Goiti Yamauchi


Goiti Yamauchi is a Japanese-born Brazilian mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Lightweight division for Bellator MMA.

Background

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

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

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.
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.
Yamauchi faced Will Martinez in the quarterfinal match of on February 28, 2014 at Bellator 110. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Yamauchi faced Mike Richman on May 17, 2014 at Bellator 120. He won the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision.
Yamauchi faced Martin Stapleton on September 19, 2014 at Bellator 125. 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. However, Yamauchi pulled out of the fight due to injury and was replaced by Emmanuel Sanchez.
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.
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.
Yamauchi faced Ryan Couture at Bellator 162 on October 21, 2016. He won the fight via submission just over a minute into the first round and became the first fighter to submit Couture.
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.
Yamauchi faced Adam Piccolotti at Bellator 183 on September 23, 2017. He won the fight via submission in the first round.
Yamauchi next faced Michael Chandler at Bellator 192 on January 20, 2018. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Yamauchi faced Saad Awad at Bellator 229 on October 4, 2019. He won the fight via a verbal submission due to an armbar in the first round.
Yamauchi faced Daron Cruickshank at on December 29, 2019. He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts