Mizuto Hirota

Mizuto Hirota (廣田瑞人) is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Featherweight division of the Rizin Fighting Federation.

A professional competitor since 2005, he appeared in the Japanese MMA event Dynamite!! 2009 event and has also competed for Ultimate Fighting Championship, Shooto, and Strikeforce.

Born and raised in Japan, Hirota experienced success as an amateur boxer and sumo, winning All-Japan titles in both disciplines.

Hirota made his professional debut for Shooto, winning his first two fights by TKO and then won his next four fights all by unanimous decision to reach an undefeated professional record of 6–0.

Hirota then faced Takashi Nakakura for the newly vacated Shooto Pacific Rim Welterweight Championship.

Hirota was handed his first professional loss via unanimous decision and then lost his next fight, also by unanimous decision.

Hirota then signed with Cage Force, and in his debut, knocked out his opponent 16 seconds into the fight before getting another win via TKO.

In his next fight in April 2008, at Cage Force 6, Hirota defeated Tomonari Kanomata to win the Cage Force Lightweight Championship.

Hirota then entered the Sengoku 2008 Lightweight Grand Prix where he won his first-round fight by knocking out the last IFL Lightweight Champion, Ryan Schultz, at Sengoku 4 in August 2008.

He was then eliminated from the tournament in the semi-finals after losing by unanimous decision against Kazunori Yokota at World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 6 in November the same year.

In February 2009 he defended his Cage Force title when he fought to a draw with multiple-time King of Pancrase, Katsuya Inoue, and in May 2009 he defeated PRIDE veteran Mitsuhiro Ishida by knockout at Shooto Tradition Final.

On August 2, 2009, at Sengoku 9, Hirota was matched up with the eventual Sengoku Lightweight Grand Prix Champion and the inaugural Sengoku Lightweight Champion, Satoru Kitaoka.

Hirota, who was an underdog going in to the fight, had to defend multiple submission-attempts by Kitaoka during the first round, but came back in the second landing strikes on the feet while stopping Kitaoka's takedown-attempts.

In the third, Kitaoka was able to take Hirota down and control him on the ground eventually resulting in a yellow-card inactivity-warning for Hirota as he did not improve his position.

The fourth round saw Hirota damage Kitaoka with knee-strikes while on the feet, prompting Kitaoka to shoot in for a takedown.

Hirota defended it and continued to land knees to the head of the grounded Kitaoka which forced the referee to step in at 2:50, giving Hirota the TKO victory to become the new Sengoku Lightweight Champion.

On December 31, 2009, Hirota faced DREAM and WAMMA Lightweight Champion Shinya Aoki.

In the first round Aoki caught Hirota in a hammerlock.

When Hirota refused to submit, Aoki broke Hirota's arm and won the fight.

On March 7, 2010, Hirota announced during Sengoku 12 that he would be vacating his belt due to his injuries sustained at Dynamite!! 2009.

A year after he officially vacated his Sengoku Lightweight Championship belt, Hirota began fighting for DEEP.

Hirota's debut for the organization was against Katsunori Kikuno for the DEEP Lightweight Championship and Hirota won via unanimous decision, and then defended his belt against Seichi Ikemoto, winning again via unanimous decision.

Hirota then vacated his title in April 2012.

On May 29, 2012, it was announced that Hirota would make his United States debut for Strikeforce in July 2012 against Pat Healy.

In a back and forth bout, Hirota showcased technical boxing and some take down defense, but Healy was able to land more during the clinch.

Hirota lost the close battle by unanimous decision (30-27, 29–28, 29–28).

Strikeforce commentator and former UFC Middleweight Champion Pat Miletich stated the decision was affected by the home town favoring their own fighter.

Hirota was next scheduled to face Jorge Gurgel on September 29, 2012, but the event was cancelled before the company ceased operations.

Hirota was signed along with many other Strikeforce competitors to compete in the UFC.

Hirota faced Rani Yahya on March 3, 2013, at UFC on Fuel TV 8.

The fight was Hirota's first fight as a Featherweight.

After losing the first two rounds, Hiroto was able to keep the fight standing in the third, but it was not enough under the scorecard and he lost his debut via unanimous decision.

In his second UFC fight, Hirota faced Rodrigo Damm at UFC on Fuel TV: Nogueira vs. Werdum on June 8, 2013.

He lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision and was subsequently released from the promotion following the loss.

In June 2015, Hirota was announced as one of the eight featherweights competing on Road to UFC: Japan, a show in the style of The Ultimate Fighter.

On the show he faced Nobumitsu Osawa in the quarter-finals and won by decision.

He then faced Daiki Hata in the semifinals and again won by decision.

Hirota ultimately faced Teruto Ishihara in the finals at UFC Fight Night 75.

Post-fight the UFC announced that Hirota and Ishihara would both be awarded contracts.

Hirota was expected to face Cole Miller on October 15, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 97.