 || Tokyo, Japan || KO || 2 || || 54-25-1 |- bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 2015-01-18 || Loss || align=left| Sanny Dahlbeck || K-1 World GP 2015 -60kg Championship Tournament || Tokyo, Japan || KO || 4 || 2:08 || 54-24-1 |- bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 2014-08-24 || Win || align=left| Yoichi Yamazaki || Krush.45 || Nagoya, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 54-23-1 |- bgcolor= "#c5d2ea" | 2014-05-17 || Draw || align=left| Xu Yan || Hero Legends 日本拳王被判不敌中国格斗第一人 瞬间瘫倒在地 || Shenzhen, China || Decision || 3 || 3:00 ||53-23-1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |
|- bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 2014-03-23 || Loss || align=left| Petchmankong Gaiyanghaadao || Hoost Cup: Legend || Nagoya, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 53-23 |- |- bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 2013-12-08 || Loss || align=left| Dzhabar Askerov || Tech-Krep FC: Southern Front 2 || Kyiv, Ukraine || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 53-22 |- |- bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 2013-10-06 || Loss ||align=left| Buakaw Banchamek || MAX Muay Thai 4 || Sendai, Japan || Decision || 3 || 3:00 || 53-21 |- |- bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 2013-09-01 || Win ||align=left| Shintaro Matsukura || Krush.32 || Nagoya, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 53-20 |- |- bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 2013-06-16 || Win ||align=left| Yuichiro Nagashima || Hoost Cup: Kings || Nagoya, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 52-20 |- |- bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 2013-05-03 || Win ||align=left| Lee Sung-Hyun || Glory 8: Tokyo || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 51-20 |- |- bgcolor="CCFFCC" | 2013-02-22 || Win ||align=left| Henri van Opstal || Shootboxing 2013 - Act 1 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (majority) || 3 || 3:00 || 50-20 |- |- bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 2013-01-28 || Loss ||align=left| Kenta || Krush.26 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 49-20 |- |- bgcolor="FFBBBB" | 2012-10-02 || Loss ||align=left| Sanny Dahlbeck || Glory 3: Rome - 70 kg Slam Tournament, Quarter Finals || Rome, Italy || TKO (knee to the body) || 2 || || 49-19 |- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2012-05-26 || Loss ||align=left| Shemsi Beqiri || Glory 1: Stockholm - 70 kg Slam Tournament, First Round || Stockholm, Sweden || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3.00 || 49-18 |- |- bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 2012-02-17 || Win ||align=left| Fadi Merza || Krush.16 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous)|| 5 || 3:00 || 49-17 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 | |- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2011-11-27 || Loss ||align=left| Alex Tobiasson Harris || Rumble of the Kings 2011 || Stockholm, Sweden || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 48-17 |- bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 2011-06-25 || Win ||align=left| Albert Kraus || K-1 World MAX 2011 –63 kg Japan Tournament Final, Super fight || Tokyo, Japan|| Decision (2-0) || 3 || 3:00 || 48-16 |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2011-04-23 ||Loss ||align=left| Andy Souwer || Shootboxing 2011 Act 2 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (3-0)|| 3 || 3:00 || 47-16 |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2011-03-12 || Loss ||align=left| Armen Petrosyan || Fight Code: Dragon Series Round 2 || Milan, Italy || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 47-15 |- bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 2011-01-09 || Win ||align=left| Shemsi Beqiri || Krush -63 kg The First Championship Tournament Round.2 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Split) || 3 || 3:00 || 47-14 |- bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 2010-11-08 || Loss ||align=left| Giorgio Petrosyan || K-1 World MAX 2010 Final, final || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 46-14 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 | |- |- bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 2010-11-08 || Win ||align=left| Gago Drago || K-1 World MAX 2010 Final, semi finals || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 46-13 |- bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 2010-11-08 || Win ||align=left| Michał Głogowski || K-1 World MAX 2010 Final, quarter finals || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 45-13 |- |- bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 2010-08-14 || Win ||align=left| Yuji Nashiro || Krush 9 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 44-13 |- bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 2010-07-05 || Win ||align=left| Yuya Yamamoto || K-1 World MAX 2010 Final 16 - Part 1 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Majority) || 3 || 3:00 || 43-13 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 | |- |- bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 2010-05-29 || Loss ||align=left| Pajonsuk || It's Showtime 2010 Amsterdam || Amsterdam, Netherlands || Decision (0-5) || 3 || 3:00 || 42-13 |- bgcolor= | 2010-05-16 || Ex ||align=left| Kozo Takeda || SNKA "Final Takeda Kozo Retirement Event" || Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan || No Decision || 2 || 2:11 || |- bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 2010-03-27 || Win ||align=left| Danilo Zanolini || K-1 World MAX 2010 –70 kg Japan Tournament || Saitama, Japan || KO (Right knee) || 1 || 3:00 || 42-12 |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2009-12-23 || Win ||align=left| Crazy Teru || Yamato gym 40th & Nagoya JKF 20th Anniversary Memorial Event || Nagoya, Aichi, Japan || KO (Left low kick) || 3 || 1:30 || 41-12 |- bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 2009-10-26 || Win ||align=left| Yasuhiro Kido || K-1 World MAX 2009 Final || Yokohama, Japan || KO (Right hook) || 2 || 2:23 || 40-12 |- bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 2009-07-13 || Win ||align=left| Joerie Mes || K-1 World MAX 2009 Final 8 || Tokyo, Japan || Ext R. Decision (Split) || 4 || 3:00 || 39-12 |- bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 2009-04-21 || Loss ||align=left| Gago Drago || K-1 World MAX 2009 Final 16 || Fukuoka, Japan || Ext R. Decision (Unanimous) || 4 || 3:00 || 38-12 |- bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 2009-02-23 || Win ||align=left| Sergey Golyaev || K-1 World MAX 2009 Japan Tournament || Tokyo, Japan || KO (Right low kick) || 2 || 1:18 || 38-11 |- bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 2008-12-31 || Loss ||align=left| Artur Kyshenko || Dynamite!! 2008 || Saitama, Japan || Decision (Majority) || 3 || 3:00 || 37-11 |- bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 2008-10-01 || Loss ||align=left| Masato || K-1 World MAX 2008 Final || Tokyo, Japan || Ext R. Decision (Unanimous) || 4 || 3:00 || 37-10 |- bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 2008-07-07 || Win ||align=left| Buakaw Por. Pramuk || K-1 World MAX 2008 Final 8 || Tokyo, Japan || KO (Right hook) || 3 || 1:50 || 37-9 |- bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 2008-04-09 || Win ||align=left| Murat Direkci || K-1 World MAX 2008 Final 16 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 36-9 |- bgcolor=#FFBBBB