Yusaku Kinoshita Record: 6-3-0

UFC run

The jump to the Octagon proved a steep one. Kinoshita made his UFC debut in February 2023 against Adam Fugitt and was stopped late in the first round by elbows from the mount, a hard introduction to the level of the division. He returned that August against Billy Goff in a fight he was competitive in before a body shot led to a first-round ground-and-pound finish. Both setbacks underscored the same theme: an exciting, all-action striker who can hurt anyone but who has been caught when fights hit the canvas. He is booked to share the cage with Jonny Parsons on a UFC Fight Night card as he looks to get back in the win column.

Fighting style

Kinoshita is a pure finisher — every one of his six professional wins has come inside the distance, a 100 percent finish rate, split between four knockouts and two submissions. His length, kicking and combination punching make him a constant threat on the feet, and he has shown enough grappling to lock up chokes when the opportunity appears. The honest weakness is on the mat in retreat: both of his UFC losses came by ground strikes after opponents put him on his back, and tightening his takedown defense and scrambling is the clearest path to translating his obvious offensive talent into UFC wins.

Career highlights

• Contender Series contract — knocked out unbeaten prospect Jose Henrique Souza in the third round to earn his place on the UFC roster.
• Perfect finish rate — all six of his career wins have come by stoppage, four by knockout and two by submission, marking him as one of the division's most aggressive finishers.
• Regional dominance — rattled off a string of first-round finishes across DEEP, Pancrase and RIZIN before age 22, establishing himself as a top Japanese welterweight prospect.