Yuki Kondo

Yuki Kondo (近藤 有己 [kondoː juːki], Kondō Yūki, born July 17, 1975) is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Middleweight division. He has competed in 70 fights for the Pancrase organization. but has also competed for the UFC, PRIDE, Sengoku, Palace Fighting Championships, BodogFIGHT, and DEEP. He has competed overseas only four times, but holds a record of 3-1. He is the former Pancrase Light Heavyweight Champion as well as the former Pancrase Middleweight Champion.

Background

Kondo is from Niigata, Japan, began Shorinji Kempo in high school, and is currently a second dan rank.

Mixed martial arts career

Pancrase

Kondo made his professional debut for the Pancrase organization in Japan in early 1996 when he was 21 years old at the Pancrase: Truth 1. His decision to compete for Pancrase was heavily influenced by Masakatsu Funaki being the co-founder, as Kondo looked up to the professional wrestler Funaki. Kondo won his debut by a guillotine choke submission in the first round and would go to reach a 7-0-1 record, before he was handed his first career loss by Jason DeLucia in a decision. He would then defeat DeLucia in a rematch via toe hold submission. All but one of Kondo's first 38 career fights were under the Pancrase banner, and he held a record of 31-4-3 with wins over Minoru Suzuki, Semmy Schilt (3x), Keiichiro Yamamiya (2x), Pete Williams, Guy Mezger, Masakatsu Funaki (3x), Ikuhisa Minowa, Jason DeLucia, Kazuo Takahashi, and Manabu Yamada before making his UFC debut.