Introduction
Enson Inoue (Japanese: エンセン井上, born April 15, 1967) is a Japanese-American retired mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 1995 until 2010, he fought for the PRIDE Fighting Championships, the UFC, Shooto, and Vale Tudo Japan. He is a former Shooto Heavyweight Champion. Inoue was featured in the documentary film Rites of Passage: The Rebirth of Combat Sports. He also appeared in the martial arts movie Redbelt.
Background
Born and raised in Hawaii as a first-generation American with Japanese parents, Inoue began practicing the martial arts hapkido and Taekwondo in order to defend himself from bullies. Inoue also played football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, ran in track and field, and also excelled in racquetball, alongside his brother Egan. At the age of 21, Inoue began learning Gracie Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Mixed martial arts career
Enson's achievements include a victory over UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, and giving Frank Shamrock one of his toughest matches. Enson had an exhibition match in Mudo Spirit on September 16, 2007.
Enson and his brother were awarded black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by John Lewis. He subsequently demoted himself to purple belt in July 2016 citing that BJJ has moved on since attaining his black belt. He also holds a yondan (fourth degree black belt) in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu and was a former College Wrestler. He won the Shooto Heavyweight Title against Joe Estes on October 12, 1997. Enson appeared in the 2008 martial arts film Redbelt as a cameo role.
Personal life
Enson, a Japanese American from Hawaii has a stepson (Erson) and is the brother of Egan Inoue, a mixed martial artist and a two time racquetball World Champion player. He was married to the sister of Ultimate Fighting Championship Bantamweight fighter Norifumi Yamamoto in which he took in and trainedNorifumi in mixed martial arts after an incident with the Yakuza. Enson has asserted that he is "not Yakuza" but admits to doing business with members of Yakuza.
Enson runs several MMA gyms located in Japan, Saipan, Palau and Guam under the name Purebred. He also has affiliated gyms located in Thailand, Canada and the USA.
In 2011, Enson travelled to northeast Japan to directly help the earthquake and tsunami victims in areas such as Fukushima.
Marijuana arrest
In October 2008, Inoue was arrested in Tokyo for marijuana possession and spent 28 days in prison before being released on November 14, 2008. The charges against him were eventually dropped.
Championships and accomplishments
- Shooto
- Heavyweight Championship (One time)
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- UFC 13 Lightweight Tournament Finalist
- ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship
- 1999 ADCC Superfight Champion, Second Place
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 19 matches | 12 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 5 | 4 |
| By submission | 7 | 1 |
| By decision | 0 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 12–8 | Antz Nansen | Submission (armbar) | Astra: Yoshida's Farewell | April 25, 2010 | 1 | 2:10 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 11–8 | Tommy Sauer | TKO (punches) | SB 35: SuperBrawl 35 | April 16, 2004 | 1 | 4:14 | Hawaii, United States | |
| Win | 11–7 | Soichi Nishida | Submission (choke) | FFCF 1: Fury Full Contact Fighting 1 | January 10, 2004 | 1 | 1:00 | Guam | |
| Loss | 10–7 | Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | Technical submission (triangle choke) | PRIDE 19 | February 24, 2002 | 1 | 6:17 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Loss | 10–6 | Heath Herring | TKO (knees) | PRIDE 12 | December 9, 2000 | 1 | 4:52 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Loss | 10–5 | Igor Vovchanchyn | TKO (doctor stoppage) | PRIDE 10 | August 27, 2000 | 1 | 10:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 10–4 | Mark Kerr | Decision (unanimous) | PRIDE Grand Prix 2000: Opening Round | January 30, 2000 | 1 | 15:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 10–3 | Soichi Nishida | Submission (rear-naked choke) | PRIDE 5 | April 29, 1999 | 1 | 0:24 | Nagoya, Japan | |
| Win | 9–3 | Randy Couture | Submission (armbar) | VTJ 1998: Vale Tudo Japan 1998 | October 25, 1998 | 1 | 1:39 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 8–3 | Frank Shamrock | TKO (punches) | VTJ 1997: Vale Tudo Japan 1997 | November 29, 1997 | 2 | 7:17 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 8–2 | Joe Estes | TKO (submission to punches) | Shooto: Reconquista 4 | October 12, 1997 | 1 | 1:06 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the Shooto Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–2 | Royce Alger | Technical Submission (armbar) | UFC 13 | May 30, 1997 | 1 | 1:36 | Augusta, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 6–2 | Rei Zulu | TKO (elbows) | Shooto: Reconquista 2 | April 6, 1997 | 1 | 0:45 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 5–2 | Mushtaq Abdullah | TKO (submission to punches) | Shooto: Let's Get Lost | October 4, 1996 | 1 | 0:38 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 4–2 | Igor Zinoviev | TKO (punches) | VTJ 1996: Vale Tudo Japan 1996 | July 7, 1996 | 1 | 0:44 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 4–1 | Joe Estes | Decision (majority) | Shooto: Vale Tudo Junction 3 | May 7, 1996 | 3 | 8:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 4–0 | Andre Mannaart | TKO (punches) | Shooto: Vale Tudo Junction 1 | January 20, 1996 | 1 | 3:20 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 3–0 | Ed de Kruijf | Technical Submission (armbar) | Shooto: Complete Vale Tudo Access | July 29, 1995 | 1 | 1:40 | Japan | |
| Win | 2–0 | Rene Rooze | Submission (rear naked choke) | VTJ 1995: Vale Tudo Japan 1995 | April 20, 1995 | 1 | 6:41 | Japan | |
| Win | 1–0 | Shingo Shigeta | TKO (punches) | Shooto: Vale Tudo Access 3 | January 21, 1995 | 1 | 1:10 | Tokyo, Japan |
Submission grappling record
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
| Win | Tully Kulihaapai | Submission (armbar) | PRIDE 7 | 1999 | 1 | ||
| Loss | Mario Sperry | Points | ADCC 1999 Absolute | 1999 | 1 |