Masanori Kanehara

2.1. Early Career

Kanehara made his professional mixed martial arts debut on September 15, 2003, at DEEP: 12th Impact, where he faced Isamu Sugiuchi in a lightweight bout, losing via submission in the second round. Before being signed by World Victory Road, he had compiled a professional record of 13 wins, 6 losses, and 5 draws across promotions like DEEP and ZST. During this early period, he notably competed at HERO'S 8 on March 12, 2007, securing a 2-0 decision victory over Tetsuhiro. On October 23, 2008, he suffered a 1-2 split decision loss to Takafumi Otsuka at DEEP 38 Impact.

2.2. Sengoku / SRC Era

Kanehara's career gained significant traction with his participation in World Victory Road's Featherweight Grand Prix. He was announced as a participant in the tournament and successfully advanced to the semi-final round. In the first round, he earned a unanimous decision victory over Jong Man Kim at Sengoku 7 on March 20, 2009. He followed this with another unanimous decision win against Chan Sung Jung in the second round at Sengoku 8 on May 2, 2009.

In the semi-finals at Sengoku 9 on August 2, 2009, Kanehara faced Hatsu Hioki and lost by unanimous decision. However, due to a concussion, Hioki was not medically cleared to compete in the final, and Kanehara stepped in as his replacement. In the final, he faced judoka Michihiro Omigawa. Despite being considered a 17-to-1 long shot, Kanehara secured a 2-1 split decision victory, winning the tournament and becoming the 2009 Sengoku Featherweight Grand Prix Champion and the inaugural Sengoku Featherweight Champion.

Following his championship win, Kanehara competed in a non-title bout against Yamamoto "KID" Norifumi at Dynamite!! 2009 on December 31, 2009, winning by unanimous decision. This victory was particularly notable as he became one of the only Japanese fighters to defeat Yamamoto "KID" Norifumi. On June 20, 2010, at World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 13, Kanehara defended his Sengoku Featherweight Championship against Marlon Sandro, who became the challenger after Mizuto Hirota vacated his lightweight belt. Kanehara suffered a KO loss in the first round, just 38 seconds into the bout, losing his title. He later faced Yoshiro Maeda at Sengoku Soul of Fight on December 30, 2010, suffering a TKO loss. On July 7, 2011, he competed in Russia at Fight Nights: Battle of Moscow 4 for the 65 kg title against Rasul Mirzaev, but lost by TKO, failing to secure the championship.

2.3. Post-Sengoku Period

After the dissolution of the Sengoku promotion, Kanehara continued to compete, compiling a record of 7 wins and 2 losses during this transitional period. On April 8, 2012, he made his bantamweight debut at HEAT 22, securing a submission victory over Jake Hattan. He achieved several more wins in DEEP, including a TKO victory over Tom McKenna at DEEP: Haleo Impact on December 22, 2012. Following this match, in a memorable moment, Kanehara took the microphone and publicly proposed to his girlfriend in the audience.

He continued his winning streak with a shoulder choke submission against Wade Choate at DEEP 62 Impact on April 26, 2013. On September 29, 2013, he achieved a quick 21-second knockout victory over Joe Pearson at Pancrase 252 with a left hook during the World Slam Bantamweight first round. However, his fight against Toshiaki Kitada at DEEP 66 Impact on April 29, 2014, ended in a controversial disqualification loss. Kanehara had Kitada in a guillotine choke when both fighters fell out of the ring. Kitada hit his head, and the referees, after deliberation, ruled that Kanehara had intentionally pushed Kitada out of the ring, resulting in a disqualification. Kanehara has since expressed his strong disagreement with this ruling, stating that he still does not accept the result and that such decisions imply fighters can commit fouls if unseen by the referee.

2.4. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

In July 2014, it was announced that Kanehara had signed with the UFC. He was initially linked to a bout with Urijah Faber at UFC Fight Night 52 on September 20, 2014. However, Faber was later removed from the card, and Kanehara instead faced Alex Caceres. Kanehara was successful in his UFC debut, winning the bout via unanimous decision.

On June 27, 2015, Kanehara was scheduled to face Rani Yahya at UFC Fight Night 70. However, due to widespread travel restrictions affecting several international fighters because of technical issues within the Bureau of Consular Affairs division of the U.S. State Department (which processes travel visas), the fight was postponed. The bout eventually took place on July 15, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 71, where Kanehara lost by split decision.

Kanehara's next fight was against Michael McDonald at UFC 195 on January 2, 2016. Kanehara performed strongly, dominating the first round and catching McDonald in an arm-triangle choke in the second round, appearing close to a victory. However, McDonald managed to escape the submission and, after what appeared to be an illegal cage grab by McDonald to gain leverage (which Kanehara's team later protested), he secured a rear-naked choke, forcing Kanehara to submit in the second round. Following this loss, Kanehara was subsequently released from the promotion. Kanehara's team lodged a formal complaint with the UFC and the North American athletic commission regarding McDonald's alleged illegal cage grab, but the appeal was denied, with the commission stating that a referee's missed foul is not grounds for overturning a decision. Kanehara expressed his deep dissatisfaction with this ruling, maintaining that he remains unconvinced by the outcome.

2.5. Return to Japanese Promotions

After his release from the UFC, Kanehara returned to competing primarily in Japanese mixed martial arts organizations, including DEEP. On December 17, 2016, at DEEP Cage Impact 2016: DEEP vs. WSOF-GC, he faced Charlie Alaniz, winning via first-round doctor stoppage after landing a kick to the face.

Kanehara also ventured briefly into kickboxing. His first professional kickboxing match took place on July 20, 2017, at ROAD TO KNOCK OUT.2, where he faced Mitsuru Nakao, a former Shin Nihon Kickboxing lightweight champion. Kanehara won the bout via TKO in the fifth round after a barrage of punches. In an interview, he expressed his desire to fight Fukaishi, who was then the RISE lightweight champion. The two met on December 10, 2017, at KING OF KNOCKOUT 2017. Kanehara put up a strong fight, even breaking Fukaishi's front tooth with a punch in the early rounds, but ultimately lost by a five-round decision.

On April 1, 2018, Kanehara returned to mixed martial arts at DEEP Hachioji Chojin Matsuri 2018, where he defeated Jomhod Chuwattana by shoulder choke submission in the first round, marking his return to the featherweight division.

6.1. Professional Mixed Martial Arts

6.2. Amateur Mixed Martial Arts

6.3. Professional Kickboxing

6.4. Grappling

6.5. Exhibition