Chihiro Suzuki (martial artist)

Chihiro Suzuki (鈴木千裕) is a Japanese kickboxer and mixed martial artist of Peruvian descent, currently competing in KNOCK OUT and in the Rizin Fighting Federation.

He is the current Rizin Featherweight champion and KNOCK OUT Black Super Lightweight champion.

As of April 2023, he is ranked as the ninth best super featherweight kickboxer in the world by Beyond Kick.

Suzuki made his professional mixed martial arts debut against Katsuyuki Hironaka at Pancrase 284 on February 5, 2017.

He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout and amassed a 2–2 record during the following year, before being placed in the Pancrase Flyweight Neo Blood tournament.

Suzuki faced Kento Mizutani in the tournament quarterfinals at Pancrase 294 on March 11, 2018.

He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.

Suzuki faced Satoru Enomoto in the tournament semifinals at Pancrase 297 on July 1, 2018.

He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Suzuki captured the tournament title with a unanimous decision victory over Kohei Sugiyama in the tournament finals at Pancrase 299 on September 9, 2018.

Suzuki was expected to face Tatsuyuki Nakamura at Pancrase 302 on December 9, 2018.

The fight was cancelled the day before it was supposed to take place, as Suzuki missed weight by 2.8 kg at the official weigh-ins.

Genki Yamaguchi, chairman of Suzuki's gym, suggested he switch to kickboxing after this weight miss.

Suzuki made his Rizin debut against Shoji Maruyama at Rizin 30 - Saitama on September 19, 2021.

He lost the fight by a first-round knockout, 20 seconds into the opening round.

Suzuki faced Sora Yamamoto at Rizin Trigger 1 on November 28, 2021.

He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Suzuki faced the 2017 K-1 Lightweight Grand Prix runner-up Ren Hiramoto at Rizin Landmark 2 on March 6, 2023.

He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Suzuki revealed in the post-fight interview that he had suffered injuries in both of his hands prior to the bout taking place.

Suzuki faced Kyohei Hagiwara at Super Rizin & Rizin 38 on September 25, 2022.

He was able to take Hagiwara down in the second round and forced him to tap to a rear naked choke at the midway point of the round.

Suzuki faced the 2011 DREAM Japan Bantamweight Grand Prix Runner Up and two-weight DEEP champion Masakazu Imanari at Rizin Landmark Vol.4 on November 6, 2022.

He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Suzuki faced Yoshiki Nakahara at Bellator MMA vs. Rizin on December 31, 2022.

He won the fight by a first-round knockout.

Suzuki was expected to challenge Kleber Koike Erbst for the Rizin Featherweight Championship at Rizin 43 – Sapporo on June 24, 2023.

Erbst missed weight by 400g at the official weigh-ins and was accordingly stripped of his title, leaving only Suzuki eligible to capture the newly vacant belt.

Although Suzuki tapped to a triangle choke at the 2:59 minute mark of the opening round, the fight result was immediately overturned into a no-contest, due to Erbst's weight miss.

Suzuki faced former Bellator Lightweight Champion and reigning Bellator Featherweight Champion Patrício Pitbull in a short notice 154-pound catchweight bout on July 30, 2023, at Bellator MMA x Rizin 2.

He won the fight via knockout in the first round.

Suzuki challenged the reigning Rizin FF Featherweight champion Vugar Keramov at Rizin Landmark 7 on November 4, 2023.

He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout via upkick and ground and pound from bottom position.

Suzuki made his professional kickboxing debut against Ryoga "Vulcan" Imoto at Shoot Boxing 2019 Young Caeser Cup Central 25 on May 26, 2019.

He won the fight by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 30–28 and one scorecard of 30–26.

Suzuki won a single shoot point in the opening round, awarded to him for successfully planting Imoto on his back with a hip throw.

Suzuki faced Yosuke at REBELS 62 on October 4, 2019.

He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.

Suzuki knocked his opponent down with a right cross 35 seconds into the opening round and knocked him down for the second time with a left uppercut 40 seconds later, which forced Yosuke's corner to throw in the towel.

Suzuki faced the 37-fight veteran Satoru Hashimoto in a -64 kg catchweight bout at the KNOCK OUT × REBELS cross-promotional event on October 4, 2019.