Goiti Yamauchi

Goiti Yamauchi (山内ゴイチ, Yamauchi Goichi, born January 5, 1993) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competed in the Welterweight division for Bellator MMA and currently competes in the same division for the Professional Fighters League.

Goiti Yamauchi
Born (1993-01-05) January 5, 1993 (age 31)
Anjō, Aichi, Japan[1]
Native name山内ゴイチ
NationalityBrazilian
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
DivisionFeatherweight (145 lb)
Lightweight (155 lb)
Welterweight (170 lb)
Reach74 in (188 cm)[1]
StyleBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Boxing
Fighting out ofCuritiba, Paraná, Brazil
TeamYamauchi Team
Academia Arena
RankBlack belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Fernandinho Vieira[2]
Years active2008–present
Kickboxing record
Total7
Wins7
By knockout7
Losses0
Mixed martial arts record
Total36
Wins29
By knockout3
By submission21
By decision5
Losses7
By knockout1
By decision6
Amateur boxing record
Total5
Wins5
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background

Yamauchi was born in Anjō, Aichi to a Japanese father and a Japanese-Brazilian mother, but his family moved to Curitiba, Paraná when he was 3 years old.[3] He started in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 9, followed by Muay Thai, boxing and wrestling during his youth.[4] At the age of 14, he became Paraná State's amateur boxing champion in 2007, defeating then-reigning champion John Lineker, who was 17.[5]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Before moving to professional mixed martial arts, Yamauchi scored seven wins as an amateur, with seven first-round stoppages.[4] Yamauchi started his professional career in 2010, when he was just 17 years old. From October 2010 to May 2013, he fought for many organizations throughout Brazil and won a featherweight title and a featherweight tournament in Iron Fight Combat and Smash Fight respectively.[6][7]

In January 2013, it was announced that Yamauchi signed a multi-fight contract with Bellator MMA.[3]

Bellator MMA

Yamauchi made his promotional debut against fellow promotional newcomer Musa Toliver on September 13, 2013 at Bellator 99. He won via submission due to a rear-naked choke early in the first round.[8]

In his second fight for the promotion, Yamauchi faced Saul Almeida on November 22, 2013 at Bellator 109. He won via knockout in the first round.[9]

Yamauchi faced Will Martinez in the quarterfinal match of Bellator season ten featherweight tournament on February 28, 2014 at Bellator 110.[10] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Yamauchi faced Mike Richman on May 17, 2014 at Bellator 120.[11] He won the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision.

Yamauchi faced Martin Stapleton on September 19, 2014 at Bellator 125.[12] He won via submission in the first round.

Yamauchi was expected to face former Bellator Featherweight Champion Pat Curran at Bellator 139 on June 26, 2015.[13] However, Yamauchi pulled out of the fight due to injury and was replaced by Emmanuel Sanchez.[14]

Yamauchi faced Isao Kobayashi at Bellator 144 on October 23, 2015. Yamauchi dominated the fight on the ground for the first two rounds, before defeating his opponent via submission in the third, after dropping Kobayashi with a punch and securing a rear-naked choke. With the win, Yamauchi became the first to finish Isao Yobayashi.[15]

Yamauchi next faced fellow prospect, Bubba Jenkins, at Bellator 151 on March 4, 2016. Early in the first round, Yamauchi was able to secure Jenkins' back standing, remaining there for rest of the round. However, in the next two rounds, Jenkins utilised his superior wrestling to take Yamauchi down and control the fight en route to a unanimous verdict.[16]

Move up to lightweight division

Yamauchi faced Ryan Couture at Bellator 162 on October 21, 2016.[17] He won the fight via submission just over a minute into the first round and became the first fighter to submit Couture.[18]

Yamauchi faced Valeriu Mircea at Bellator 168 on December 10, 2016. After a near knockout loss, Yamauchi defeated Mircea via a triangle choke submission in the first round.[19]

Yamauchi faced Adam Piccolotti at Bellator 183 on September 23, 2017.[20] He won the fight via submission in the first round.[21]

Yamauchi next faced Michael Chandler at Bellator 192 on January 20, 2018.[22] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[23]

Yamauchi faced Saad Awad at Bellator 229 on October 4, 2019.[24] He won the fight via a verbal submission due to an armbar in the first round.[25]

Yamauchi faced Daron Cruickshank at Bellator & Rizin: Japan on December 29, 2019.[26] He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.[27]

Yamauchi was next expected to face PFL veteran Nate Andrews at Bellator 254 on December 10, 2020.[28] However at weigh ins, Goiti weighed in at 162.8 lbs, 6.8 lbs over the lightweight limit. Mohegan Sun commission head, Mike Mazzulli, said that from now on Yamauchi will be required to fight at Welterweight, 170 lbs.[29]

Yamauchi faced Dan Moret on April 9, 2021 at Bellator 256.[30] He lost the bout via a controversial split decision, where 9/9 media members scored the fight for Yamauchi.[31][32]

Yamauchi faced Chris Gonzalez on July 31, 2021 at Bellator 263.[33] He won the bout via TKO in the first round, only the second knockout win in Goiti's career.[34]

Yamauchi was scheduled to face Derek Anderson on March 12, 2022 at Bellator 276.[35] The week of the event, the bout was scrapped for unknown reasons.[36]

Move up to welterweight

Moving up to Welterweight, Yamauchi faced Levan Chokheli on April 23, 2022 at Bellator 279.[37] He won the bout via armbar in the first round.[38]

Yamauchi headlined Bellator 284 on August 12, 2022 against fellow BJJ expert Neiman Gracie.[39] He won the bout in the second round after knocking out Gracie with an uppercut.[40]

Yamauchi faced Michael Page on March 10, 2023 at Bellator 292.[41] He lost the bout 26 seconds into the bout after a leg kick ruptured his patella tendon.[42]

Professional Fighter's League

In his PFL debut, Yamauchi faced Neiman Gracie in a rematch at PFL 3 on April 19, 2024.[43] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[44]

Yamauchi next faced Andrey Koreshkov at PFL 6 (2024) on June 28, 2024. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[45]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

  • Bellator MMA
    • Most submission wins in Bellator MMA history (nine)[46]
    • Tied for most submission wins in Bellator Lightweight division history (five)[46]
    • First fighter in Bellator MMA history to earn wins in three weight classes[47]
    • First fighter in Bellator MMA history to earn stoppages in three weight classes[47]
  • Iron Fight Combat
    • Iron Fight Combat featherweight title (One time)[6]
  • Smash Fight
    • Smash Fight featherweight tournament winner (2013)[7]

Amateur boxing

  • Paraná State Amateur Boxing Championship (2007)

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
36 matches29 wins7 losses
By knockout31
By submission210
By decision56
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss29–7Andrey KoreshkovDecision (unanimous)PFL 6 (2024)June 28, 202435:00Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States
Win29–6Neiman GracieDecision (unanimous)PFL 3 (2024)April 19, 202435:00Chicago, Illinois, United States
Loss28–6Michael PageTKO (leg kick)Bellator 292March 10, 202310:26San Jose, California, United States
Win28–5Neiman GracieKO (punches)Bellator 284August 12, 202223:58Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States
Win27–5Levan ChokheliSubmission (armbar)Bellator 279April 23, 202213:49Honolulu, Hawaii, United StatesWelterweight debut.
Win26–5Chris GonzalezTKO (punches)Bellator 263July 30, 202113:53Los Angeles, California, United States
Loss25–5Dan MoretDecision (split)Bellator 256April 9, 202135:00Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win25–4Daron CruickshankSubmission (rear-naked choke)Bellator & Rizin: JapanDecember 29, 201913:11Saitama, JapanCatchweight (157.8 lb) bout; Yamauchi missed weight.
Win24–4Saad AwadVerbal submission (armbar)Bellator 229October 4, 201911:40Temecula, California, United States
Win23–4Daniel WeichelDecision (split)Bellator 210November 30, 201835:00Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Loss22–4Michael ChandlerDecision (unanimous)Bellator 192January 20, 201835:00Inglewood, California, United States
Win22–3Adam PiccolottiSubmission (rear-naked choke)Bellator 183September 24, 201713:19San Jose, California, United States
Win21–3Valeriu MirceaSubmission (triangle choke)Bellator 168December 10, 201613:33Florence, Italy
Win20–3Ryan CoutureSubmission (armbar)Bellator 162October 21, 201611:01Memphis, Tennessee, United StatesLightweight debut.
Loss19–3Bubba JenkinsDecision (unanimous)Bellator 151March 4, 201635:00Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Win19–2Isao KobayashiSubmission (rear-naked choke)Bellator 144October 23, 201533:50Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win18–2Martin StapletonSubmission (rear-naked choke)Bellator 125September 19, 201414:37Fresno, California, United StatesCatchweight (148 lb) bout; Stapleton missed weight.
Win17–2Mike RichmanDecision (unanimous)Bellator 120May 17, 201435:00Southaven, Mississippi, United States
Loss16–2Will MartinezDecision (unanimous)Bellator 110February 28, 201435:00Uncasville, Connecticut, United StatesFeatherweight Tournament Quarterfinals
Win16–1Saul AlmeidaKO (punches)Bellator 109November 22, 201312:04Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United StatesCatchweight (152.3 lb) bout; Yamauchi missed weight.
Win15–1Musa ToliverSubmission (rear-naked choke)Bellator 99September 13, 201311:01Temecula, California, United States
Win14–1Sergio Silva RodriguesSubmission (rear-naked choke)Smash FightMay 3, 201313:38Curitiba, Paraná, BrazilSmash Fight Featherweight Tournament Final.
Win13–1Diego MarlonSubmission (armbar)Smash FightMay 3, 201312:54Curitiba, Paraná, BrazilSmash Fight Featherweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win12–1Jurandir SardinhaDecisionIron Fight Combat 3March 23, 201335:00Feira de Santana, Bahia, BrazilWon Iron FC Featherweight Championship.
Win11–1José Ivanildo LopesDecision (unanimous)Iron Fight Combat 2December 7, 201235:00Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
Win10–1Gustavo WurlitzerSubmission (rear-naked choke)Power Fight Extreme 8September 22, 201211:19Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Win9–1Dymitry DamianiSubmission (rear-naked choke)Iron Fight Combat 1September 1, 201211:40Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil
Win8–1Juliano WandalenSubmission (rear-naked choke)Shooto Brazil 31June 29, 201210:56Brasília, Brazil
Win7–1Edenilson JuniorSubmission (rear-naked choke)Nitrix Champion Fight 9December 10, 201111:02Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Win6–1Jonathan José de FariaSubmission (armbar)Brave FC: Gold EditionNovember 5, 201111:02Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Loss5–1Rodrigo CavalheiroDecision (unanimous)Adventure Fighters TournamentOctober 15, 201135:00Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Win5–0Tiago SartoriSubmission (rear-naked choke)Capital Fight 4September 6, 201121:41Brasília, Brazil
Win4–0Arivaldo Lima SilvaSubmission (armbar)Brazilian Fight League 12August 13, 201112:56Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Win3–0Alessandro MartinsSubmission (rear-naked choke)Brave FC: TryoutsApril 30, 201111:29Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Win2–0Eduardo WellingtonSubmissionBrazilian Fight League: Fight Night 1April 8, 20111N/ACuritiba, Paraná, Brazil
Win1–0Andre PedrosoSubmission (rear-naked choke)Gladiators Fighting Championship 2October 16, 201020:31Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

See also

References