List of Pancrase champions

Last updated

This is a list of Pancrase champions at each weight class. Pancrase is a Japan-based mixed martial arts (MMA) promoting and sanctioning organization founded in 1993. The champions of Pancrase are referred to by the title of "King of Pancrase" and "Queen of Pancrase".

Contents

Current champions

Men

DivisionChampionSinceDefenses
Openweight vacantAugust 31, 2003—
Heavyweight VacantJanuary 2008—
Light Heavyweight VacantMay 2011—
Middleweight Flag of Japan.svg Yura NaitoMarch 21, 20220
Welterweight Flag of Japan.svg Ryuichiro SumimuraDecember 24, 20230
Lightweight Flag of Japan.svg Tatsuya SaikaMarch 31, 20240
Featherweight Flag of Japan.svg Suguru NiiSeptember 24, 20230
Bantamweight Flag of Japan.svg Tokitaka NakanishiDecember 24, 20230
Flyweight Flag of Japan.svg Seiichiro ItoApril 3, 20241
Strawweight Flag of Japan.svg Keito Yamakita July 18, 20220

Women

DivisionChampionSinceDefenses
Bantamweight VacantFebruary 9, 20170
Flyweight Flag of Japan.svg Shizuka Sugiyama July 21, 20240
Strawweight Flag of Japan.svg Haruka HasegawaApril 30, 20230
Atomweight Flag of Japan.svg Satomi Takano March 31, 20240

Men's championship history

Openweight Championship

No weight restrictions
No.NameEventDateDefenses
1 Flag of the United States.svg Ken Shamrock
def. Manabu Yamada 		King of Pancrase tournament
Tokyo, Japan 		Dec 17, 1994

1. def. Bas Rutten at Pancrase Eyes Of Beast 2 on Mar 10, 1995 in Kanagawa, Japan

2 Flag of Japan.svg Minoru Suzuki Pancrase Eyes Of Beast 4
Tokyo, Japan 		May 13, 1995
3 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Bas Rutten Pancrase 1995 Anniversary Show
Tokyo, Japan 		Sep 1, 1995

1. def. interim champion Frank Shamrock at Pancrase Truth 5 on May 16, 1996 in Tokyo, Japan
2. def. Masakatsu Funaki at Pancrase 1996 Anniversary Show on Sep 7, 1996 in Tokyo, Japan

— Flag of the United States.svg Frank Shamrock [1]
def. Minoru Suzuki for interim title		Pancrase Truth 1
Kanagawa, Japan 		Jan 28, 1996
Rutten vacated the title in October 1996 for family matters. [2]
4 Flag of Japan.svg Masakatsu Funaki
def. Jason DeLucia 		Pancrase Truth 10
Tokyo, Japan 		Dec 15, 1996
5 Flag of Japan.svg Yuki Kondo Pancrase Alive 4
Tokyo, Japan 		Apr 27, 1997

1. def. Jason DeLucia at Pancrase 1997 Anniversary Show on Sep 6, 1997 in Tokyo, Japan

6 Flag of Japan.svg Masakatsu Funaki (2)Pancrase Alive 11
Kanagawa, Japan 		Dec 20, 1997
7 Flag of the United States.svg Guy Mezger Pancrase Advance 5
Kanagawa, Japan 		Apr 26, 1998

1. def. Ryushi Yanagisawa at Pancrase 1998 Anniversary Show on Sep 14, 1998 in Tokyo, Japan
2. def. Yuki Kondo at Pancrase Advance 12 on Dec 19, 1998 in Tokyo, Japan

Mezger vacated the title in February 1999 when he left Pancrase for the UFC. [2]
8 Flag of Japan.svg Yuki Kondo (2)
def. Semmy Schilt 		Pancrase Breakthrough 4
Kanagawa, Japan 		Apr 18, 1999

1. def. Kiuma Kunioku at Pancrase 1999 Anniversary Show on Sep 18, 1999 in Tokyo, Japan

9 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Semmy Schilt Pancrase Breakthrough 10
Osaka, Japan 		Nov 28, 1999

1. def. Yoshiki Takahashi at Pancrase Trans 3 on Apr 30, 2000 in Kanagawa, Japan
2. def. Osami Shibuya at Pancrase 2000 Anniversary Show on Sep 24, 2000 in Kanagawa, Japan

Schilt vacated the title in 2001 when he signed with the UFC.
10 Flag of the United States.svg Josh Barnett
def. Yuki Kondo 		Pancrase 10th Anniversary Show
Tokyo, Japan 		Aug 31, 2003

1. def. Yoshiki Takahashi at NJPW Ultimate Crush II on October 13, 2003 in Tokyo, Japan
2. def. Semmy Schilt at Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2003 - Inoki Festival on Dec 31, 2003 in Kobe, Japan

Heavyweight Championship

Weight limit: 120 kg (264.6 lb)
On January 30, 2008 Pancrase revised this weight class limit from 105 kg (231.5 lb) to its current limits.
No.NameEventDateDefenses
1 Flag of Japan.svg Yoshiki Takahashi
def. Shamoji Fujii		Pancrase Proof 7
Kanagawa, Japan 		Dec 1, 2001

1. def. Tsuyoshi Ozawa at Pancrase 2003 Neo-Blood tournament opening round on July 27, 2003 in Tokyo, Japan

Takahashi vacated the Heavyweight title.
2 Flag of Lithuania.svg Kestutis Arbocius
def. Poai Suganuma		Pancrase Blow 6
Kanagawa, Japan 		Aug 27, 2006
Arbocius was stripped of Heavyweight title in May 2007 due to injury.
3 Flag of Brazil.svg Assuério Silva
def. Tatsuya Mizuno 		Pancrase Rising 5
Tokyo, Japan 		May 30, 2007
Assuerio Silva vacated the title in January 2008 when he left the organization.

Light Heavyweight Championship

Weight limit: 93 kg (205.0 lb)
Formerly known as Cruiserweight until 2008
On January 30, 2008 Pancrase revised this weight class limit from 95 kg (209.4 lb) to its current limits.
No.NameEventDateDefenses
1 Flag of Japan.svg Keiichiro Yamamiya
def. Ikuhisa Minowa 		Pancrase 2000 Anniversary Show
Kanagawa, Japan 		Sep 24, 2000
Title Vacated.
2 Flag of Japan.svg Sanae Kikuta
def. Ikuhisa Minowa 		Pancrase 2001 Anniversary Show
Kanagawa, Japan 		Sep 30, 2001

1. drew with Yuki Kondo at Pancrase Hybrid 5 on May 18, 2003 in Kanagawa, Japan

3 Flag of Japan.svg Yuki Kondo Pancrase Hybrid 10
Tokyo, Japan 		Nov 30, 2003

1. def. Daijiro Matsui at Pancrase Blow 6 on Aug 27, 2006 in Kanagawa, Japan

Yuki Kondo vacated the title in January 2008 to move down to middleweight.
4 Flag of Japan.svg Ryo Kawamura
def. Keiichiro Yamamiya 		Pancrase Shining 8
Tokyo, Japan 		Oct 1, 2008

1. def. Yukiya Naito at Pancrase: Changing Tour 3 on Jun 7, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan
2. def. Shunsuke Inoue at Pancrase: Changing Tour 8 on Dec 6, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan
3. drew with Yuji Sakuragi at Pancrase Passion Tour 11 on Dec 5, 2010 in Tokyo, Japan

Ryo Kawamura vacated the title in May 2011 to move down to middleweight.

Middleweight Championship

Weight limit: 84 kg (185.2 lb)
On January 30, 2008 Pancrase revised this weight class limit from 85 kg (187.4 lb) to its current limits.
No.NameEventDateDefenses
1 Flag of the United States.svg Nathan Marquardt
def. Shonie Carter 		Pancrase 2000 Anniversary Show
Kanagawa, Japan 		Sep 24, 2000

1. drew with Kiuma Kunioku at Pancrase Trans 7 on Dec 4, 2000 in Japan
2. def. Yuji Hoshino at Pancrase Proof 6 on Oct 30, 2001 in Tokyo, Japan

2 Flag of Japan.svg Kiuma Kunioku Pancrase Proof 7
Kanagawa, Japan 		Dec 1, 2001
3 Flag of the United States.svg Nathan Marquardt (2)Pancrase Spirit 9
Tokyo, Japan 		Dec 21, 2002

1. def. Izuru Takeuchi at Pancrase Hybrid 3 on Mar 8, 2003 in Tokyo, Japan

4 Flag of the United States.svg Ricardo Almeida Pancrase Hybrid 10
Tokyo, Japan 		Nov 30, 2003
Almeida vacated the title in July 2004 when he retired from active competition.
5 Flag of the United States.svg Nathan Marquardt (3)
def. Kazuo Misaki 		Pancrase Brave 10
Chiba, Japan 		Nov 7, 2004

1. def. Izuru Takeuchi at Pancrase Spiral 4 on May 1, 2005 in Kanagawa, Japan

Marquardt vacated the title in October 2006 when he left Pancrase for the UFC. [3]
6 Flag of Japan.svg Yuichi Nakanishi
def. Izuru Takeuchi 		Pancrase Blow 10
Tokyo, Japan 		Dec 2, 2006
7 Flag of Japan.svg Izuru Takeuchi Pancrase Rising 9
Tokyo, Japan 		Nov 28, 2007

1. drew with Takenori Sato at Pancrase: Changing Tour 4 on August 8, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan

8 Flag of Japan.svg Ichiro Kanai Pancrase: Changing Tour 8
Tokyo, Japan 		Dec 6, 2009
— Flag of Japan.svg Yuki Kondo
promoted to interim champion after vacating the Light Heavyweight title		—Jan 2008

1. def. Ki Bum Kim at Pancrase: Changing Tour 4 on Aug 8, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan
2. drew with Yuji Hisamatsu at Pancrase: Changing Tour 6 on Oct 25, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan
3. def. Takenori Sato at Pancrase Passion Tour 1 on Feb 7, 2010 in Tokyo, Japan

9 Flag of Japan.svg Yuki Kondo
def. Ichiro Kanai for undisputed title		Pancrase Passion Tour 4
Tokyo, Japan 		Apr 29, 2010

1. drew with Yuji Hisamatsu at Pancrase Passion Tour 6 on Jul 4, 2010 in Tokyo, Japan

10 Flag of Japan.svg Rikuhei FujiiPancrase: Passion Tour 11
Tokyo, Japan 		Dec 5, 2010
Rikuhei Fujii vacated the title in May 2011.
11 Flag of Japan.svg Ryo Kawamura
def. Ikkei Nagamura		Pancrase Progress Tour 1
Tokyo, Japan 		Jan 28, 2012

1. def. Shungo Oyama at Pancrase Progress Tour 7 on Jun 2, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan

12 Flag of Japan.svg Shinsho Anzai Pancrase 259
Tokyo, Japan 		June 29, 2014
Shinsho Anzai vacated the title when he signed with the UFC.
13 Flag of Japan.svg Ryo Kawamura (2)
def. Yuki Niimura		Pancrase 281
Tokyo, Japan 		Oct 2, 2016
14 Flag of Japan.svg Yuki NiimuraPancrase 291
Tokyo, Japan 		Nov 12, 2017
Niimura vacated the title when he signed with ONE Championship .
15 Flag of Japan.svg Yura Naito
def. Ryo Kawamura 		Pancrase 326
Tokyo, Japan 		Mar 21, 2022

Welterweight Championship

Weight limit: 77 kg (169.8 lb)
Formerly known as Lightweight until 2006
On January 30, 2008 Pancrase revised this weight limit from 75 kg (165.3 lb) to its current limits.
No.NameEventDateDefenses
1 Flag of Japan.svg Kiuma Kunioku
def. Takafumi Ito		Pancrase 2002 Neo-Blood tournament second round
Tokyo, Japan 		Jul 28, 2002

1. def. Hiroki Nagaoka at Pancrase 2002 Anniversary Show on Sep 29, 2002 in Kanagawa, Japan
2. def. Kenichi Serizawa at Pancrase Hybrid 10 on Nov 30, 2003 in Tokyo, Japan

Kunioku vacated the title in September 2004 when he left the organization. [4]
— Flag of Japan.svg Katsuya Inoue [5]
promoted to interim champion when opponent withdrew due to injury		— ?

1. def. Kenji Arai at Pancrase Spiril 4 on May 1, 2005 in Kanagawa, Japan
2. drew with Satoru Kitaoka at Pacrase - Blow 1 on Jan 26, 2006 in Tokyo, Japan

2 Flag of Japan.svg Daizo Ishige
def. Katsuya Inoue for undisputed title		Pancrase Blow 6
Kanagawa, Japan 		Aug 27, 2006
— Flag of Japan.svg Katsuya Inoue [6]
def. Fabricio Nascimento for interim title		Pancrase 2007 Neo-Blood Tournament Finals
Tokyo, Japan 		Jul 27, 2007
Daizo Ishige vacated the title in January 2008.
3 Flag of Japan.svg Katsuya Inoue
def. Satoru Kitaoka for undisputed title		Pancrase Shining 1
Tokyo, Japan 		Jan 30, 2008
Katsuya Inoue vacated the title in February 2008 in order to compete at Lightweight.
— Flag of Japan.svg Takuya Wada
def. Jason Palacios for interim title		Pancrase Shining 3
Tokyo, Japan 		Apr 27, 2008
4 Flag of Japan.svg Takuya Wada
promoted to undisputed champion		——

1. def. Tomoyoshi Iwamiya at Pancrase: Changing Tour 2 on Apr 5, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan

Takuya Wada vacated the title on April 30, 2010.
5 Flag of Japan.svg Kengo Ura
def. Keiichiro Yamamiya 		Pancrase Passion Tour 5
Tokyo, Japan 		Jun 5, 2010
6 Flag of Japan.svg Takenori Sato Pancrase Impressive Tour 1
Tokyo, Japan 		Feb 6, 2011

1. def. Sojiro Orui at Pancrase Impressive Tour 5 on Jun 5, 2011 in Tokyo, Japan
2. drew with Eiji Ishikawa at Pancrase Impressive Tour 10 on Oct 2, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan
3. def. Kiichi Kunimoto at Pancrase Progress Tour 3 on Mar 11, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan
4. def. Keiichiro Yamamiya at Pancrase Progress Tour 10 on Sep 1, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan
5. drew with Akihiro Murayama at Pancrase 246 on Mar 17, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan
6. def. Shingo Suzuki at Pancrase 247 on May 19, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan

Takenori Sato vacated the title when he signed with the UFC.
7 Flag of Japan.svg Gota Yamashita
def. Akihiro Murayama 		Pancrase 260
Tokyo, Japan 		August 10, 2014

1. def. Yuki Kondo at Pancrase 263 on Dec 6, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan

8 Flag of Japan.svg Shingo SuzukiPancrase 270
Tokyo, Japan 		October 4, 2015
9 Flag of Japan.svg Akihiro Murayama Pancrase 276
Tokyo, Japan 		March 13, 2016
10 Flag of Japan.svg Hiromitsu Miura Pancrase 281
Tokyo, Japan 		October 2, 2016
11 Flag of Japan.svg Daichi Abe Pancrase 288
Tokyo, Japan 		July 2, 2017
Daichi Abe vacated the title when he signed with the UFC.
12 Flag of Brazil.svg Glaico França
def. Takashi Sato 		Pancrase 297
Tokyo, Japan 		July 1, 2018
Glaico França vacated the title when he signed with the PFL. [7]
— Flag of Japan.svg Hiroyuki Tetsuka
def. Kenta Takagi for interim title		Pancrase 306
Tokyo, Japan 		June 30, 2019
13 Flag of Japan.svg Hiroyuki Tetsuka
promoted to undisputed champion		——
Hiroyuki Tetsuka vacated the title when he signed with the ONE Championship. [8]
— Flag of Japan.svg Masayuki Kikuiri
def. Akihiro Murayama for interim title		Pancrase 324
Tokyo, Japan 		October 16, 2021
14 Flag of Japan.svg Masayuki Kikuiri
promoted to undisputed champion		—May 26, 2022
Kikuiri vacated the title when he signed with Bellator .
15 Flag of Japan.svg Genpei Hayashi
def. Akihiro Murayama		Pancrase 334
Tokyo, Japan 		June 4, 2023
16 Flag of Japan.svg Ryuichiro SumimuraPancrase 340
Yokohama, Japan 		December 24, 2023

Lightweight Championship

Weight limit: 70 kg (154.3 lb)
No.NameEventDateDefenses
1 Flag of Japan.svg Shoji Maruyama
def. Artur Oumakhanov		Pancrase Shining 1
Tokyo, Japan 		Jan 30, 2008
Shoji Maruyama vacated the title in May 2008 to compete at Featherweight.
2 Flag of Japan.svg Katsuya Inoue
def. Koji Oishi		Pancrase Shining 10
Tokyo, Japan 		Dec 7, 2008

1. def. Daisuke Hanazawa at Pancrase: Changing Tour 1 on Feb 1, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan

3 Flag of Venezuela.svg Maximo Blanco Pancrase: Changing Tour 4
Tokyo, Japan 		Aug 8, 2009
Maximo Blanco vacated the title in April 2011 citing an inability to defend his belt due to numerous injuries. [9]
4 Flag of Japan.svg Koji Oishi
def. Daisuke Hanazawa		Pancrase Impressive Tour 4
Tokyo, Japan 		May 3, 2011
5 Flag of Japan.svg Isao KobayashiPancrase Progress Tour 4
Tokyo, Japan 		Apr 1, 2012

1. def. Yoshiaki Takahashi at Pancrase 252 - 20th Anniversary on Sep 29, 2013 in Yokohama, Japan

Isao Kobayashi vacated the title in 2014.
6 Flag of Japan.svg Kazuki Tokudome
def. Satoru Kitaoka 		Pancrase 271
Tokyo, Japan 		November 1, 2015

1. def. Akbarh Arreola at Pancrase 277 on Apr 23, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan

7 Flag of Japan.svg Takasuke Kume Pancrase 280
Tokyo, Japan 		September 11, 2016

1. def. Kazuki Tokudome at Pancrase 292 on Dec 10, 2017 in Tokyo, Japan
2. def. Tom Santos at Pancrase 304 on Apr 14, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan
3. def. Tatsuya Saika at Pancrase 325 on Dec 11, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan

— Flag of Tajikistan.svg Salimkhan Sadulloev
def. Yusuke Kasuya for interim title		Pancrase 308
Tokyo, Japan 		September 29, 2019
— Flag of Japan.svg Tatsuya Saika
def. Genpei Hayashi for interim title		Pancrase 318
Tokyo, Japan 		September 27, 2020
— Flag of Japan.svg Akira Okada
def. Koshi Matsumoto for interim title		Pancrase 329
Tokyo, Japan 		September 11, 2022
8 Flag of Japan.svg Akira OkadaPancrase 333
Tokyo, Japan 		April 30, 2023
9 Flag of Japan.svg Tatsuya SaikaPancrase 341
Tokyo, Japan 		March 31, 2024

Featherweight Championship

Weight limit: 66 kg (145.5 lb)
Formerly known as Lightweight until 2008
On January 30, 2008 Pancrase revised this weight limit from 65 kg (143.3 lb) to its current limits.
No.NameEventDateDefenses
1 Flag of Japan.svg Yoshiro Maeda
def. Daiki "D.J.Taiki" Hata 		Pancrase Blow 6
Yokohama, Japan 		Aug 27, 2006

1. def. Danny Batten at Pancrase Rising 4 on Apr 27, 2007 in Tokyo, Japan

Yoshiro Maeda vacated the title when he left Pancrase for the WEC.
2 Flag of Brazil.svg Marlon Sandro
def. Masaya Takita		Pancrase: Shining 9
Tokyo, Japan 		Oct 26, 2008
— Flag of Japan.svg Takumi Nakayama
def. Tomonari Kanomata for interim title		Pancrase Impressive Tour 9
Tokyo, Japan 		Sep 4, 2011

1. def. Jon Shores at Pancrase Progress Tour 7 on Jun 2, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan

Sandro was stripped of title for refusing to attend the title defense. [10]
3 Flag of Japan.svg Takumi Nakayama
Promoted to undisputed champion.		—August 9, 2012
4 Flag of the United States.svg Nam Phan Pancrase 264
Tokyo, Japan 		January 31, 2015
5 Flag of the United States.svg Andy Main Pancrase 270
Tokyo, Japan 		October 4, 2015
— Flag of Japan.svg Issei Tamura
def. Juntaro Ushiku for interim title		Pancrase 277
Tokyo, Japan 		Apr 24, 2016
— Flag of Argentina.svg Nazareno Malegarie Pancrase 285
Tokyo, Japan 		Mar 12, 2017
6 Flag of Argentina.svg Nazareno Malegarie
promoted to undisputed champion		——
Andy Main was stripped of the title and Nazareno Malegarie was promoted to the Undisputed Champion in 2018.
— Flag of Japan.svg Isao Kobayashi
def. Koyomi Matsushima for interim title		Pancrase 295
Tokyo, Japan 		Apr 15, 2018
Title Unification.
7 Flag of Japan.svg Isao Kobayashi
def. Nazareno Malegarie for undisputed title		Pancrase 305
Tokyo, Japan 		May 26, 2019

1. def. Kyle Aguon at Pancrase 309 on Oct 20, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan
2. def. Taichi Nakajima at Pancrase 321 on May 30, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan

Kobayashi vacated the title when he signed with Bellator .
— Flag of Japan.svg Tokitaka Nakanishi
def. Shinsuke Kamei for interim title		Pancrase 328
Tokyo, Japan 		July 18, 2022
8 Flag of Japan.svg Tokitaka Nakanishi
promoted to undisputed champion		——
Nakanishi vacated the title when he choose to compete at Bantamrweight..
9 Flag of Japan.svg Suguru Nii
def. Shinsuke Kamei		Pancrase 337
Tokyo, Japan 		September 24, 2023

Bantamweight Championship

Weight limit: 61 kg (134.5 lb)
In 2016 Pancrase revised this weight limit from 62 kg (136.7 lb) to its current limits.
No.NameEventDateDefenses
1 Flag of Japan.svg Manabu Inoue
def. Seiya Kawahara		Pancrase Shining 10
Yokohama, Japan 		Dec 7, 2008

1. def. Masahiro Oishi at Pancrase: Changing Tour 6 on Oct 25, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan
2. def. Tashiro Nishiuichi at Pancrase Passion Tour 8 on Sep 5, 2010 in Tokyo, Japan

2 Flag of Japan.svg Shintaro Ishiwatari Pancrase Impressive Tour 13
Tokyo, Japan 		Dec 3, 2011

1. def. Tashiro Nishiuchi at Pancrase Progress Tour 3 on March 11, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan
2. def. Yo Saito at Pancrase 256 on Feb 2, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan
3. def. Trevor Ward at Pancrase 258 on May 11, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan
4. def. Victor Henry at Pancrase 273 on Dec 13, 2015 in Tokyo, Japan
5. def. Jonathan Brookins at Pancrase 279 on July 24, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan
6. def. Rafael Silva at Pancrase 287 on May 28, 2017 in Tokyo, Japan

Ishiwatari was stripped of the title when he left Pancrase for Rizin.
— Flag of Brazil.svg Rafael Silva
def. Masakatsu Ueda for interim title		Pancrase 296
Tokyo, Japan 		May 20, 2018
3 Flag of Brazil.svg Rafael Silva
promoted to undisputed champion		——

1. def. Kenta Takizawa at Pancrase 303 on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan
2. def. Yuto Hokamura at Pancrase 307 on July 21, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan

Silva retired on October 7, 2022. Nakajima was promoted to full champion status. [11]
— Flag of Japan.svg Taichi Nakajima
def. Rui Imura for interim title		Pancrase 325
Tokyo, Japan 		Dec 11, 2021
4 Flag of Japan.svg Taichi Nakajima
promoted to undisputed champion		—Oct 7, 2022

1. def. interim champion Ryo Tajima at Pancrase 333 on April 30, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan

— Flag of Japan.svg Ryo Tajima
def. Toshinori Tsunemura for interim title		Pancrase 330
Yokohama, Japan 		Dec 25, 2022
Nakajima vacated the title on November 16, 2023..
5 Flag of Japan.svg Tokitaka Nakanishi
def. Yasuhiro Kawamura		Pancrase 340
Yokohama, Japan 		December 24, 2023

Flyweight Championship

Weight limit: 57 kg (125.7 lb)
In 2016 Pancrase revised this weight limit from 58 kg (127.9 lb) to its current limits.
No.NameEventDateDefenses
1 Flag of Japan.svg Mitsuhisa Sunabe
def. Takuya Eizumi		 Pancrase: Changing Tour 3
Tokyo, Japan 		Jun 7, 2009

1. def. Isao Hirose at Pancrase: Changing Tour 6 on Oct 25, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan

2 Flag of Japan.svg Kiyotaka Shimizu Pancrase Passion Tour 1
Tokyo, Japan 		Feb 7, 2010

1. def. Isao Hirose at Pancrase Passion Tour 6 on Jul 4, 2010 in Tokyo, Japan
2. drew with Mitsuhisa Sunabe at Pancrase Passion Tour 11 on Dec 5, 2010 in Tokyo, Japan
3. def. Mitsuhisa Sunabe at Pancrase Impressive Tour 5 on Jun 5, 2011 in Tokyo, Japan
4. drew with Seiji Ozuka at Pancrase Progress Tour 1 on Jan 28, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan
5. def. Yuki Yasunaga at Pancrase Progress Tour 14 on Dec 1, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan
6. def. Atshushi Yamamoto at Pancrase 257 on March 30, 2014 in Yokohama, Japan

Shimizu was stripped of the title after losing to Ryuichi Miki in "champion's assessment bout" in Dec 2015. [12]
3 Flag of Japan.svg Ryuichi Miki
def. Yuki Yasunaga		Pancrase 279
Tokyo, Japan 		July 24, 2016
4 Flag of Japan.svg Mamoru Yamaguchi Pancrase 285
Tokyo, Japan 		Mar 12, 2017
5 Flag of Japan.svg Senzo IkedaPancrase 289
Tokyo, Japan 		Aug 20, 20171. def. Yuya Wakamatsu at Pancrase 293 on Feb. 4, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan
— Flag of Japan.svg Shohei Masumizu
def. Masatatsu Ueda for interim title		Pancrase 307
Tokyo, Japan 		Jul 21, 2019
— Flag of Japan.svg Toru Ogawa
def. Masatatsu Ueda for interim title		Pancrase 324
Tokyo, Japan 		Oct 16, 2021
Ikeda vacated the title on January 24, 2022, in order to compete with ONE Championship. [13]
6 Flag of Japan.svg Toru Ogawa
promoted to undisputed champion		——
7 Flag of Japan.svg Satoru EnomotoPancrase 326
Tokyo, Japan 		March 21, 2022
8 Flag of Japan.svg Rei TsuruyaPancrase 330
Yokohama, Japan 		December 25, 2022
— Flag of Japan.svg Seiichiro Ito
def. Naoki Arikawa for interim title		Pancrase 340
Yokohama, Japan 		December 24, 2023
Tsuruya vacated the title on April 3, 2024.
9 Flag of Japan.svg Seiichiro Ito
promoted to undisputed champion		—April 3, 20241. def. Muhammad Salohidinov at Pancrase 346 on July 21, 2024 in Tokyo, Japan

Strawweight Championship

Weight limit: 52 kg (114.6 lb)
In 2016 Pancrase revised this weight limit from 50 kg (110.2 lb) to its current limits.
No.NameEventDateDefenses
1 Flag of Japan.svg Mitsuhisa Sunabe
Pancrase 271
Tokyo, Japan 		Nov. 1, 2015

1. def. Daichi Kitakata at Pancrase 283 on Dec 18, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan
2. def. Shinya Murofushi at Pancrase 295 on Apr 15, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan

2 Flag of Japan.svg Daichi Kitakata
Pancrase 307
Tokyo, Japan 		July 21, 2019

1. def. Yuta Miyazawa at Pancrase 325 on Dec. 12, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan

3 Flag of Japan.svg Keito Yamakita Pancrase 328
Tokyo, Japan 		July 18, 2022
— Flag of Japan.svg Ryohei Kurosawa
def. Takafumi Ato for interim title		Pancrase 342
Tokyo, Japan 		April 29, 2024

Women's championship history

Women's Bantamweight Championship

Weight limit: 61 kg (134.5 lb)
In 2016 Pancrase revised this weight limit from 62 kg (136.7 lb) to its current limits.
No.NameEventDateDefenses
1 Flag of Japan.svg Rin Nakai
def. Danielle West		Pancrase Progress Tour 14
Tokyo, Japan 		Dec 1, 20121. def. Brenda Gonzales at Pancrase 247 on May 10, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan
2. def. Tara LaRosa at Pancrase 252 on Sep 29, 2013 in Kanagawa, Japan
3. def. Sarah D'Alelio at Pancrase 258 on May 11, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan
4. def. Emiko Raika at Pancrase 279 on Jul 24, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan
5. def. Charlene Watt-Broome at Pancrase 282 on Nov 13, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan
Nakai vacated the title in 2018 when she left Pancrase for the DEEP.

Women's Flyweight Championship

Weight limit: 57 kg (125.7 lb)
In 2016 Pancrase revised this weight limit from 58 kg (127.9 lb) to its current limits.
No.NameEventDateDefenses
1 Flag of Brazil.svg Sidy Rocha
def. Takayo Hashi 		Pancrase 304
Tokyo, Japan 		Apr 14, 2019
— Flag of Japan.svg Takayo Hashi
def. Nori Date for interim title		Pancrase 324
Tokyo, Japan 		October 16, 2021
2 Flag of Japan.svg Takayo Hashi
promoted to undisputed champion		—March 30, 20231. def. Nori Date at Pancrase 333 on April 30, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan
3 Flag of Japan.svg Honoka ShigetaPancrase 341
Tokyo, Japan 		March 31, 2024
4 Flag of Japan.svg Shizuka Sugiyama Pancrase 346
Tokyo, Japan 		July 21, 2024

Women's Strawweight Championship

Weight limit: 52 kg (114.6 lb)
No.NameEventDateDefenses
1 Flag of Japan.svg Syuri Kondo
def. Kinberly Tanaka Novaes		Pancrase 287
Tokyo, Japan 		May 28, 2017
Kondo vacated the title in September 2017 when she left Pancrase for the UFC.
2 Flag of Brazil.svg Viviane Araujo
def. Emi Fujino 		Pancrase 298
Tokyo, Japan 		Aug. 5, 2018
Araujo vacated the title in 2019 when she signed with the UFC.
3 Flag of Japan.svg Emi Fujino
def. Hyun Ji Jang		Pancrase 311
Tokyo, Japan 		December 8, 2019
4 Flag of Japan.svg KarenPancrase 326
Tokyo, Japan 		March 21, 2022
5 Flag of Japan.svg Haruka HasegawaPancrase 333
Tokyo, Japan 		April 30, 2023

Women's Atomweight Championship

Weight limit: 47.6 kg (104.9 lb)
No.NameEventDateDefenses
1 Flag of Japan.svg Satomi Takano
def. Sayako Fujita		Pancrase 341
Tokyo, Japan 		March 31, 2024

Defunct titles

Super Heavyweight Championship

Weight limit: unlimited
On January 30, 2008 Pancrase adopted a variant of Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts and retires the super heavyweight championship. [14] [15]
No.NameEventDateDefenses
1 Flag of Japan.svg Tsuyoshi Kosaka
def. Ron Waterman 		Pancrase Brave 10
Chiba, Japan 		Nov 7, 2004
Kosaka vacated the title in January 2006.

Light Flyweight Championship

Weight limit: 54 kg (119.0 lb)
This weight class was disabled in 2016
No.NameEventDateDefenses
1 Flag of Japan.svg Mitsuhisa Sunabe
def. Hiroyuki Abe		Pancrase Impressive Tour 13
Tokyo, Japan 		Dec 3, 2011

1. def. Noboru Tahara at Pancrase 252: 20th Anniversary on Sept. 29, 2013 in Yokohama, Japan

Sunabe vacated title when he dropped to compete in a lower weight class.
2 Flag of Japan.svg Kento Kambe
def. Yukitaka Musashi		Pancrase 273
Tokyo, Japan 		Dec. 13, 2015

By nationality

The following include championship title holders by nationality.

CountryTitles
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 65
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 10
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 6
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 2
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela 1
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 1
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 1

References and footnotes

  1. ↑ Rutten was injured in January 1996 and could not defend his title; Shamrock captured an interim championship en route to his title-unification fight with Rutten.
  2. 1 2 "King of Pancrase Title History". Quebrada.net. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  3. ↑ Breen, Jordan (2006-10-23). "With Eye on UFC, Marquardt Relinquishes KOP Belt". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2007-02-15.
  4. ↑ Fukui, Masa (2004-09-15). "Former Welterweight & Middleweight King of Pancrase Kiuma Kunioku". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  5. ↑ "News Page 17: Pancrase 2005 Spiral Tour". StarzWorld.com. Archived from the original on 2007-03-16. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  6. ↑ Nowe, Jason (2004-07-27). "Inoue Takes Interim King of Pancrase Title". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2007-07-28.
  7. ↑ "Kenta Takagi replaces Hiromitsu Miura in Pancrase 306 headliner". asianmma.com. May 29, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Akihiro Murayama faces Masayuki Kikuiri in interim welterweight title fight at Pancrase 3241". asianmma.com. August 17, 2021.
  9. ↑ Nelson, Chris (2011-04-11). "Blanco Abdicates Pancrase Throne; Lightweight GP Begins May 3". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
  10. ↑ マルロン・サンドロがパンクラス王座返上 タクミが正規王者に昇格 (in Japanese). Sports Navi. Archived from the original on January 12, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  11. ↑ "パンクラス 12.25 横浜武道館：中島太一のバンタム級王座に4連勝中のTSUNEが挑戦。石渡・瀧澤・金太郎・佐藤将光と戦ったハファエル・シウバは引退 | BOUTREVIEW" (in Japanese). 2022-10-07. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
  12. ↑ Breen, Jordan (2016-05-16). "'TUF 12' Winner Brookins Rematches Ishiwatari for BW Crown at Pancrase 279 Title Doubleheader". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  13. ↑ "【パンクラス】仙三がフライ級王座返上、正規王者となった小川徹が早くも1位・猿飛流の挑戦を受ける". efight.jp. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  14. ↑ MMAFighting.com - Pancrase to adopt Unified Rules of MMA weight classes<!—- Bot generated title --> Archived 2008-02-13 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ↑ Pancrase Official Site<!—- Bot generated title -->

See also

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