Darren Uyenoyama
Born (1979-10-15) October 15, 1979 (age 44)
San Francisco, California, United States
Other namesBC
NationalityAmerican
Height5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Weight125 lb (57 kg; 8 st 13 lb)
DivisionFeatherweight
Bantamweight
Flyweight
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofSan Francisco, California, United States
TeamFaito Tamashii Combat Club Combat Sports Academy
RankBlack belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Ralph Gracie[1]
Years active2002–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total16
Wins10
By knockout2
By submission4
By decision4
Losses6
By knockout2
By submission1
By decision3
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Last updated on: 2011
Darren Uyenoyama
Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's Grappling
FILA World Wrestling Games
Gold medal – first place 2007 Antalya -62 kg

Darren Uyenoyama (born October 15, 1979) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing for Pacific Xtreme Combat in the Flyweight division. A professional competitor since 2002, Uyenoyama has formerly competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Strikeforce, DREAM, DEEP, and Shooto.

Background

Uyenoyama was born and raised in San Francisco/South San Francisco area, and is a third-generation Japanese-American. Uyenoyama attended El Camino High School where he participated in wrestling. He also wrestled at Skyline College and was studying Kinesiology. He began training at Ralph Gracie's Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy while attending college. Uyenoyama had a successful career in BJJ, winning tournaments, and eventually transitioned his skills to mixed martial arts.[2]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Uyenoyama had his first mixed martial arts fight in 2002 against Rambaa Somdet, and although he did win his debut, he took a five-year hiatus before returning with another win.

DREAM

Uyenoyama made his DREAM debut against Hideo Tokoro and lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Strikeforce

Uyenoyama made his Strikeforce debut, defeating Andrew Valladerez via a rear-naked choke submission in 59 seconds at Strikeforce: Young Guns.

Uyenoyama moved his Strikeforce record to 2-0 with another first-round submission win with a guillotine choke over Anthony Figueroa.

Uyenoyama's third and final Strikeforce appearance took place at Strikeforce: Destruction. Uyenoyama won via unanimous decision.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Uyenoyama signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2011.

Uyenoyama made his bantamweight debut against Japanese superstar Norifumi Yamamoto at UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos.[3] Uyenoyama defeated heavy favorite Yamamoto via unanimous decision.

Uyenoyama was expected to make his Flyweight debut at UFC on Fox 3 on May 5, 2012, against John Dodson. However, Uyenoyama was forced out of the bout and replaced by promotional newcomer Tim Elliott.[2]

Uyenoyama was expected to face Louis Gaudinot on October 5, 2012, at UFC on FX 5.[4] However, Gaudinot was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Phil Harris.[5] Uyenoyama submitted Harris in the second round with a rear-naked choke.

Uyenoyama faced Joseph Benavidez on April 20, 2013, at UFC on Fox 7.[6] Uyenoyama lost the fight via TKO in the second round.

Uyenoyama was expected to face John Moraga on December 14, 2013, at UFC on Fox 9.[7] However, Moraga pulled out of the bout with an undisclosed injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Alptekin Özkiliç.[8] Uyenoyama lost the fight via split decision, and was subsequently released from the promotion shortly after.

Post-UFC career

Following his release from the UFC, Uyenoyama signed with Pacific Xtreme Combat in September 2014. He faced Shane Alvarez at PXC 45 on October 24, 2014, and won the fight via ground-and-pound TKO in the first round.[9]

On March 13, 2015, he faced Kentaro Watanabe at PXC 47, winning the fight via split decision.

Uyenoyama challenged Riley Dutro for the vacant PXC Flyweight title on November 18, 2016, at PXC 55, losing the fight by TKO (punches) in the first round.

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
16 matches 10 wins 6 losses
By knockout 2 2
By submission 4 1
By decision 4 3
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 10–6 Riley Dutro TKO (punches) Pacific Xtreme Combat 55 November 18, 2016 1 2:46 Mangilao, Guam For the vacant Pacific Xtreme Combat (PXC) Flyweight Championship.
Win 10–5 Kentaro Watanabe Decision (split) Pacific Xtreme Combat 47 March 13, 2015 3 5:00 Mangilao, Guam
Win 9–5 Shane Alvarez TKO (punches) Pacific Xtreme Combat 45 October 24, 2014 1 N/A Mangilao, Guam
Loss 8–5 Alp Ozkilic Decision (split) UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Benavidez 2 December 14, 2013 3 5:00 Sacramento, California, United States
Loss 8–4 Joseph Benavidez TKO (body punch) UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Melendez April 20, 2013 2 4:50 San Jose, California, United States
Win 8–3 Phil Harris Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on FX: Browne vs. Bigfoot October 5, 2012 2 3:38 Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Flyweight debut.
Win 7–3 Norifumi Yamamoto Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos November 12, 2011 3 5:00 Anaheim, California, United States
Win 6–3 Shuichiro Katsumura TKO (punches) Shooto: The Way of Shooto 5: Like a Tiger, Like a Dragon September 23, 2010 2 3:53 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 5–3 Tomoya Miyashita Submission (guillotine choke) Deep: 47 Impact April 17, 2010 2 1:10 Tokyo, Japan
Win 5–2 Brad Royster Decision (unanimous) Strikeforce: Destruction November 8, 2008 3 5:00 San Jose, California, United States
Loss 4–2 Hideo Tokoro Decision (unanimous) Dream 4: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 Second Round June 15, 2008 2 5:00 Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Win 4–1 Anthony Figueroa Submission (guillotine choke) Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le March 28, 2008 1 1:27 San Jose, California, United States
Win 3–1 Andrew Valladerez Submission (rear-naked choke) Strikeforce: Young Guns II February 1, 2008 1 0:59 San Jose, California, United States
Loss 2–1 Rolando Velasco Decision (unanimous) CCFC: Undefeated October 6, 2007 3 5:00 San Mateo, California, United States
Win 2–0 Will Nerbonne Submission (rear-naked choke) CCFC: Judgement Day February 17, 2007 1 2:30 Santa Rosa, California, United States
Win 1–0 Rambaa Somdet Decision (unanimous) DEEP: 5th Impact September 6, 2002 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan

References

  1. ^ ["http://www.breakingmuscle.com/amp/fitness/an-unabashedly-biased-portrait-of-ufc-fighter-darren-uyenoyama-part-1 "http://www.breakingmuscle.com/amp/fitness/an-unabashedly-biased-portrait-of-ufc-fighter-darren-uyenoyama-part-1]. ((cite web)): Check |url= value (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ^ a b "Tim Elliott replaces Darren Uyenoyama, meets John Dodson at UFC on FOX 3". mmajunkie.com. April 17, 2012. Archived from the original on April 18, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  3. ^ "Yamamoto vs. Uyenoyama official for UFC on FOX 1". September 6, 2011. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  4. ^ "Uyenoyama-Gaudinot added to UFC on FX 5". mmajunkie.com. August 1, 2012. Archived from the original on August 4, 2012.
  5. ^ "UFC confirms fights for UFC on FX 5, Uyenoyama vs. Harris now on tap". mmajunkie.com. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 26, 2012.
  6. ^ Matt Molgaard (March 6, 2013). "Joseph Benavidez Will Return Against Darren Uyenoyama at UFC on FOX 7". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  7. ^ Luke Thomas (September 29, 2013). "Darren Uyenoyama vs. John Moraga set for UFC on FOX 9 fight card". mmafighting.com. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  8. ^ Dave Doyle (26 November 2013). "Injury forces John Moraga out of UFC on FOX 9 bout with Darren Uyenoyama". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  9. ^ Pacific Daily News. "Aguon and Dy will fight for bantamweight title at PXC 45". guampdn.com. Archived from the original on 2014-09-09. Retrieved 2014-09-13.

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