Ryo Chonan Youtube Videos
Ryo Chonan Bio
Ryo Chonan (長南亮, Chōnan Ryō, born October 8, 1976 in Tsuruoka, Yamagata) is a Japanese mixed martial artist, currently fighting in DEEP where he was the 3rd DEEP middleweight champion. He has previously competed in PRIDE Fighting Championships and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is noted for being one of two fighters to finish Anderson Silva in an MMA fight at PRIDE Shockwave 2005. He has also defeated the likes of Hayato Sakurai, Carlos Newton, and Joey Villasenor.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Chonan began his professional mixed martial arts career in 2001, losing his first fight in Pancrase – Neo Blood Tournament. He then went on to fight in DEEP, going 6-2 in the organization including a TKO win against former longtime Shooto middleweight champion Hayato Sakurai.
Then he fought in Pride Bushido 3 as team Japan fighter losing a decision against Ricardo Almeida. Then at Pride Bushido 5 he went on to defeat Carlos Newton via unanimous decision.
Chonan's next win was against future UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva at PRIDE: Shockwave 2004, where he executed a spectacular flying scissor-lock takedown, followed quickly by a heel-hook submission.
Chonan returned in DEEP defeating Roan Carneiro via TKO at 18th Impact.
He won his fight at PRIDE Bushido 7 against Nino Schembri via unanimous decision. His next fight was a KO loss against Phil Baroni at PRIDE Bushido 8. He also lost his next fight against future teammate Dan Henderson via KO at the opening seconds of the bout at PRIDE Bushido 9.
He returned in DEEP – 23 Impact to defeat Ryuta Sakurai by TKO to become the third DEEP Middleweight champion.
In the 2006 PRIDE Welterweight Grand Prix, Chonan suffered a broken orbital bone at the end of his match against Joey Villasenor caused by a stomp but was able to continue in the tournament. In his next match of the tournament, against Paulo Filho, Chonan was submitted by armbar early in the first round.
In February 2007, Chonan returned to DEEP and defeated former DEEP middleweight champion Ryuta Sakurai to retain the middleweight championship.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ryo Chonan made his UFC debut against Karo Parisyan on November 17, 2007 at UFC 78 which Chonan lost via unanimous decision after three rounds.
Chonan then defeated Roan Carneiro in their rematch via split decision on September 6, 2008 at UFC 88.
Chonan was also defeated in his next fight on December 27, 2008 by Brad Blackburn. Blackburn controlled the first two rounds before Chonan was significantly more dominant in the third round. He was unable to finish the fight by T/KO or submission and lost by Unanimous Decision, 2 rounds to 1.
Chonan is currently a part of the Team Quest, along with former PRIDE Fighting Championships middleweight and welterweight champion Dan Henderson, Matt Lindland, Jason "Mayhem" Miller, and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou.
Ryo Chonan was subsequently released from the UFC following a controversial split decision loss to TJ Grant.
Return to Japan
He won his fight at DEEP– 43 Impact against Jutaro Nakao by unanimous decision.
Chonan made his DREAM debut at DREAM.13 and defeating Andrews Nakahara by unanimous decision.
He then made his World Victory Road debut at Soul of Fight on December 30, 2010. Chonan was originally scheduled to face Dan Hornbuckle, but illness forced Hornbuckle off the card and he was replaced by Taisuke Okuno.
Chonan lost the fight via KO in the first round. Chonan returned at Deep - 54 Impact on June 24, 2011 against Iwase Shigetoshi. Chonan won the fight by knockout.
On October 29, Chonan defeated Naoki Samukawa by unanimous decision.
Chonan returned at Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011 where he faced Hayato Sakurai. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Championships and Accomplishments
- DEEP
- DEEP Middleweight Championship (1 Time)
- One successful title defense
- Sherdog
- 2005 Submission of the Year- vs. Anderson Silva on December 31
- Sports Illustrated
- 2000s Best Submission of the Decade- vs. Anderson Silva on December 31, 2004
- 2000s One Hit Wonder
- Bleacher Report
- 2000s Submission of the Decade- vs. Anderson Silva on December 31, 2004
- MMAFighting
- 2004 Middleweight Fighter of the Year
- 2004 Submission of the Year- vs. Anderson Silva on December 31
Mixed martial arts record
See also
- List of male mixed martial artists
External links
- Professional MMA record for Ryo Chonan from Sherdog
- Official website
- Official MySpace
- Pride official site (Japanese)
- Greatest Pride Fighting Knockouts, video of his match with Dan Henderson, retrieved on February 16, 2007
MMA Shirts
