the K-1 Dynamite!! event on December 31, 2008. The fight was characterized by Tamura generally countering take-down and submission attempts by Sakuraba while applying ground and pound from the top position throughout the bout. At the end of the first round, Sakuraba appeared to have an armbar locked in, but Tamura held on and in the second controlled much of the action until being taken down by Sakuraba in the final minute. Ultimately, Tamura was awarded a unanimous decision. Personal life On July 7, 2007, Tamura married tarento and pro wrestling host Yumiko Sakurai. Championships and accomplishments Mixed martial arts Fighting Network RINGS RINGS Openweight Championship (Two times; first) 1997 RINGS Mega Battle Tournament Winner 1996 RINGS Mega Battle Tournament Runner Up 1999 RINGS King of Kings Tournament Semifinalist Professional wrestling Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI ranked him #98 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003 Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards Best Technical Wrestler (1998) Mixed martial arts record |- | Win | align=center| 32–13–3 | Kazushi Sakuraba | Decision (unanimous) | Fields Dynamite!! 2008 | | align=center| 2 | align=center| 5:00 | Saitama, Saitama, Japan | |- | Win | align=center| 31–13–3 | Masakatsu Funaki | TKO (punches) | DREAM 2: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 First Round | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:57 | Saitama, Saitama, Japan | |- | Win | align=center| 30–13–3 | Hideo Tokoro | Submission (straight armbar) | K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite!! | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 3:08 | Osaka, Japan | |- | Loss | align=center| 29–13–3 | Taiei Kin | Decision (unanimous) | HERO'S 9 | | align=center| 2 | align=center| 5:00 | Yokohama, Japan | |- | Win | align=center| 29–12–3 | Ikuhisa Minowa | KO (soccer kicks) | PRIDE FC: Shockwave 2006 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:18 | Saitama, Saitama, Japan | |- | Loss | align=center| 28–12–3 | Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | Submission (armbar) | PRIDE 31: Dreamers | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 2:24 | Saitama, Saitama, Japan | |- | Win | align=center| 28–11–3 | Makoto Takimoto | Decision (unanimous) | PRIDE Critical Countdown 2005 | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Saitama, Saitama, Japan | |- | Win | align=center| 27–11–3 | Aliev Makhmud | TKO (retirement) | PRIDE 29 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 7:09 | Saitama, Saitama, Japan | |- | Win | align=center| 26–11–3 |