Caol Uno

Caol Uno
Born	(1975-05-08) May 8, 1975 Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan
Nationality	Japanese
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight	145 lb (66 kg; 10.4 st)
Division	Featherweight Lightweight
Reach	70 in (180 cm)
Stance	Southpaw
Fighting out of	Tokyo, Japan
Team	Uno Dojo Wajitsu Keishukai
Teacher(s)	Rumina Sato Yoshinori Nishi
Rank	A-class Shootist Black belt in Judo Black belt in Jiu-jitsu
Years active	1996–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total	61
Wins	33
By knockout	2
By submission	18
By decision	13
Losses	23
By knockout	9
By submission	3
By decision	11
Draws	5
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Caol Uno

Medal record
Men's Grappling
Representing Japan
ADCC World Championship
	1999 Abu Dhabi	-77kg

Kaoru "Caol" Uno (宇野薫, Uno Kaoru) (born May 8, 1975) is a Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. He is the Co-Champion of the UFC 41 Lightweight Tournament and a former Shooto Lightweight Champion. As one of the early Ultimate Fighting Championship's elite Lightweight competitors, Uno competed for the UFC Lightweight Championship on two occasions. Despite falling short in both championship bouts; losing a five-round decision against Jens Pulver at UFC 30, to determine the inaugural UFC Lightweight Champion as well as a draw against B.J. Penn at UFC 41 (in a bout which would have determined the new UFC Lightweight Champion and UFC 41 Lightweight Tournament Winner), Uno is acknowledged as a pioneer for his impact and influence during the early era of the UFC Lightweight Division.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Uno finished second in the All Japan amateur Shooto tournament in 1996. He was a runner-up in the submission wrestling world championships at ADCC losing in the finals to world-renowned Jean Jacques Machado.

Shooto

Uno rose through the ranks of the Shooto mixed martial arts organization in Japan. In May 1999, Uno fought the then-legendary Rumina Sato. The fight was hailed as "Fight of the Year", an extremely fast-paced back and forth battle with a wide variety of stand-up and grappling exchanges. Eventually, Uno took the back of Sato and choked him into submission.

The two rematched in December 2000. This fight concluded with Uno standing over Sato on his back, then striking him with a knee and a punch while he was getting up, knocking him out.

UFC

After his second victory over Rumina Sato, Uno was recruited to fight for the UFC's Bantamweight (later renamed Lightweight) title against Jens Pulver. Throughout the fight, Pulver stopped Uno's takedown attempts and pressed the action on the feet. Uno, who had earned a reputation as being "unflappable", began to show frustration for the first time in his career as Pulver neutralized all his offensive efforts. Pulver took a majority decision win in the fight.

After Pulver left the UFC, the Lightweight Championship was vacated. A tournament was put together pitting the top Lightweights in the UFC (B.J. Penn, Din Thomas, Matt Serra and Caol Uno). In the first round, Uno faced Thomas. Thomas dominated the first round, setting a high pace. However, Uno turned things around, taking the second and third rounds to win the fight.

In the finals of the tournament, Uno faced Penn (who had previously defeated Uno by knockout in under 12 seconds). Uno used angles and effective wrestling techniques to frustrate Penn, who appeared tentative from the start, while Penn was dominant in spurts. The fight was called a draw and neither fighter won the championship belt.

Return to Japan

Uno then went on to fight Tatsuya Kawajiri in Shooto before fighting at K-1's 2004 Premium Dynamite!! and K-1 MAX: Japan Grand Prix 2005. His next eleven fights were for the then newly established promotion Hero's.

Uno next competed in DREAM's Lightweight Grand Prix. He was seeded directly into the second round, DREAM 3, where he beat Mitsuhiro Ishida via rear-naked choke submission to progress to the Dream 5: Lightweight Grand Prix 2008 Final Round. At Dream 5, Uno lost a unanimous decision to Shinya Aoki.

UFC return

Uno was spotted in attendance at UFC 94, fueling talk of a return to the UFC's Lightweight division. It was later confirmed that Uno had signed with the UFC and would face Spencer Fisher at UFC 99: The Comeback. In spite of finishing the bout pounding Fisher with punches from top crucifix position, Uno lost by a controversial unanimous decision. Then, on November 21, 2009, Uno fought UFC newcomer Fabrício Camões to a majority draw at UFC 106.

On March 31, 2010, Uno fought Gleison Tibau at UFC Fight Night 21. He was overpowered by the much bigger Tibau, and suffered a loss via TKO (punches). After the fight he was released from the promotion.

Post-UFC career

After parting ways with the UFC, the fighter's trajectory in the Japanese MMA circuit was marked by a diverse range of outcomes. Following his featherweight debut in Dynamite!! 2010, where he faced a unanimous decision loss against Kazuyuki Miyata, he rebounded with a victory over Akiyo Nishiura at Dream: Fight for Japan! in May 2011. However, a notable setback occurred in September 2011 when he suffered a knockout defeat due to a head kick from Takeshi Inoue at DREAM 17.

Undeterred, he demonstrated resilience in subsequent matches, securing wins via submission over opponents such as Kyu Hwa Kim, Anthony Avila, and Daniel Romero in 2013. The trend continued with victories against Jesse Brock, Taiki Tsuchiya, and Raja Shippen in 2014.. Despite facing challenges and a decision loss to Yoshifumi Nakamura in January 2015, he rebounded with a submission win against Jung Ho Hwang in April 2016.

The fighter continued to navigate the competitive landscape, experiencing both victories and defeats. Notable moments include a submission win over Markus Held in November 2019 and a KO loss to Taison Naito in May 2021. The journey reached its recent chapter with decision losses to Akira Haraguchi in November 2021 and a knockout defeat to Shota Takagi at Shooto 2023 Vol.7 in November 2023.

Professional wrestling career

Uno debuted in professional wrestling in December 2000 as part of the Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye event. He teamed up with Akira Shoji against The Great Sasuke and Daijiro Matsui, but his team lost when Sasuke pinned him.

All Japan Pro Wrestling (2002–2003)

Uno then signed up with All Japan Pro Wrestling in June 2002, where he debuted as a partner for Kendo Kashin against Kaz Hayashi and Kashin's double Mr. Problem (played again by Matsui), albeit in another losing effort. In November, he became also part of the event Wrestle-1, co-promoted with K-1. Coming under a monkey mask (which he quickly lost) and the name "The Apeman Nigo", Uno teamed up with Kashin to defeat La Parka and Super Parka.

He returned to AJPW in May 2003 under his Apeman Nigo persona. He and Kaz Hayashi lost to Kashin and Low Ki, but at the next event he teamed up with Ki to beat Gran Naniwa and Ryuji Hijikata. At the next day, he competed under his true name with Keiji Mutoh, winning over 728% Machine and The Apeman 200%, and then recovered his Nigo mask to team with Mutoh and Taka Michinoku in a winning effort against The Great Sasuke, The Great Kosuke and The Apeman. Uno's last appearance for AJPW would be in July, allying with Kashin and Robbie Brookside to beat Hayashi, Jimmy Yang and Ebessan.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

• All Japan Amateur Shooto
  • All Japan Amateur Shooto Tournament Runner-up (1996)
• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • UFC 41 Lightweight Tournament Co-Champion (drew with B.J. Penn in the finale)
• Shooto
  • Shooto Lightweight Championship (One Time)
  • One successful title defense vs. Rumina Sato
• K-1 Hero's
  • 2007 K-1 HERO'S Lightweight Tournament Semifinalist
  • 2006 K-1 HERO'S Lightweight Tournament Runner Up
  • 2005 K-1 HERO'S Lightweight Tournament Semifinalist
• DREAM
  • 2008 DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix Semifinalist

Submission wrestling

• ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship
  • ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship Silver Medalist 66k-76k (1999)

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown

62 matches	34 wins	23 losses
By knockout	2	9
By submission	19	3
By decision	13	11
Draws	5

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Loss	34–23–5	Shota Takagi	KO (knee and punches)	Shooto 2023 Vol.7	November 19, 2023	2	0:56	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	34–22–5	Akira Haraguchi	Decision (unanimous)	VTJ 2021	November 6, 2021	3	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	34–21–5	Taison Naito	KO (punch)	Shooto – Professional Shooto 2021 Vol. 3	May 16, 2021	2	4:59	Tokyo, Japan
Win	34–20–5	Markus Held	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Shooto 30th Anniversary Tour: Final	November 24, 2019	2	1:56	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	33–20–5	Duane van Helvoirt	Decision (unanimous)	Shooto 30th Anniversary Tour at Korakuen Hall	May 6, 2019	3	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	33–19–5	Yutaka Saito	Decision (unanimous)	Shooto: Professional Shooto 4/23	April 23, 2017	5	5:00	Chiba, Japan
Win	33–18–5	Jung Ho Hwang	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Shooto-Mobstyles: Fight and Mosh	April 23, 2016	2	0:31	Chiba, Japan
Loss	32–18–5	Shigeki Osawa	TKO (punches)	Shooto: Professional Shooto 7/26	July 26, 2015	2	4:03	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	32–17–5	Yoshifumi Nakamura	Decision (unanimous)	Shooto - 1st Round 2015	January 25, 2015	3	5:00	Tokyo, Japan	For Shooto Pacific Rim Lightweight Championship.
Win	32–16–5	Raja Shippen	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Vale Tudo Japan: VTJ 6th	October 4, 2014	2	4:33	Tokyo, Japan
Win	31–16–5	Taiki Tsuchiya	Decision (unanimous)	Shooto: 4th Round 2014	May 5, 2014	3	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Win	30–16–5	Jesse Brock	Decision (unanimous)	Vale Tudo Japan: VTJ 4th	February 23, 2014	3	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Win	29–16–5	Daniel Romero	Submission (inverted triangle choke)	Vale Tudo Japan: VTJ 3rd	October 5, 2013	2	2:23	Tokyo, Japan
Win	28–16–5	Anthony Avila	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Vale Tudo Japan: VTJ 2nd	June 22, 2013	3	1:53	Tokyo, Japan
Win	27–16–5	Kyu Hwa Kim	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Shooto: 2nd Round 2013	March 16, 2013	1	4:10	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	26–16–5	Shintaro Ishiwatari	Decision (unanimous)	Shooto: 10th Round	September 30, 2012	3	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	26–15–5	Takeshi Inoue	KO (head kick)	DREAM 17	September 24, 2011	1	4:17	Saitama, Saitama, Japan
Win	26–14–5	Akiyo Nishiura	Decision (unanimous)	Dream: Fight for Japan!	May 29, 2011	2	5:00	Saitama, Saitama, Japan
Loss	25–14–5	Kazuyuki Miyata	Decision (unanimous)	Dynamite!! 2010	December 31, 2010	3	5:00	Saitama, Saitama, Japan	Featherweight debut.
Loss	25–13–5	Gleison Tibau	TKO (punches)	UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi	March 31, 2010	1	4:13	Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Draw	25–12–5	Fabrício Camões	Draw (majority)	UFC 106	November 21, 2009	3	5:00	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss	25–12–4	Spencer Fisher	Decision (unanimous)	UFC 99	June 13, 2009	3	5:00	Cologne, Germany
Loss	25–11–4	Shinya Aoki	Decision (unanimous)	Dream 5: Lightweight Grand Prix 2008 Final Round	July 21, 2008	2	5:00	Osaka, Japan	Semi-Final Round of DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix
Win	25–10–4	Mitsuhiro Ishida	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Dream 3: Lightweight Grand Prix 2008 Second Round	May 11, 2008	2	1:39	Saitama, Saitama, Japan	Quarter-Final Round of DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix
Loss	24–10–4	Andre Amade	Decision (unanimous)	HERO'S 10	September 17, 2007	3	5:00	Yokohama, Japan	HERO'S 2007 Lightweight Grand Prix Semi-Final.
Win	24–9–4	Katsuhiko Nagata	Decision (unanimous)	HERO'S 9	July 16, 2007	3	5:00	Yokohama, Japan	HERO'S 2007 Lightweight Grand Prix Quarter-Final.
Win	23–9–4	Ali Abdelaziz	Submission (armbar)	HERO'S 8	March 12, 2007	1	1:58	Nagoya, Japan
Loss	22–9–4	Gesias Cavalcante	Decision (majority)	HERO'S 7	October 9, 2006	2	5:00	Yokohama, Japan	HERO'S 2006 Lightweight Grand Prix Final.
Win	22–8–4	Ivan Menjivar	Decision (unanimous)	HERO'S 7	October 9, 2006	2	5:00	Yokohama, Japan	HERO'S 2006 Lightweight Grand Prix Semi-Final.
Win	21–8–4	Kultar Gill	Submission (rear-naked choke)	HERO'S 6	August 5, 2006	2	3:30	Tokyo, Japan	HERO'S 2006 Lightweight Grand Prix Quarter-Final.
Win	20–8–4	Ole Laursen	Submission (rear-naked choke)	HERO'S 5	May 3, 2006	2	4:36	Tokyo, Japan	HERO'S 2006 Lightweight Grand Prix Opening Round.
Win	19–8–4	Rich Clementi	Decision (unanimous)	HERO'S 4	March 15, 2006	2	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	18–8–4	Norifumi Yamamoto	TKO (doctor stoppage)	HERO'S 3	September 7, 2005	2	4:04	Tokyo, Japan	HERO'S 2005 Lightweight Grand Prix Semi-Final.
Win	18–7–4	Hideo Tokoro	Decision (unanimous)	HERO'S 3	September 7, 2005	2	5:00	Tokyo, Japan	HERO'S 2005 Lightweight Grand Prix Quarter-Final.
Loss	17–7–4	Joachim Hansen	KO (knee)	HERO'S 1	March 26, 2005	3	4:48	Saitama, Japan
Win	17–6–4	Serkan Yılmaz	Submission (armbar)	K-1 MAX: Japan Grand Prix 2005	February 23, 2005	1	1:59	Tokyo, Japan
Win	16–6–4	Chandet Sorpantrey	Submission (rear-naked choke)	K-1: Premium 2004 Dynamite!!	December 31, 2004	2	0:19	Osaka, Japan
Draw	15–6–4	Tatsuya Kawajiri	Draw	Shooto: 3/22 in Korakuen Hall	March 22, 2004	3	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	15–6–3	Hermes França	KO (punch)	UFC 44	September 26, 2003	2	2:46	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Draw	15–5–3	B.J. Penn	Draw (split)	UFC 41	February 28, 2003	5	5:00	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	For the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship. UFC Lightweight Championship tournament final.
Win	15–5–2	Din Thomas	Decision (unanimous)	UFC 39	September 27, 2002	3	5:00	Uncasville, Connecticut, United States	UFC Lightweight Championship tournament opening round.
Win	14–5–2	Yves Edwards	Decision (unanimous)	UFC 37	May 10, 2002	3	5:00	Bossier City, Louisiana, United States
Loss	13–5–2	B.J. Penn	KO (punches)	UFC 34	November 2, 2001	1	0:11	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	UFC Lightweight title eliminator.
Win	13–4–2	Fabiano Iha	TKO (punches)	UFC 32	June 29, 2001	1	1:48	East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States
Loss	12–4–2	Jens Pulver	Decision (unanimous)	UFC 30	February 23, 2001	5	5:00	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	For the inaugural UFC Lightweight Championship.
Win	12–3–2	Rumina Sato	KO (punch)	Shooto: R.E.A.D. Final	December 17, 2000	1	2:21	Chiba, Chiba, Japan	Defended the Shooto World Welterweight (154 lbs.) Championship.
Loss	11–3–2	Marcio Barbosa	Technical Submission (guillotine choke)	Shooto: R.E.A.D. 9	August 27, 2000	3	1:49	Yokohama, Japan
Win	11–2–2	Dennis Hallman	Decision (unanimous)	Shooto: R.E.A.D. 3	April 2, 2000	3	5:00	Osaka, Japan
Draw	10–2–2	André Pederneiras	Draw	Vale Tudo Japan 1999	December 11, 1999	3	8:00	Tokyo, Japan
Win	10–2–1	Din Thomas	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Shooto: Renaxis 4	September 5, 1999	3	3:16	Tokyo, Japan
Win	9–2–1	Rumina Sato	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Shooto: 10th Anniversary Event	May 29, 1999	3	4:02	Yokohama, Japan	Won the Shooto World Welterweight (154 lbs.) Championship.
Win	8–2–1	Ricardo Botelho	Submission (punches)	Vale Tudo Japan 1998	October 25, 1998	3	2:03	Tokyo, Japan
Win	7–2–1	Zvonko Jakovcevic	Submission (triangle choke)	Shooto: Las Grandes Viajes 4	July 29, 1998	1	3:15	Tokyo, Japan
Win	6–2–1	Ian James Schaffa	Technical Submission (armbar)	Shooto: Las Grandes Viajes 3	May 13, 1998	3	3:13	Tokyo, Japan
Win	5–2–1	Yuji Fujita	Decision (unanimous)	Shooto: Las Grandes Viajes 2	March 1, 1998	2	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	4–2–1	Naoya Uematsu	Submission (Achilles lock)	Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '97 Lightweight Tournament	December 20, 1997	1	0:23	Japan
Win	4–1–1	Hiroki Kotani	Decision (unanimous)	Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '97 Lightweight Tournament	December 20, 1997	2	3:00	Japan
Win	3–1–1	Masahito Wachi	Decision (unanimous)	Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '97 Lightweight Tournament	December 20, 1997	2	3:00	Japan
Draw	2–1–1	Takuya Kuwabara	Draw	Shooto: Reconquista 4	October 12, 1997	2	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Win	2–1	Yuzo Tateishi	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Shooto: Gig	June 25, 1997	1	2:14	Tokyo, Japan
Win	1–1	Patrick Tapels	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Japan Extreme Challenge Vale Tudo Open	May 28, 1997	1	2:20	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	0–1	Hayato Sakurai	Submission (armbar)	Shooto: Let's Get Lost	October 4, 1996	1	2:52	Tokyo, Japan

Submission grappling record

KO PUNCHES

See also

• List of male mixed martial artists
• List of Shooto champions
• List of Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners

External links

• Official Fight Team
• Official website
• Professional MMA record for Caol Uno from Sherdog
• Caol Uno at UFC