[en] | Giant Ochiai

Takayuki Okada (岡田 貴幸, Okada Takayuki, May 8, 1973 – August 8, 2003), more widely known as Giant Ochiai (ジャイアント落合, Jaianto Ochiai), was a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Okada’s MMA record was 3-3-2 (win–loss–draw).[1]

Giant Ochiai
ジャイアント落合
Birth nameTakayuki Okada
Born(1973-05-08)May 8, 1973
Oga, Akita, Japan
DiedAugust 8, 2003(2003-08-08) (aged 30)
Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan
Cause of deathAcute subdural hematoma
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Giant Ochiai
Billed height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Billed weight130 kg (290 lb; 20 st)
Trained byNew Japan Dojo
Kenzo Suzuki
Debut2000

Career

As a student, Okada won the All Japan Industrial High School Judo League Championship four times. After graduating from college, he went to train at the Seidokaikan Tokyo Bom-Ba-Ye dojo with Naoyuki Taira. He also joined the amateur division of Shooto, placing second in its All Japan Amateur Shooto Championship in 1998 and 1999.

In 2000, after Seidokaikan mainstay Masaaki Satake tried his luck in Pride Fighting Championships, Okada followed him in order to do his own debut. He gained the ring name of “Giant Ochiai”, sporting shades and a large afro wig over his actual afro hair during his entrances, which drew popularity among the fans. The origin of the name would be found in his large height and weight and his real-life uncle, NPB announcer Hiromitsu Ochiai.

Ochiai trained with former Shooto founder Satoru Sayama and got to participate in his Ultimate Boxing event, a month later he debuted in Pride, fighting Ricco Rodriguez in a losing effort. His performance, however, was remarkable, defending multiple submission attempts and only being taken down for a failed judo throw, until he was submitted by smother choke. He continued fighting for Pride, defeating karate stylist Soichi Nishida and professional wrestler Tomohiko Hashimoto, as well as Pancrase exponent Kim Jong Wang.[2] He would also fight in King of the Cage.[3]

Also in 2000, Ochiai debuted in professional wrestling, working sporadically in the stiff style Battlarts organizations. He joined Riki Choshu‘s World Japan promotion for proper training.

Death

After an August 2003 training accident while training with Kenzo Suzuki[4] at World Japan’s dojo, Okada suffered an acute subdural hematoma and entered a coma from which he never recovered.[5] Okada died on August 8, 2003. Okada’s August 13 wake was attended by Masaaki Satake, Nobuhiko Takada, Kazushi Sakuraba and World Japan Management Director Katsuji Nagashima. A moment of silence was held in Pride Grand Prix 2003 in his honor.

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
8 matches3 wins3 losses
By knockout21
By submission11
By decision01
Draws2
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Draw3–3–2Memo DiazDrawDeep – 9th ImpactMay 5, 200325:00Tokyo, Japan
Win3–3–1Kim Jong WangSubmission (broken hand)Pride FC: The Best, Vol. 3October 20, 200210:24Tokyo, Japan
Win2–3–1Tomohiko HashimotoKO (strikes)Pride The Best Vol.2July 20, 200212:10Tokyo, Japan
Win1–3–1Soichi NishidaTKO (punches)Pride The Best Vol.1February 22, 200212:00Tokyo, Japan
Loss0–3–1Zane FrazierDecision (unanimous)KOTC 10 – Critical MassAugust 4, 200117:00San Jacinto, California, USA
Draw0–2–1Yoshinori NishiDrawS – Samurai 2000October 22, 2000N/ATokyo, Japan
Loss0–2Ricco RodriguezSubmission (smother choke)Pride 10 – Return of the WarriorsAugust 27, 200016:04Saitama, Japan
Loss0–1Igor BorisovTKO (punches)Ultimate Boxing – Pride vs SeikendoJune 11, 200017:07Yokohama, Japan

References

  1. ^ “Takayuki”. Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  2. ^ “PRIDE”. UFC.TV. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  3. ^ “KOTC 10 – Critical Mass”. Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  4. ^ “Kenzo Suzuki : Biography”. IMDb.com. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  5. ^ [1] Archived November 1, 2005, at the Wayback Machine

Source: en.wikipedia.org