Tsuyoshi Nakasako

Tsuyoshi Nakasako (中迫剛; born January 29, 1974) is a Japanese retired heavyweight kickboxer who competed in K-1.

During his ten-year career from 1998 until 2008, he fought a variety of K-1 champions including Ernesto Hoost, Peter Aerts, Remy Bonjasky, Mark Hunt, and Andy Hug.

Nakasako made his professional kickboxing debut on May 24 at the K-1 Braves '98 event in Fukuoka.

In a dominant effort, he earned a TKO victory over taekwondo champion Pierre Guenette.

Three months later, he reached the finals of the K-1 Japan Grand Prix '98 tournament before suffering his first defeat: a majority decision loss to former world champion Masaaki Satake.

Losses Stan Longinidis and Andy Hug followed, but Nakasako rebounded with wins over world champion Dewey Cooper and Muay Thai exponent Tofan Pirani.

He reached the semifinals of the K-1 Spirits '99 and K-1 Andy Memorial events, but endured decision losses to Nobu Hayashi and Musashi, respectively.

Despite an eventual TKO loss, Nakasako made a strong showing against K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 winner Mark Hunt at K-1 Rising 2002, scoring a knockdown with a kick to the head and pressuring the champion effectively.

This was followed shortly afterwards with a disqualification win over the debuting Bob Sapp at K-1 Survival 2002, awarded after Sapp shoved Nakasako into the corner, threw him to the ground and repeatedly struck him while he was down.

Nakasako next entered the K-1 Andy Spirits tournament, where he dominantly made his way to the finals and fought five rounds to an eventual decision loss against Musashi.

At K-1 Burning 2004, Naksako faced Remy Bonjasky in the Dutchman's first match after winning the K-1 World Grand Prix 2003.

After a dynamic bout wherein the Japanese fighter appropriated his opponent's signature flying knee attacks, Nakasako eventually suffered a TKO in the closing seconds of the final round.

He came back with an impressive first round knockout of Mavrick Harvery, effectively dominating the cage fighter.

Further tournament competition followed, with Nakasako continuing to fall short but nevertheless achieving the occasional surprising victory, such as his defeat of his rival Kaoklai Kaennorsing at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Seoul.

Naksako entered his final tournament - the K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Fukuoka - on June 29.

After defeating Bernard Ackah in the quarterfinals, he moved on to face karate champ Ewerton Teixeira and lost by unanimous decision.

This was his last match to date, leaving him with a professional record of 19 wins, 26 losses, and 1 draw.

! style=background:white colspan=9 |Fight was for the K-1 Andy Spirits title.

! style=background:white colspan=9 |Sapp was disqualified after striking Nakasako on the ground.

! style=background:white colspan=9 |The fight was stopped after Naksako suffered a broken nose.

! style=background:white colspan=9 |Fight was for the for K-1 Japan Grand Prix '98 title.