Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist
Daisuke Nakamura (, born June 10, 1980) is a Japanese professional wrestler, mixed martial artist and submission grappler, currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah. He has fought for DREAM, Strikeforce, M-1 Global, ZST, Cage Rage, PRIDE, Vale Tudo Japan, DEEP, K-1 and Cage Force promotions. He is the former DEEP Lightweight Champion. Nakamura is also known for his incredible armbar variations, with most of his wins coming by armbar, and is famous for his tributes to the shoot-style circuit, often wearing the style's signature knee boots and short-tights in his fights.
He has also competed in professional wrestling, working for the U-STYLE promotion led by his trainer Kiyoshi Tamura.
Mixed martial arts career.
Early career.
Nakamura had his debut fight in PRIDE Fighting Championship against veteran journeyman Shannon Ritch at PRIDE The Best Vol.2. He showed his skill by submitting Ritch with an inverted armbar. He spent his next years fighting in GCM and DEEP, where he challenged for the Welterweight Championship, losing an effortful match by TKO at the third round. He would later enjoy an 8-match winning streak.
Dynamite!!
At December 31, 2008, Nakamura was slated to fight at the Dynamite!! event against Hideo Tokoro. This was a notable matchup because both Tokoro and Nakamura both sported similar fighting styles, were trained by former RINGS wrestlers and were seen by Japanese pundits as the heirs of the shoot-style circuit. The match was an exciting and fast-paced grappling contest, with Nakamura trying a flying kimura into an armbar immediately after Tokoro tried to take him down, and then Tokoro captured his back and performed a takedown similar to a German suplex. Daisuke kept trying for an armbar, and they rolled through the mat several times until Tokoro could attempt his own armbar. The bout stalled for several minutes, but it broke out again when Hideo rolled for a leglock. Nakamura, however, capitalized to transition the move into an armbar, making Tokoro finally tap out.
DEEP.
He captured the DEEP Lightweight Championship against Yasuaki Kishimoto and defended it before Pancrase veteran Takafumi Ito, but he lost it to fellow Pancrase exponent Satoru Kitaoka.
Four years departed from his previous fight, Nakamura returned to face Tatsunao Nagakura at DEEP: 97 Impact. He won the fight via second-round knockout.
Nakamura then faced the reigning featherweight champion Juntaro Ushiku in a non-title bout at DEEP 100 on February 21, 2021. He won the fight via second-round knockout.
Nakamura then challenged Ushiku for the DEEP Featherweight Championship in a rematch at DEEP 102 on July 4, 2021. He lost the fight via split decision.
Nakamura faced Suguru Nii at Rizin 31 - Yokohama on October 24, 2021. He won the bout via his signature flying armbar in the first round.
Nakamura faced Michihiro Omigawa at DEEP 106 on February 26, 2022. He won the fight via armbar in the third.
Nakamura faced Sora Yamamoto at Rizin 34 on March 20, 2022. He lost the fight by split decision.
Nakamura faced Yuta Sato at Deep 108 Impact on July 10, 2022. He won the bout by unanimous decision.
Nakamura faced Kouya Kanda at Deep 110 Impact on November 12, 2022. He lost the bout by unanimous decision.
Nakamura faced Tatsuhiko Iwamoto on December 18, 2022 at DEEP Osaka Impact 2022 4th Round, winning the bout via reverse heel hook in the second round.
Nakamura faced Min Woo Kim at Black Combat 5: Song of the Sword on February 4, 2023. He was choked out in the third round via rear-naked choke.
On July 14, 2024, he faced Rikuto "Dark" Shirakawa at DEEP 120 IMPACT, and although it was a close and heated battle, he lost by split decision.
Professional grappling career.
Nakamura was scheduled to compete at Quintet 4 on September 10, 2023 where he would represent Team Sakuraba. Nakamura drew his only match and his team went out in the opening round.
References.
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