Yuki Nakai
- January 10, 2024
- Judoka
Quick Facts
Yuki Nakai Biography
| Name | Yuki Nakai |
| Birthday | Aug 18 |
| Birth Year | 1970 |
| Place Of Birth | Hokkaido |
| Birth Country | Japan |
| Birth Sign | Leo |
Yuki Nakai is one of the most popular and richest Judoka who was born on August 18, 1970 in Hokkaido, Japan. Nakai started training judo and amateur wrestling at Hokkaido Sapporo North high school, originally with the dream to be a professional wrestler. After entering Hokkaido University, he joined the judo club and started training under renowned Kodokan master Kanae Hirata. At fourth grade, now as a black belt, Nakai competed at the Nanatei kosen judo championship, leading his university to the victory in 1992. At the same time, he joined the amateur division of mixed martial arts promotion Shooto, learning shoot wrestling under Satoru Sayama at the Super Tiger Gym. When Nakai graduated from college, he joined Shooto as a professional.
After retiring from MMA, Nakai became interested on Brazilian jiu-jitsu, not due to his own defeat to Rickson as it is popularly believed, but to Noboru Asahi’s loss to Royler Gracie in 1996. He learned it from Enson Inoue, and a year later he participated in his first BJJ tournament, the Gracie Honolulu Open hosted by Relson Gracie. Nakai soon won the Pan American Championship on the brown belt category, and afterwards he was granted the black belt by Carlos Gracie Jr, becoming the first person from Japan to hold a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. In 1997, Nakai opened the Paraestra Shooto Gym, and over time was appointed president of the Japanese Confederation of Jiu-Jitsu.
Yuki Nakai Net Worth
| Net Worth | $5 Million |
| Source Of Income | Judoka |
| House | Living in own house. |
Yuki Nakai is one of the richest Judoka from Japan. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Yuki Nakai 's net worth $5 Million. (Last Update: December 11, 2023)
Nakai made his MMA debut with a 53 second victory by keylock over Hiroki Noritsugu. He would follow with another win, submitting Masakazu Kuramochi via heel hook, but he was stopped short by Noboru Asahi in a decision loss. Still, Nakai recovered with two victories over Jun Kikuwada, both at the Seishinkaikan event representing Shooto and at a proper Shooto event, and another over Kyuhei Ueno by choke. In 1994, Nakai took part in the Vale Tudo Access series of events and fought Brazilian jiu-jitsu exponent and Rickson Gracie student Arthur Cathiard in the first of them, getting a draw after an uneventful bout spent at Yuki’s guard. Nakai, however, had acquired momentum, and he defeated standout Kazuhiro Kusayanagi for the Shooto Welterweight Championship shortly after. Then, starting 1995, he was chosen again to represent Shooto in Sayama’s Vale Tudo Japan event.
On April 20, 1995 Nakai entered the Vale Tudo Japan tournament, figuring at 150 lbs as the lightest competitor of the night. His first opponent would be the Dutch karate expert and Ultimate Fighting Championship semifinalist Gerard Gordeau. Started the match, Nakai immediately rushed his opponent with a takedown attempt, but Gordeau used the ropes to keep himself standing and punched Nakai’s head, and they remained entangled on them for the rest of the first round. At the second, the Japanese dropped down and initiated a heel hook entry, only for Gordeau to clamp himself to the ropes again and land strikes on his supine opponent, eye-gouging him illegally several times. Restarted on the center of the ring, a bloody and half-blinded Nakai was forced to lie down on the mat while he and Gordeau probed each other from their respective positions. Finally, after a third round passed on the ropes, Nakai scored a double leg takedown against the ring corner, escaped from a guillotine choke attempt by Gordeau and dropped down for another heel hook, this time managing to submit the Dutchman after half an hour of fighting.
Height, Weight & Body Measurements
| Height | 5 ft 7 in |
| Weight | 154 lbs |
Yuki Nakai height 5 ft 7 in Lennart weight 154 lbs & body measurements will update soon.
Who is Yuki Nakai Dating?
According to our records, Yuki Nakai is possibily single & has not been previously engaged. As of December 1, 2023, Yuki Nakai’s is not dating anyone.
Relationships Record : We have no records of past relationships for Yuki Nakai. You may help us to build the dating records for Yuki Nakai!
Facts & Trivia
Lennart Ranked on the list of most popular Judoka. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in Japan. Yuki Nakai celebrates birthday on August 18 of every year.
Top Facts about Yuki Nakai
- Yuki Nakai is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist.
- He was born on July 18, 1970 in Japan.
- Nakai competed in the early days of MMA.
- He is known for his grappling skills and toughness.
- Nakai founded the Paraestra gym in Japan.
- His professional record is 11 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws.
- Nakai won the inaugural Shooto middleweight championship in 1994.
- He famously fought Rickson Gracie at Vale Tudo Japan ’95.
- Nakai suffered permanent vision loss due to an eye injury during the fight with Gracie.
- Despite his injury, he continued to compete until retiring in 2000.
Is Yuki Nakai still blind?
Due to Gordeau’s illegal tactics and Nakai’s own refusal to get medical attention in order to continue in the tournament, he became permanently blind in his right eye. which forced him to retire from mixed martial arts competition.
Who blinded Yuki Nakai?
The fights that will never be forgotten In the first fight, Nakai faced 6 foot 5 kickboxer Gerard Gordeau. While Nakai had control of his opponent’s arm, Gordeau purposely gouged Nakai’s eye, leaving it terribly swollen and causing damage which would be enough to deter any fighter from competing.
Who did Gerard gordeau blind?
Gerard Gordeau Partially Blinds Yuki Nakai But for others, he is the owner of one of the most disgusting and gruesome fouls in the sport’s lifespan. In April 1995, Gordeau had his last professional MMA fight in Vale Tudo Japan against Yuki Nakai. Nakai grappled with Gordeau throughout the bout.
Who fought in UFC 2?
Opening RoundQuarterfinals
Remco Pardoel (Jujutsu)| Remco Pardoel
Alberto Cerra Leon (Pencak Silat)|
Jason Delucia (Shaolin Quan)|
Scott Baker (Kickboxing)
Who fought in UFC 3?
QuarterfinalsSemifinals
Keith Hackney (American Kenpo)|
Emmanuel Yarborough (Sumo)
Felix Mitchell (Shaolinquan) 1
| Ken Shamrock