Darren Uyenoyama (born October 15, 1979) is a retired American professional mixed martial artist. Uyenoyama formerly competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Strikeforce, DREAM, DEEP, and Shooto.
| Darren Uyenoyama | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 15, 1979 San Francisco, California, United States |
| Other names | BC |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
| Weight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8 st 13 lb) |
| Division | Featherweight Bantamweight Flyweight |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Team | Faito Tamashii Combat Club Combat Sports Academy |
| Rank | Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Ralph Gracie[1] |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 16 |
| Wins | 10 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Losses | 6 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Last updated on: 2011 | |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  United States
| ||
| Men's Grappling | ||
| FILA World Wrestling Games | ||
 |
2007 Antalya | -62 kg |
Background
editUyenoyama was born and raised in San Francisco/South San Francisco area, and is a third-generation Japanese-American. Uyenoyama attended El Camino High School where he participated in wrestling. He also wrestled at Skyline College and was studying Kinesiology. He began training at Ralph Gracie's Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy while attending college. Uyenoyama had a successful career in BJJ, winning tournaments, and eventually transitioned his skills to mixed martial arts.[2]
Mixed martial arts career
editEarly career
editUyenoyama had his first mixed martial arts fight in 2002 against Rambaa Somdet, and although he did win his debut, he took a five-year hiatus before returning with another win.
DREAM
editUyenoyama made his DREAM debut against Hideo Tokoro and lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Strikeforce
editUyenoyama made his Strikeforce debut, defeating Andrew Valladerez via a rear-naked choke submission in 59 seconds at Strikeforce: Young Guns.
Uyenoyama moved his Strikeforce record to 2-0 with another first-round submission win with a guillotine choke over Anthony Figueroa.
Uyenoyama's third and final Strikeforce appearance took place at Strikeforce: Destruction. Uyenoyama won via unanimous decision.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
editUyenoyama signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2011.
Uyenoyama made his bantamweight debut against Japanese superstar Norifumi Yamamoto at UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos.[3] Uyenoyama defeated heavy favorite Yamamoto via unanimous decision.
Uyenoyama was expected to make his Flyweight debut at UFC on Fox 3 on May 5, 2012, against John Dodson. However, Uyenoyama was forced out of the bout and replaced by promotional newcomer Tim Elliott.[2]
Uyenoyama was expected to face Louis Gaudinot on October 5, 2012, at UFC on FX 5.[4] However, Gaudinot was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Phil Harris.[5] Uyenoyama submitted Harris in the second round with a rear-naked choke.
Uyenoyama faced Joseph Benavidez on April 20, 2013, at UFC on Fox 7.[6] Uyenoyama lost the fight via TKO in the second round.
Uyenoyama was expected to face John Moraga on December 14, 2013, at UFC on Fox 9.[7] However, Moraga pulled out of the bout with an undisclosed injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Alptekin Özkiliç.[8] Uyenoyama lost the fight via split decision, and was subsequently released from the promotion shortly after.
Post-UFC career
editFollowing his release from the UFC, Uyenoyama signed with Pacific Xtreme Combat in September 2014. He faced Shane Alvarez at PXC 45 on October 24, 2014, and won the fight via ground-and-pound TKO in the first round.[9]
On March 13, 2015, he faced Kentaro Watanabe at PXC 47, winning the fight via split decision.
Uyenoyama challenged Riley Dutro for the vacant PXC Flyweight title on November 18, 2016, at PXC 55, losing the fight by TKO (punches) in the first round.
Mixed martial arts record
edit| 16 matches | 10 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 2 |
| By submission | 4 | 1 |
| By decision | 4 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 10–6 | Riley Dutro | TKO (punches) | Pacific Xtreme Combat 55 | November 18, 2016 | 1 | 2:46 | Mangilao, Guam | For the vacant Pacific Xtreme Combat (PXC) Flyweight Championship. | |
| Win | 10–5 | Kentaro Watanabe | Decision (split) | Pacific Xtreme Combat 47 | March 13, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Mangilao, Guam | ||
| Win | 9–5 | Shane Alvarez | TKO (punches) | Pacific Xtreme Combat 45 | October 24, 2014 | 1 | N/A | Mangilao, Guam | ||
| Loss | 8–5 | Alp Ozkilic | Decision (split) | UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Benavidez 2 | December 14, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Sacramento, California, United States | ||
| Loss | 8–4 | Joseph Benavidez | TKO (body punch) | UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Melendez | April 20, 2013 | 2 | 4:50 | San Jose, California, United States | ||
| Win | 8–3 | Phil Harris | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on FX: Browne vs. Bigfoot | October 5, 2012 | 2 | 3:38 | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | Flyweight debut. | |
| Win | 7–3 | Norifumi Yamamoto | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos | November 12, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Anaheim, California, United States | ||
| Win | 6–3 | Shuichiro Katsumura | TKO (punches) | Shooto: The Way of Shooto 5: Like a Tiger, Like a Dragon | September 23, 2010 | 2 | 3:53 | Tokyo, Japan | ||
| Loss | 5–3 | Tomoya Miyashita | Submission (guillotine choke) | Deep: 47 Impact | April 17, 2010 | 2 | 1:10 | Tokyo, Japan | ||
| Win | 5–2 | Brad Royster | Decision (unanimous) | Strikeforce: Destruction | November 8, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | San Jose, California, United States | ||
| Loss | 4–2 | Hideo Tokoro | Decision (unanimous) | Dream 4: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 Second Round | June 15, 2008 | 2 | 5:00 | Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan | ||
| Win | 4–1 | Anthony Figueroa | Submission (guillotine choke) | Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le | March 28, 2008 | 1 | 1:27 | San Jose, California, United States | ||
| Win | 3–1 | Andrew Valladerez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Strikeforce: Young Guns II | February 1, 2008 | 1 | 0:59 | San Jose, California, United States | ||
| Loss | 2–1 | Rolando Velasco | Decision (unanimous) | CCFC: Undefeated | October 6, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | San Mateo, California, United States | ||
| Win | 2–0 | Will Nerbonne | Submission (rear-naked choke) | CCFC: Judgement Day | February 17, 2007 | 1 | 2:30 | Santa Rosa, California, United States | ||
| Win | 1–0 | Rambaa Somdet | Decision (unanimous) | DEEP: 5th Impact | September 6, 2002 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan |
References
edit- ^ "An Unabashedly Biased Portrait of UFC Fighter Darren Uyenoyama - Part 1 | Breaking Muscle". Archived from the original on July 28, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
- ^ a b "Tim Elliott replaces Darren Uyenoyama, meets John Dodson at UFC on FOX 3". mmajunkie.com. April 17, 2012. Archived from the original on April 18, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- ^ "Yamamoto vs. Uyenoyama official for UFC on FOX 1". September 6, 2011. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
- ^ "Uyenoyama-Gaudinot added to UFC on FX 5". mmajunkie.com. August 1, 2012. Archived from the original on August 4, 2012.
- ^ "UFC confirms fights for UFC on FX 5, Uyenoyama vs. Harris now on tap". mmajunkie.com. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 26, 2012.
- ^ Matt Molgaard (March 6, 2013). "Joseph Benavidez Will Return Against Darren Uyenoyama at UFC on FOX 7". bleacherreport.com. Archived from the original on March 10, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
- ^ Luke Thomas (September 29, 2013). "Darren Uyenoyama vs. John Moraga set for UFC on FOX 9 fight card". mmafighting.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2013. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
- ^ Dave Doyle (November 26, 2013). "Injury forces John Moraga out of UFC on FOX 9 bout with Darren Uyenoyama". mmafighting.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
- ^ Pacific Daily News. "Aguon and Dy will fight for bantamweight title at PXC 45". guampdn.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
