Hatsu Hioki is the former TKO featherweight champion, the former Sengoku featherweight champion and the former Shooto lightweight champion.
Pre-UFC[]
He most recently defeated Jeff Lawson via triangle choke. He next faced off against the Sengoku featherweight champion, hard-hitting Marlon Sandro. He defeated Sandro via unanimous decision to earn the title.
He next faced Donald Sanchez in a Shooto non-title bout. He defeated Sanchez via second-round triangle choke. Hioki next vacated the Shooto lightweight title. He was a free agent briefly before officially signing with the UFC.
UFC[]
He next made his UFC debut at UFC 137 against WEC and Ultimate Fighter veteran George Roop, winning a very controversial split decision against Roop. It was widely believed to be a blatant robbery.
After the controversial victory, Hioki was called out by another WEC veteran, Bart Palaszewski. Hioki accepted the challenge and defeated Palaszewski via impressive unanimous decision in his home country of Japan.
After the victory, Hioki was offered a shot at UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo but stated that he wanted a few more UFC wins under his belt first. He next signed to face Ricardo Lamas, losing a close unanimous decision to Lamas.
Hioki next welcomed lightweight veteran Clay Guida to featherweight in January 2013. Guida defeated Hioki via a controversial split decision, putting Hioki on the UFC roster's chopping block due to the recent rash of UFC cuts in February 2013.
Hioki next fought wrestler Darren Elkins losing an upset unanimous decision. He was now without a doubt on that chopping block.
Hioki next fought Ivan Menjivar winning a close unanimous decision.
Hioki next signed to fight ground ace Charles Oliveira.
Fights[]
- Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Hatsu Hioki - Both fighters came into the fight undefeated and the fight was Hioki's first loss.
- Hatsu Hioki vs. Joe Pearson
- Hatsu Hioki vs. Hideki Kadowaki
- Hatsu Hioki vs. Mark Hominick 1 - The fight was for the TKO Major League featherweight title with Mark Hominick defending.
- Antonio Carvalho vs. Hatsu Hioki
- Hatsu Hioki vs. Baret Yoshida
- Hatsu Hioki vs. Takeshi Inoue - The fight was for the Shooto World Lightweight (143 lbs.) title with Takeshi Inoue defending. It was the Shooto featherweight title basically.
- Hatsu Hioki vs. Jeff Lawson
- Hatsu Hioki vs. Marlon Sandro - The fight was for the Sengoku featherweight title with Marlon Sandro defending.
- Hatsu Hioki vs. Donald Sanchez
- George Roop vs. Hatsu Hioki - The fight was the UFC debut for the highly-touted Hatsu Hioki. The fight was a controversial decision victory (robbery) for Hioki.
- Hatsu Hioki vs. Bart Palaszewski
- Hatsu Hioki vs. Clay Guida - The fight was the featherweight debut of Clay Guida.
- Darren Elkins vs. Hatsu Hioki
- Dan Hooker vs. Hatsu Hioki