Genki Sudo

Genki Sudo is a Japanese former mixed martial artist and kickboxer, born on 8 March 1978, who later became a singer, actor and politician. He began with Greco-Roman wrestling in school, trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu in California, and started his professional career in 1998 with Pancrase before fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and then for HERO's. He was known for elaborate costumed ring entrances and an unorthodox style built on spinning backfists, flying triangle chokes and flying armbars, and he earned several UFC tap out and best fighter awards at UFC 38 and UFC 47. He lost to Norifumi Yamamoto in HERO's and announced his retirement after beating Damacio Page by submission at K-1 Dynamite on 31 December 2006. He then managed the Takushoku University wrestling team to national titles, led the music group World Order, acted in films and television, and served in the House of Councillors from 2019 to 2024.