This is a list of Pancrase champions at each weight class. Pancrase is a Japan-based mixed martial arts (MMA) promoting and sanctioning organization founded in 1993. The champions of Pancrase are referred to by the title of "King of Pancrase" and "Queen of Pancrase".
Current champions Men DivisionChampionSince DefensesHeavyweight Vacant —Light Heavyweight Vacant —Middleweight Qosim Sardorov 1Welterweight Goiti Yamauchi 0Lightweight Rafael Barbosa 0Featherweight Yuito Yanagawa 0 Otabek RajabovInterim champion 0Bantamweight Ryo Tajima 0 Nahoru MiyagiInterim champion 0Flyweight Ryusei Tokida 0Strawweight Yuta Miyazawa 0
Women DivisionChampionSince DefensesBantamweight Vacant 0Flyweight Shizuka Sugiyama 0Strawweight Miki Motono 0Atomweight Satomi Takano 0
Men's championship history Heavyweight Championship Weight limit: On January 30, 2008 Pancrase revised this weight class limit from to its current limits. No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Yoshiki Takahashidef. Shamoji Fujii Pancrase Proof 7 Dec 1, 2001Takahashi vacated the Heavyweight title.2 Kestutis Arbociusdef. Poai Suganuma Pancrase Blow 6 Aug 27, 2006Arbocius was stripped of Heavyweight title in May 2007 due to injury.3 Assuério Silvadef. Tatsuya Mizuno Pancrase Rising 5 May 30, 2007Assuério Silva vacated the title in January 2008 when he left the organization.
Light Heavyweight Championship Weight limit: Formerly known as Cruiserweight until 2008 On January 30, 2008 Pancrase revised this weight class limit from to its current limits. No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Keiichiro Yamamiyadef. Ikuhisa Minowa Pancrase 2000 Anniversary Show Sep 24, 2000Title Vacated.2 Sanae Kikutadef. Ikuhisa Minowa Pancrase 2001 Anniversary Show Sep 30, 20013 Yuki Kondo Pancrase Hybrid 10 Nov 30, 2003Yuki Kondo vacated the title in January 2008 to move down to middleweight.4 Ryo Kawamuradef. Keiichiro Yamamiya Pancrase Shining 8 Oct 1, 2008Ryo Kawamura vacated the title in May 2011 to move down to middleweight.
Middleweight Championship Weight limit: On January 30, 2008 Pancrase revised this weight class limit from to its current limits. No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Nathan Marquardtdef. Shonie Carter Pancrase 2000 Anniversary Show Sep 24, 20002 Kiuma Kunioku Pancrase Proof 7 Dec 1, 20013 Nathan Marquardt (2) Pancrase Spirit 9 Dec 21, 20024 Ricardo Almeida Pancrase Hybrid 10 Nov 30, 2003Almeida vacated the title in July 2004 when he retired from active competition.5 Nathan Marquardt (3)def. Kazuo Misaki Pancrase Brave 10 Nov 7, 2004Marquardt vacated the title in October 2006 when he left Pancrase for the UFC.6 Yuichi Nakanishidef. Izuru Takeuchi Pancrase Blow 10 Dec 2, 20067 Izuru Takeuchi Pancrase Rising 9 Nov 28, 20078 Ichiro Kanai Pancrase: Changing Tour 8 Dec 6, 2009— Yuki Kondopromoted to interim champion after vacating the Light Heavyweight title — Jan 2008 9 Yuki Kondodef. Ichiro Kanai for undisputed title Pancrase Passion Tour 4 Apr 29, 201010 Rikuhei Fujii Pancrase: Passion Tour 11 Dec 5, 2010Rikuhei Fujii vacated the title in May 2011.11 Ryo Kawamuradef. Ikkei Nagamura Pancrase Progress Tour 1 Jan 28, 201212 Shinsho Anzai Pancrase 259 June 29, 2014Shinsho Anzai vacated the title when he signed with the UFC.13 Ryo Kawamura (2)def. Yuki Niimura Pancrase 281 Oct 2, 201614 Yuki Niimura Pancrase 291 Nov 12, 2017Niimura vacated the title when he signed with ONE Championship.15 Yura Naitodef. Ryo Kawamura Pancrase 326 Mar 21, 202216 Qosim Sardorovdef. Ryutaro SatoPancrase 360December 21, 2025
Welterweight Championship Weight limit: Formerly known as Lightweight until 2006 On January 30, 2008 Pancrase revised this weight limit from to its current limits. No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Kiuma Kuniokudef. Takafumi Ito Pancrase 2002 Neo-Blood tournament second round Jul 28, 2002Kunioku vacated the title in September 2004 when he left the organization.— Katsuya Inouepromoted to interim champion when opponent withdrew due to injury — ?2 Daizo Ishigedef. Katsuya Inoue for undisputed title Pancrase Blow 6 Aug 27, 2006— Katsuya Inouedef. Fabricio Nascimento for interim title Pancrase 2007 Neo-Blood Tournament Finals Jul 27, 2007Daizo Ishige vacated the title in January 2008. 3 Katsuya Inouedef. Satoru Kitaoka for undisputed title Pancrase Shining 1 Jan 30, 2008Katsuya Inoue vacated the title in February 2008 in order to compete at Lightweight. — Takuya Wadadef. Jason Palacios for interim title Pancrase Shining 3 Apr 27, 20084 Takuya Wada — —Takuya Wada vacated the title on April 30, 2010.5 Kengo Uradef. Keiichiro Yamamiya Pancrase Passion Tour 5 Jun 5, 20106 Takenori Sato Pancrase Impressive Tour 1 Feb 6, 2011Takenori Sato vacated the title when he signed with the UFC.7 Gota Yamashitadef. Akihiro Murayama Pancrase 260 August 10, 20148 Shingo Suzuki Pancrase 270 October 4, 20159 Akihiro Murayama Pancrase 276 March 13, 201610 Hiromitsu Miura Pancrase 281 October 2, 201611 Daichi Abe Pancrase 288 July 2, 2017Daichi Abe vacated the title when he signed with the UFC.12 Glaico Françadef. Takashi Sato Pancrase 297 July 1, 2018Glaico França vacated the title when he signed with the PFL.— Hiroyuki Tetsukadef. Kenta Takagi for interim title Pancrase 306 June 30, 201913 Hiroyuki Tetsukapromoted to undisputed champion — —Hiroyuki Tetsuka vacated the title when he signed with the ONE Championship.— Masayuki Kikuiridef. Akihiro Murayama for interim title Pancrase 324 October 16, 202114 Masayuki Kikuiripromoted to undisputed champion — May 26, 2022Kikuiri vacated the title when he signed with Bellator.15 Genpei Hayashidef. Akihiro Murayama Pancrase 334 June 4, 202316 Ryuichiro Sumimura Pancrase 340 December 24, 202317 Shogo Satodef. Osu ManPancrase 353April 27, 202518 Goiti Yamauchidef. Shogo SatoPancrase 360December 21, 2025
Lightweight Championship Weight limit: No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Shoji Maruyamadef. Artur OumakhanovPancrase Shining 1Jan 30, 2008Shoji Maruyama vacated the title in May 2008 to compete at Featherweight.2 Katsuya Inouedef. Koji OishiPancrase Shining 10Dec 7, 20083 Maximo BlancoPancrase: Changing Tour 4Aug 8, 2009Maximo Blanco vacated the title in April 2011 citing an inability to defend his belt due to numerous injuries.4 Koji Oishidef. Daisuke HanazawaPancrase Impressive Tour 4May 3, 20115 Isao KobayashiPancrase Progress Tour 4Apr 1, 2012Isao Kobayashi vacated the title in 2014.6 Kazuki Tokudome def. Satoru KitaokaPancrase 271November 1, 20157 Takasuke Kume Pancrase 280September 11, 2016— Salimkhan Sadulloevdef. Yusuke Kasuya for interim title Pancrase 308 September 29, 2019— Tatsuya Saikadef. Genpei Hayashi for interim title Pancrase 318 September 27, 2020— Akira Okadadef. Koshi Matsumoto for interim title Pancrase 329 September 11, 20228 Akira Okada Pancrase 333April 30, 20239 Tatsuya Saika Pancrase 341March 31, 202410 Rafael Barbosadef. Tatsuya SaikaPancrase 361March 14, 2026
Featherweight Championship Weight limit: Formerly known as Lightweight until 2008 On January 30, 2008 Pancrase revised this weight limit from to its current limits. No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Yoshiro Maedadef. Daiki "D.J.Taiki" HataPancrase Blow 6Aug 27, 2006 Yoshiro Maeda vacated the title when he left Pancrase for the WEC.2 Marlon Sandrodef. Masaya TakitaPancrase: Shining 9Oct 26, 2008— Takumi Nakayamadef. Tomonari Kanomata for interim titlePancrase Impressive Tour 9Sep 4, 2011Sandro was stripped of title for refusing to attend the title defense. 3 Takumi NakayamaPromoted to undisputed champion. —August 9, 20124 Nam PhanPancrase 264January 31, 20155 Andy MainPancrase 270October 4, 20156 Issei Tamuradef. Juntaro Ushiku for interim titlePancrase 277Apr 24, 20167 Nazareno Malegariedef. Issei TamuraPancrase 285Mar 12, 2017— Isao Kobayashidef. Koyomi Matsushima for interim titlePancrase 295Apr 15, 2018Title Unification.8 Isao Kobayashidef. Nazareno Malegarie for undisputed titlePancrase 305May 26, 2019Kobayashi vacated the title when he signed with Bellator.— Tokitaka Nakanishidef. Shinsuke Kamei for interim titlePancrase 328July 18, 20229 Tokitaka Nakanishipromoted to undisputed champion — —Nakanishi vacated the title when he chose to compete at bantamweight.10 Suguru Niidef. Shinsuke KameiPancrase 337September 24, 202311 Kisa Miyakedef. Naoki HirataPancrase 351December 15, 2024Miyake vacated the title in 2025.12 Yuito Yanagawadef. Kalybek Arzykul UuluPancrase 360December 21, 2025— Otabek Rajabovdef. Shosuke Kinoshita for interim titlePancrase 363June 28, 2026
Bantamweight Championship Weight limit: In 2016 Pancrase revised this weight limit from to its current limits.
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Manabu Inouedef. Seiya KawaharaPancrase Shining 10Dec 7, 20082 Shintaro IshiwatariPancrase Impressive Tour 13Dec 3, 2011Ishiwatari was stripped of the title when he left Pancrase for Rizin.— Rafael Silvadef. Masakatsu Ueda for interim titlePancrase 296May 20, 20183 Rafael Silvapromoted to undisputed champion — —Silva retired on October 7, 2022. Nakajima was promoted to full champion status.— Taichi Nakajimadef. Rui Imura for interim titlePancrase 325Dec 11, 20214 Taichi Nakajimapromoted to undisputed champion —Oct 7, 2022— Ryo Tajimadef. Toshinori Tsunemura for interim titlePancrase 330Dec 25, 2022Nakajima vacated the title on November 16, 2023.. 5 Tokitaka Nakanishidef. Yasuhiro Kawamura Pancrase 340 December 24, 20236 Ryo Tajimadef. Rui ImuraPancrase 360December 21, 2025— Nahoru Miyagidef. Reo Yamaguchi for interim titlePancrase 362May 31, 2026
Flyweight Championship Weight limit: In 2016 Pancrase revised this weight limit from to its current limits. No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Mitsuhisa Sunabedef. Takuya EizumiPancrase: Changing Tour 3Jun 7, 2009 2 Kiyotaka ShimizuPancrase Passion Tour 1Feb 7, 2010Shimizu was stripped of the title after losing to Ryuichi Miki in "champion's assessment bout" in Dec 2015.3 Ryuichi Miki def. Yuki YasunagaPancrase 279July 24, 20164 Mamoru Yamaguchi Pancrase 285Mar 12, 20175 Senzo IkedaPancrase 289Aug 20, 2017— Shohei Masumizu def. Masatatsu Ueda for interim titlePancrase 307Jul 21, 2019— Toru Ogawa def. Masatatsu Ueda for interim titlePancrase 324Oct 16, 2021Ikeda vacated the title on January 24, 2022, in order to compete with ONE Championship.6 Toru Ogawa promoted to undisputed champion — —7 Satoru Enomoto Pancrase 326March 21, 20228 Rei Tsuruya Pancrase 330December 25, 2022— Seiichiro Itodef. Naoki Arikawa for interim title Pancrase 340 December 24, 2023Tsuruya vacated the title on April 3, 2024.9 Seiichiro Ito promoted to undisputed champion — April 3, 202410 Takumi Hamadadef. Tomoki OtsukaPancrase 358November 9, 202511 Ryusei Tokidadef. Hiroto KishidaPancrase 362May 31, 2026
Strawweight Championship Weight limit: In 2016 Pancrase revised this weight limit from to its current limits. No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Mitsuhisa SunabePancrase 271Nov. 1, 20152 Daichi Kitakata Pancrase 307July 21, 2019 1. def. Yuta Miyazawa at Pancrase 325 on Dec. 12, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan3 Keito YamakitaPancrase 328July 18, 2022— Ryohei Kurosawadef. Little for interim title Pancrase 342 April 29, 20244 Ryohei Kurosawapromoted to undisputed champion — —5 Yuta Miyazawadef. Denchi FunadaPancrase 361March 14, 2026
Women's championship history Women's Bantamweight Championship Weight limit: In 2016 Pancrase revised this weight limit from to its current limits.
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Rin Nakaidef. Danielle WestPancrase Progress Tour 14Dec 1, 2012 Nakai vacated the title in 2018 when she left Pancrase for the DEEP.
Women's Flyweight Championship Weight limit: In 2016 Pancrase revised this weight limit from to its current limits.