Pro Shooto 2026 Vol.5
Results from Shooto's PROFESSIONAL SHOOTO 2026 Vol.5 at Korakuen Hall (Tokyo) on July 20, 2026. Taiga Iwasaki TKO'd Yuji Arai to win the vacant Shooto World Middleweight Championship, and Ayaka Watanabe submitted Chiyo Takamoto for a successful first title defense.
Watanabe def. Takamoto — submission (rear-naked choke), R3 — successful 1st title defense
Key points
- Held July 20, 2026 (Marine Day national holiday) at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo — the event has concluded
- Per the promotion's own official billing, the true main event was the Women's Super Atomweight title fight: champion Ayaka Watanabe ('Nabe-Aya') finished Chiyo Takamoto with a rear-naked choke in round 3, her first successful defense since winning the belt in 2023, in a comeback fight after roughly two years out
- The semifinal — itself a second world title fight — settled the Shooto World Middleweight title tournament: Taiga Iwasaki stopped Yuji Arai by TKO at 0:28 of round 2 (right hand into ground strikes), claiming the belt left vacant by Yushin Okami's relinquishment
- Iwasaki (Daidojuku / Paraestra Tokyo) had reached the final by submitting U.S.-based fighter 'Henry' in the March 29 semifinal; veteran Arai advanced past rookie-king Samon
- Undercard results are not yet corroborated by a second independent source and are not listed here; this page will be updated once they are confirmed
Fight card
- 🏆 Shooto World Middleweight Title (vacant — tournament final)Middleweight
Iwasaki def. Arai — TKO (right hand into ground strikes), R2 0:28 — wins the vacant Shooto World Middleweight Championship
- MAIN🏆 Shooto World Women's Super Atomweight TitleWomen's Super Atomweight
Watanabe def. Takamoto — submission (rear-naked choke), R3 — successful 1st title defense
Report
Shooto's summer showcase at Korakuen Hall is built around a vacant crown. In the main event, the World Middleweight title tournament reaches its final, pairing top-ranked prospect Taiga Iwasaki against veteran Yuji Arai to replace departed champion Yushin Okami. Iwasaki, who represents Daidojuku and Paraestra Tokyo, arrives on a wave of momentum after submitting U.S.-based fighter 'Henry' in the semifinal, and has openly framed the belt as the goal he's been chasing. Arai is the grizzled counterpoint — experience, durability and a rookie-king scalp against Samon in his own semifinal. Youth-versus-veteran with a world title as the prize is exactly the kind of clean stakes that makes a tournament final compelling. Underneath it, reigning Women's Super Atomweight champion Ayaka Watanabe defends for the first time against Chiyo Takamoto; 'Nabe-Aya' has held the belt since 2023 without a defense, so her grip on the division is finally being tested. As of now these two title fights are the confirmed spine of the card, with the supporting bouts still to be announced. Watch for whether Iwasaki's finishing pace overwhelms Arai's savvy.
Results
The event went ahead as scheduled at Korakuen Hall on July 20, 2026, and has since concluded. Per the promotion's own official billing, the true main event was the Women's Super Atomweight title fight: champion Ayaka Watanabe ('Nabe-Aya') finished challenger Chiyo Takamoto with a rear-naked choke in round three, securing her first successful defense since winning the belt in 2023 and marking a winning return after roughly two years out of action.
The semifinal — itself a second world title fight — settled the Shooto World Middleweight title tournament: Taiga Iwasaki stopped Yuji Arai by TKO at 0:28 of round two, a right hand that led into ground strikes, to claim the belt left vacant by Yushin Okami's relinquishment. Iwasaki carried the finishing instinct he showed in the semifinal submission of 'Henry' straight into the final, getting to the finish first.
Results are cross-checked against MMAPLANET, Tokyo Headline and Yahoo News syndication. Undercard results will be added once corroborated by a second independent source.
FAQ
- What was the result of Iwasaki vs Arai?
- Taiga Iwasaki won by TKO at 0:28 of round two — a right hand into ground strikes — to capture the vacant Shooto World Middleweight Championship.
- Did Ayaka Watanabe successfully defend her title?
- Yes. Watanabe submitted Chiyo Takamoto with a rear-naked choke in round three, her first successful defense since winning the belt in 2023.
- Which fight was the actual main event?
- Both the promotion's pre-event billing and same-day reporting list the Women's Super Atomweight title fight (Watanabe vs. Takamoto) as the main event, with the Shooto World Middleweight title decision bout (Iwasaki vs. Arai) as the semifinal.