Yoji Anjo
Encyclopedia
, is a Japanese
professional wrestler
and mixed martial artist
. He was born in Suginami, Japan on December 31, 1969.
along with Akira Maeda
, Nobuhiko Takada
and the rest of the roster. He competed in the NJPW junior heavyweight
division but did not have success at all. In 1988 he moved to the second version of the UWF and in 1991 he joined UWF International
.
In UWFI, he had success as the top native heel. He feuded with Takada and Kazuo Yamazaki
, and had also a match with the Iron Sheik. It was Anjo who had the idea of co-promoting events with NJPW in 1995, and earned a victory over Masahiro Chono
in an interpromotional match. He and young wrestlers Yoshihiro Takayama
and Kenichi Yamamoto formed a stable called the "Golden Cups" to feud in tag team
and six-man matches against Super Strong Machine
as the masked 200% Machines. They also forayed into WAR
to feud with Genichiro Tenryu
and others.
Following UWFI's collapse he joined Kingdom
but then wandered into independent promotions and also began competing in MMA matches (see below). In 2000 he resurfaced to help out All Japan Pro Wrestling
's rebuilding, and won the Double Cup tag team titles with old foe Genichiro Tenryu. He then wandered again, joining HUSTLE run by old comrade Takada for a few gimmick matches.
In a bid to regain credibility, Yoji Anjoh travelled to California to challenge Rickson Gracie
in the latter's own dojo, only to be swiftly and brutally defeated before the assembled Japanese press that had followed him there. With the UWFi's formerly fearsome reputation in tatters, its attendance numbers swiftly decreased, with the federation closing its doors once and for all in December 1996. In their final show it was Sakuraba who at long last headlined, defeating Yoji Anjoh by submission.
|Loss
|align='center'|0-5-1
|
Ryan Gracie
|Submission (armbar)
|Pride Shockwave 2004
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|8:33
|Saitama
, Japan
|
|-
|Draw
|align='center'|0-4-1
|
Gia Chirragishvili
|Draw
|DEEP
- 1st Impact
|
|align='center'|3
|align='center'|5:00
|Nagoya, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align='center'|0-4
|
Matt Lindland
|TKO (strikes)
|UFC 29
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|2:58
|Tokyo
, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align='center'|0-3
| Murilo Bustamante
|Submission (arm triangle choke)
|UFC 25
|
|align='center'|2
|align='center'|0:31
|Tokyo
, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align='center'|0-2
| David Abbott
|Decision
|UFC Japan
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|15:00
|Yokohama
, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align='center'|0-1
| Sean Alvarez
|Submission (punches)
|U - Japan
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|34:26
| Japan
|
|-
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
and mixed martial artist
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
. He was born in Suginami, Japan on December 31, 1969.
Professional wrestling career
Anjo debuted as a professional wrestler in the first incarnation of the Japanese UWF, on July 6, 1985 against Osamu Hoshina. UWF's collapse later in the year led him into New Japan Pro WrestlingNew Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
along with Akira Maeda
Akira Maeda
is a retired Japanese professional wrestler, also known as Kwik-kik-Lee for his time on the British Wrestling show World of Sport. He helped develop the shoot-style of professional wrestling during the late 1980s....
, Nobuhiko Takada
Nobuhiko Takada
Nobuhiko Takada is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter and professional wrestler. He is best known for helping to popularize shoot-style professional wrestling, as one of the biggest stars of the Universal Wrestling Federation and Union of Wrestling Force International in the '80s and '90s. He...
and the rest of the roster. He competed in the NJPW junior heavyweight
Cruiserweight (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a cruiserweight is a wrestler weighing 220 lb and less, sometimes 215. The older term junior heavyweight, which was used to describe the division, is more favored in Japan, where many titles for lighter-weight competitors are called junior heavyweight titles...
division but did not have success at all. In 1988 he moved to the second version of the UWF and in 1991 he joined UWF International
UWF International
Union of Wrestling Forces International, better known as UWF International, U-Inter, or simply UWFi, was a shoot style professional wrestling promotion in Japan from 1991 to 1996. Although the matches were worked , the UWF-i was very convincing for its time, promoting a more hard-hitting, realistic...
.
In UWFI, he had success as the top native heel. He feuded with Takada and Kazuo Yamazaki
Kazuo Yamazaki
Kazuo Yamazaki is a former Japanese professional wrestler, who is known for his work in New Japan Pro Wrestling and UWF International.-New Japan Pro Wrestling :...
, and had also a match with the Iron Sheik. It was Anjo who had the idea of co-promoting events with NJPW in 1995, and earned a victory over Masahiro Chono
Masahiro Chono
, is a Japanese professional wrestler. He primarily wrestles for New Japan Pro Wrestling , but has also made appearances for the now defunct World Championship Wrestling, as a member of the New World Order. Chono was also known as Mister Black Jack when he first started as a villain. He is a...
in an interpromotional match. He and young wrestlers Yoshihiro Takayama
Yoshihiro Takayama
is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Takayama is well known for his ability to endure massive amounts of punishment, especially after his fight at PRIDE 21 against Don Frye...
and Kenichi Yamamoto formed a stable called the "Golden Cups" to feud in tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
and six-man matches against Super Strong Machine
Junji Hirata
is a Japanese professional wrestler who wrestles for the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion, and currently uses the ring name .-Career:Hirata made his debut in New Japan on August 26, 1978 against Yoshiaki Fujiwara...
as the masked 200% Machines. They also forayed into WAR
WAR (wrestling promotion)
Wrestle and Romance, and later Wrestle Association R, was a professional wrestling promotion founded and run by Genichiro Tenryu as the successor to Super World of Sports, and which lasted from 1992 to 2000. The promotion had very few regular contracted workers, instead most of the workers were...
to feud with Genichiro Tenryu
Genichiro Tenryu
Genichiro Tenryu , real name Genichiro Shimada , is a Japanese professional wrestler. At age 13, he entered sumo wrestling and stayed there for 13 years, after which he turned to Western-style professional wrestling...
and others.
Following UWFI's collapse he joined Kingdom
Kingdom (professional wrestling)
Kingdom, was a professional wrestling company in Japan from 1997 to 1998. It was essentially a continuation of UWF International, having most of its former roster: Nobuhiko Takada, Yoji Anjo, Kazushi Sakuraba, Daijiro Matsui, Naoki Sano, Masahito Kakihara, Yoshihiro Takayama, Kenichi Yamamoto and...
but then wandered into independent promotions and also began competing in MMA matches (see below). In 2000 he resurfaced to help out All Japan Pro Wrestling
All Japan Pro Wrestling
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
's rebuilding, and won the Double Cup tag team titles with old foe Genichiro Tenryu. He then wandered again, joining HUSTLE run by old comrade Takada for a few gimmick matches.
In a bid to regain credibility, Yoji Anjoh travelled to California to challenge Rickson Gracie
Rickson Gracie
Rickson Gracie is a Brazilian 8th degree black and red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a retired mixed martial artist. He is a member of the Gracie family: the son of Hélio Gracie, brother to Rorion and Relson Gracie, and half-brother to Rolker, Royce, Robin and Royler Gracie.-Biography:Rickson...
in the latter's own dojo, only to be swiftly and brutally defeated before the assembled Japanese press that had followed him there. With the UWFi's formerly fearsome reputation in tatters, its attendance numbers swiftly decreased, with the federation closing its doors once and for all in December 1996. In their final show it was Sakuraba who at long last headlined, defeating Yoji Anjoh by submission.
In wrestling
- All Japan Pro WrestlingAll Japan Pro Wrestlingis a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
- AJPW Double Cup Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Genichiro TenryuGenichiro TenryuGenichiro Tenryu , real name Genichiro Shimada , is a Japanese professional wrestler. At age 13, he entered sumo wrestling and stayed there for 13 years, after which he turned to Western-style professional wrestling...
- AJPW Double Cup Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Genichiro Tenryu
- Wrestling Association RWAR (wrestling promotion)Wrestle and Romance, and later Wrestle Association R, was a professional wrestling promotion founded and run by Genichiro Tenryu as the successor to Super World of Sports, and which lasted from 1992 to 2000. The promotion had very few regular contracted workers, instead most of the workers were...
- WAR World Six-Man Tag Team ChampionshipWAR World Six-Man Tag Team ChampionshipThe WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship is a tag team title previously contested for in the Japanese professional wrestling promotion Wrestle Association R ....
(2 times) with Yoshihiro TakayamaYoshihiro Takayamais a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Takayama is well known for his ability to endure massive amounts of punishment, especially after his fight at PRIDE 21 against Don Frye...
and Kenichi Yamamoto; with Hiromichi FuyukiHiromichi Fuyukiwas a Japanese professional wrestler and promoter who competed in All Japan Pro Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling, Wrestle Association R and other Japanese and international promotions during the 1980s and 1990s as the leader of 6-man tag team Fuyuki-Gun with Gedo and Jado.He is best known,...
and Bam Bam Bigelow - Trans Wrestling Alliance
- TWA Tag Team Championship with Tiger MaskSatoru Sayamais a Japanese professional wrestler, best known as the original Tiger Mask. He's wrestled under his real name as well as the names Sammy Lee, and masked Super Tiger, Tiger King, Tiger Mask and The Mask of Tiger...
Mixed martial arts record
|-|Loss
|align='center'|0-5-1
|
Ryan GracieRyan Gracie
Ryan Gracie , was a Brazilian mixed martial artist with a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He was a member of the Gracie family, and the grandson of Carlos Gracie, one of the founders of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu...
|Submission (armbar)
|Pride Shockwave 2004
PRIDE Shockwave 2004
Pride Shockwave 2004 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. The event took place at the Saitama Super Arena on December 31st, 2004...
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|8:33
|Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
|
|-
|Draw
|align='center'|0-4-1
|
Gia Chirragishvili|Draw
|DEEP
DEEP
Deep is a Japan- based mixed martial arts promoting and sanctioning organization. It is promoted by Shigeru Saeki who is also the former Public Relations Director of Pride Fighting Championships. Deep is considered second-tier Japanese promotion, as a feeder to larger shows like Dream. Their...
- 1st Impact
|
|align='center'|3
|align='center'|5:00
|Nagoya, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align='center'|0-4
|
Matt LindlandMatt Lindland
Matthew James Lindland is an American mixed martial artist, Olympic wrestler and politician. He won the Oregon Republican Party's nomination for the Oregon House of Representatives, District 52 seat on May 20, 2008....
|TKO (strikes)
|UFC 29
UFC 29
UFC 29: Defense of the Belts was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 16, 2000 at Differ Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.-History:...
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|2:58
|Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align='center'|0-3
|
Murilo BustamanteMurilo Bustamante
Murilo Bustamante |Lion's Den]], Ikuhisa Minowa, Ryuta Sakurai , Dave Menne and undefeated top ranked Middleweight Matt Lindland .-Instructor lineage:Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda → Carlos Gracie, Sr...
|Submission (arm triangle choke)
|UFC 25
UFC 25
UFC 25: Ultimate Japan 3 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on April 14, 2000 at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.-History:The event was the third UFC event to be held in Japan...
|
|align='center'|2
|align='center'|0:31
|Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align='center'|0-2
|
David AbbottTank Abbott
David Lee Abbott is an American mixed martial arts fighter and former professional wrestler. He has described his fighting style, which he developed brawling in the bars and streets of Huntington Beach, California, as "street fighting"...
|Decision
|UFC Japan
UFC Japan
UFC Japan: Ultimate Japan was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 21, 1997, in Yokohama, Japan...
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|15:00
|Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align='center'|0-1
|
Sean Alvarez|Submission (punches)
|U - Japan
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|34:26
| Japan
|
|-