Tatsuo

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Fuke was an active practitioner of judo in high school. After graduating from high school in 1989, he became a UWF trainee. There, he would train with likes of Tatsuo Nakano and Ken Shamrock. He debuted as a professional wrestler for UWF on August 13, 1990, against Masahito Kakihara. After the reborn UWF closed down in November, he would work for Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi. While employed with PWFG, he was involved in a proto-MMA match with kickboxer Lawi Napataya. At Pancrase 2 (October 1993), he lost to Bas Rutten via TKO, following a knee to Fuke's liver. In November 1993, Fuke lost to Ken Shamrock via submission. In December 1994, Fuke took part in the King of Pancrase tournament, where he lost against Maurice Smith in the first round. At Pancrase 19, Fuke lost to Frank Shamrock. In June 2003, he transferred to the new section "Pancrase MISSION" in Pancrase from "Pancrase Osaka." He became a player belonging to MISSION next to Minoru Suzuki, and in the same month, participated in "U-STYLE" for the first time. On November 7, 2014 at WRESTLE-1/ZERO-ONE KASSEN ~ Battle ZERO1 Vs. W-1 Tournament - Day 3, he worked a match with his old Pancrase alumni, Masakatsu Funaki. In February 2019, at WRESTLE-1 Keiji Muto Produce Pro-Wrestling Masters event, Fuke took part in a 6-man tag team match, teamed up with Mitsuya Nagai and Yoshiaki Fujiwara, against Jushin Thunder Liger, Riki Choshu and Tatsumi Fujinami.

In Their Own Story

Fuke's combat sport career began in the proto-MMA world of UWF and PWFG, where he faced kickboxer Lawi Napataya. His Pancrase run started with a TKO loss to Bas Rutten at Pancrase 2 (October 1993) after a knee to the liver. He then lost to Ken Shamrock via submission in November 1993. In December 1994, he entered the King of Pancrase tournament but lost to Maurice Smith in the first round. At Pancrase 19, Frank Shamrock defeated him. After years in Pancrase, he transferred to "Pancrase MISSION" from "Pancrase Osaka" in June 2003, joining Minoru Suzuki's group and debuting in "U-STYLE" that same month. Years later, on November 7, 2014, at WRESTLE-1/ZERO-ONE KASSEN, he wrestled fellow Pancrase alumnus Masakatsu Funaki. His last recorded match was in February 2019 at WRESTLE-1 Keiji Muto Produce Pro-Wrestling Masters, a 6-man tag where he teamed with Mitsuya Nagai and Yoshiaki Fujiwara against Jushin Thunder Liger, Riki Choshu, and Tatsumi Fujinami.

Reader's Guide

Fuke's career spans professional wrestling and early MMA. For his Pancrase fights, study his losses to understand the era's style: at Pancrase 2 (October 1993), Bas Rutten beat him via TKO with a knee to the liver. In November 1993, Ken Shamrock submitted him. At the King of Pancrase tournament (December 1994), Maurice Smith eliminated him in the first round. Frank Shamrock also defeated him at Pancrase 19. For his pro wrestling work, look at his debut on August 13, 1990, against Masahito Kakihara for UWF. His later tag team work includes a match on November 7, 2014 with Masakatsu Funaki, and a 6-man tag in February 2019 alongside Mitsuya Nagai and Yoshiaki Fujiwara. He also won multiple championships: WDW Six-Man Tag Team Championship (2 times), F*CK! World Air Class Championship (1 time), J2000 Championship (2 times), JWF Tag Team Championship (1 time with Rising KID), SGP Global Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time), and Tenryu Project International Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time).

Did You Know?

• Fight Matrix ranked Takaku Fuke as the #2 Heavyweight and #4 Pound-for-Pound best MMA fighter in the world in 1994.
• He debuted as a professional wrestler for UWF on August 13, 1990, against Masahito Kakihara.
• At Pancrase 2 (October 1993), he lost to Bas Rutten via TKO after a knee to Fuke's liver.
• In June 2003, he transferred from 'Pancrase Osaka' to the new 'Pancrase MISSION' section, joining Minoru Suzuki.
• He appeared as himself in the movie 'Dynamite Wolf' on February 16, 2019.