Nicky Ryan vs. Masakazu Imanari

The Young Prodigy Takes The Win At Polaris!

This past weekend in Cardiff, Wales, BJJ fans were treated to a match between BJJ “prodigy” 17 year old Nicky Ryan and Japanese MMA and leglock legend, Masakazu Imanari.  The match was an exciting back and forth match, with each competitors attacking each other’s legs, before Nicky was able to take Imanari’s back and win by Rear Naked Choke in the final minutes of their match to become the Polaris lightweight champion.

Masakazu Imanari Biography

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Masakazu Imanari is an accomplished grappler and mixed martial artist who is universally known for his skill and preference for leglocks, earning him the nickname of “Ashikan Judan”- the Great Master of Leg Submissions.  One of his favorite moves is the heel hook, which he has created a unique entry from the stand up position to a forward roll, aptly named the "Imanari Roll" - which is a popular technique in both grappling competitions, as well as MMA fights (BJJ black belt and UFC fighter Ryan Hall has used this technique with great success in the UFC).

Imanari currently competes in the Featherweight division of One Championships.  He has been a professional fighter since 2000, fighting in DEEEP, ZST, Pancrase, Pride Fighting Championships and Cage Rage.  He is a former Cage Rage Featherweight Champion, DEEP Bantamweight Champion, two time DEEP Featherweight Champion, and DREAM Japan Grand Prix Finalist.  

Imanari was born on February 10, 1976 in Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan.  He was afflicted with a spinal condition as a child which required surgery three times.  At the age of 18, he began to train kickboxing and catch wrestling at the Fujiwara Dojo. He later moved to Antonio Inoki’s Universal Fighting Arts and Kingdom Ehrgeiz, where he trained shoot fighting and MMA under Hidetada Irie.  

Imanari received his A-Level Shoot wrestler (catch wrestling) status from Yuki Nakai under the Paraestra team and later received his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Marco Barbosa of Barbosa Jiu Jitsu.  In 2008, Imanari founded the Nippon Top Team with Japanese MMA stars Shinya Aoki and Satoru Kitaoka, and is currently a member of Team Roken.

Imanari’s Incredible MMA Career

Imanari has a MMA record of 57 total fights, with 37 wins (1 by knockout, 26 by submission, and 10 by decision), with 18 losses (4 by knockout, 14 by decision), and 2 draws.  

Through his 18 year fighting career, Imanari has had numerous fantastic wins and finishes, including defeating former UFC fighter Jorge Gurge and former WEC Featherweight Champion Mike Brown, both by heel hook.   He also became the Cage Rage World Featherweight Champion by defeating Robbie Olivier with a flying armbar, and defended his Cage Rage belt by winning by reverse heel hook against Jean Silva.

MMA Fights:  

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