D.P.

Nickname Ashikan Judan
Height 5 ft 5 in
Weight 145 lb
Born February 10, 1976
Primary fighting style Catch wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Wins 16
By knockout 1
By submission 11
Losses 6
Draws 1

Masakazu Imanari is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter best known for his adept skill with leglocks. He fights out of Team Roken in Kanagawa, Japan. He currently has a professional MMA record of 15-6-1 with notable victories over Danny Batten, Jorge Gurgel, Mike Brown, Robbie Olivier and Yoshiro Maeda. He is a veteran of Kingdom, DEEP, ZST, Pride, and Cage Rage. He also has had a successful career in Combat Wrestling, placing as high as 3rd and 2nd in their All-Japan championship tournaments.

He became the Cage Rage World Featherweight champion by defeating Robbie Olivier with a flying armbar at Cage Rage 20, making him the only mixed martial artist to currently hold belts in two separate major promotions (DEEP and Cage Rage). He defended his Cage Rage belt for the first time vs Jean Silva, winning by reverse heel hook in the first round injuring Silva's knee in the process. He is known for his proficiency in leglocks and his tendency to constantly pursue them.

His Japanese nickname of "Ashikan Judan" translated literally into English means "10th Dan of Leglocks", but can be roughly considered equivalent to "The Master of Leglocks".


Dream Featherweight Grand Prix

Imanari has been announced as a participant in the Dream Featherweight(63kg/138lbs) Grand Prix.

Imanari won his first-round matchup against Atsushi Yamamoto by split decision at DREAM 7 on March 8th, 2009.