:Toby Imada

In the first season Bellator Lightweight Tournament, Imada advanced to the finals after defeating Alonzo Martinez and Jorge Masvidal. The upset win over Masvidal was notable for Imada's bizarre inverse triangle choke while Masvidal was standing up. The submission has been acknowledged by many MMA mediums as the Submission of the Year for 2009. He was awarded a Bazzie award from Inside MMA on HDNet for the unorthodox submission victory and Submission of the Year Honors at the World MMA Awards.

At Bellator 12, Imada fought top five ranked Eddie Alvarez for the chance to become the first Bellator Lightweight Champion. Alvarez got the better of the battle and won the fight in the second round via rear-naked choke.

Imada returned to Bellator the following April, entering the Lightweight Tournament for the second time. His first fight was originally to be a rematch against Jorge Masvidal.{{Cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/17454/submission-of-the-year-winner-readier-for-return-imada-vs-masvidal-ii-on-tap.mma|title="Submission of the Year" winner readies for return; Imada vs. Masvidal II on tap|publisher=MMAjunkie}} He was then scheduled to fight against Ferrid Kheder at Bellator 15, but an injury forced Kheder out of the bout. Instead, at Bellator 14 Imada fought James Krause and won via armbar submission.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/18688/tourney-shakeup-james-krause-replaces-ferrid-kheder-meets-toby-imada-at-bellator-14.mma|title=Tourney shakeup: James Krause replaces Ferrid Kheder, meets Toby Imada at Bellator 14|author=Dann Stupp|publisher=MMAjunkie|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511194155/http://mmajunkie.com/news/18688/tourney-shakeup-james-krause-replaces-ferrid-kheder-meets-toby-imada-at-bellator-14.mma|archivedate=2012-05-11}} With the win over Krause, Imada moved onto the semi-final round against Carey Vanier. In the second round after Vanier lost his footing, Imada capitalized and applied an armbar that caused Vanier to tap out.

Imada then moved on to the finals taking place at Bellator 22. There, Imada fought Pat Curran in the Season Two Lightweight Tournament finals to see who would advance to fight champion Eddie Alvarez. Curran defeated Imada via controversial split decision.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2010/6/10/1511453/bellator-xxi-live-results-and|title=Bellator XXI - Live Results and Commentary|author=Brent Brookhouse|date=10 June 2010|publisher=Bloody Elbow}} Immediately following the decision, some in the crowd began booing.{{cite web |url=http://www.cagepotato.com/bellator-20-recap-bellator-goes-hollywood-loses-its-damn-mind |title=Bellator 20 Recap: Bellator Goes Hollywood, Loses Its Damn Mind |website=www.cagepotato.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614002711/http://www.cagepotato.com/bellator-20-recap-bellator-goes-hollywood-loses-its-damn-mind |archive-date=2010-06-14}} Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez weighed in on the decision, saying "It was a tough fight. It could’ve gone either way.”{{Cite web|url=https://www.fightopinion.com/2010/06/10/bellator-eddie-alvarez-pat-curran-toby-imada/|title=Eddie Alvarez did not seem to agree with the judges' decision for the Pat Curran/Toby Imada Bellator fight | FightOpinion.com – Your Global Connection to the Fight Industry.|accessdate=15 June 2023}}

Bellator again signed Imada for their Lightweight Tournament taking place during their fourth season. Imada had his quarterfinal fight at Bellator 36. He was originally set to fight Ferrid Kheder who was overweight and decided to leave the arena and not weigh-in. Imada instead fought replacement Josh Shockley.{{cite web |url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/22799/ferrid-kheder-refuses-to-weigh-in-josh-shockley-enters-bellators-lightweight-tournament.mma |title=Ferrid Kheder refuses to weigh in; Josh Shockley enters Bellator's lightweight tournament | MMAjunkie.com |accessdate=2011-11-03 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818180055/http://mmajunkie.com/news/22799/ferrid-kheder-refuses-to-weigh-in-josh-shockley-enters-bellators-lightweight-tournament.mma |archivedate=2011-08-18 }} Imada won the fight in the first round after Shockley verbally submitted from Imada's reverse omaplata. The win moved Imada into the semifinals. In the semifinals Imada fought Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Patricky Freire at Bellator 39. He was knocked out at 2:53 of the first round with a flying knee followed by a left hook.

Imada has also fought professionally in kickboxing. In his most recent bout, he defeated Mostafa Abdollahi by majority decision (27–27, 29–27, 29–27) in a non-tournament bout at the Shoot Boxing World Tournament 2012 in Tokyo, Japan on November 17, 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://liverkick.com/hinata-vs-ristie-rematch-imada-vs-abdollahi-complete-s-cup-fight-card/|title=Hinata vs. Ristie Rematch, Imada vs. Abdollahi Complete S-Cup Fight Card|date=July 4, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://liverkick.com/k-1-world-max-final-8-tournament-line-up/|title=K-1 World MAX Final 8: Tournament Line-up|date=January 4, 2018}}

• Bellator Fighting Championships
• Bellator Season One Lightweight Tournament Runner-Up
• Bellator Season Two Lightweight Tournament Runner-Up
• Total Combat
• Total Combat Lightweight Championship (One time)
• Neutral Grounds
• Neutral Grounds 6 Four-Man Tournament Runner-Up
• Neutral Grounds 13 Four-Man Tournament Runner-Up
• World MMA Awards
• 2009 Submission of the Year vs. Jorge Masvidal at Bellator 5{{cite news|last=Rhodes|first=Stephen|title=2009 World MMA Awards – Official Results|url=http://www.octagonbuzz.com/2009-world-mma-awards-official-results/|access-date=13 January 2013|newspaper=Octagon Buzz|date=31 December 2009|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217020828/http://www.octagonbuzz.com/2009-world-mma-awards-official-results/|url-status=dead}}
• Sherdog
• 2009 Submission of the Year vs. Jorge Masvidal on May 1
• HDNet
• 2009 Bazzie Awards: Submission of the Year vs. Jorge Masvidal on May 1
• FIGHT! Magazine
• 2009 Submission of the Year vs. Jorge Masvidal on May 1
• Inside Fights
• 2009 Submission of the Year vs. Jorge Masvidal on May 1

• Shoot Boxing
• Shoot Boxing World Tournament 2010 Runner-Up

{{MMArecordbox

| draws= 1

| nc=

| ko-wins= 8

| ko-losses= 4

| sub-wins= 20

| sub-losses= 6

| dec-wins= 2

| dec-losses= 8

| dq-wins=

| dq-losses=

| other-wins=

| other-losses=

}}

{{MMA record start}}

|-

| {{draw}}Draw

| align=center| {{nowrap|30–18–1}}

| Hiroyuki Takaya

| Draw (majority)

| Shoot Boxing: Ground Zero Tokyo 2013

| {{dts|2013|November|16}}

| align=center| 3

| align=center| 5:00

| Tokyo, Japan

|Featherweight debut.

|-

| {{no2}}Loss

| align=center| 30–18

| James Krause

| Decision (unanimous)

| Resurrection Fighting Alliance 6

| {{dts|2013|January|18}}

| align=center| 3

| align=center| 5:00

| Kansas City, Missouri, United States

|

|-

| {{no2}}Loss

| align=center| 30–17

| Luiz Firmino

| Decision (unanimous)

| CFA 08: Araujo vs. Bradley

| {{dts|2012|October|6}}

| align=center| 3

| align=center| 5:00

| Hollywood, Florida, United States

|

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 30–16

| Sean Wilson

| TKO (punches)

| C3 Fights: Rumble at Red Rock

| {{dts|2012|August|18}}

| align=center| 2

| align=center| 1:51

| Red Rock, Oklahoma, United States

|

|-

| {{no2}}Loss

| align=center| 29–16

| Patricky Freire

| KO (flying knee and punches)

| Bellator 39

| {{dts|2011|April|2}}

| align=center| 1

| align=center| 2:53

| Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States

| {{small|Bellator Season Four Lightweight Tournament Semifinal.}}

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 29–15

| Josh Shockley

| Submission (armbar)

| Bellator 36

| {{dts|2011|March|12}}

| align=center| 1

| align=center| 1:36

| Shreveport, Louisiana, United States

| {{small|Bellator Season Four Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinal.}}

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 28–15

| Ludwing Salazar

| Submission (armbar)

| Fite Nite 14

| {{dts|2010|November|9}}

| align=center| 2

| align=center| 1:49

| San José, Costa Rica

|

|-

| {{no2}}Loss

| align=center| 27–15

| Pat Curran

| Decision (split)

| Bellator 21

| {{dts|2010|June|10}}

| align=center| 3

| align=center| 5:00

| Hollywood, Florida, United States

| {{small|Bellator Season Two Lightweight Tournament Final.}}

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 27–14

| Carey Vanier

| Submission (armbar)

| Bellator 17

| {{dts|2010|May|6}}

| align=center| 2

| align=center| 3:33

| Boston, Massachusetts, United States

| {{small|Bellator Season Two Lightweight Tournament Semifinal.}}

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 26–14

| James Krause

| Submission (armbar)

| Bellator 14

| {{dts|2010|April|15}}

| align=center| 2

| align=center| 2:44

| Chicago, Illinois, United States

| {{small|Bellator Season Two Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinal.}}

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 25–14

| Daisuke Hanazawa

| KO (punch)

| KOTC: Toryumon

| {{dts|2010|January|30}}

| align=center| 2

| align=center| 0:29

| Okinawa Prefecture, Japan

|

|-

| {{no2}}Loss

| align=center| 24–14

| Eddie Alvarez

| Submission (rear-naked choke)

| Bellator 12

| {{dts|2009|June|19}}

| align=center| 2

| align=center| 0:38

| Hollywood, Florida, United States

| {{small|Bellator Season One Lightweight Tournament Final; For Bellator Lightweight Championship.}}

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 24–13

| Jorge Masvidal

| Technical Submission (inverted triangle choke)

| Bellator 5

| {{dts|2009|May|1}}

| align=center| 3

| align=center| 3:22

| Dayton, Ohio, United States

| {{small|Bellator Season One Lightweight Tournament Semifinal; Submission of the Year (2009).}}

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 23–13

| Alonzo Martinez

| Submission (rear-naked choke)

| Bellator 1

| {{dts|2009|April|3}}

| align=center| 1

| align=center| 3:26

| Hollywood, Florida, United States

| {{small|Bellator Season One Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinal.}}

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 22–13

| Jason Meaders

| TKO (corner stoppage)

| UnleashedFIGHT

| {{dts|2008|October|11}}

| align=center| 1

| align=center| 5:00

| Alpine, California, United States

|

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 21–13

| Shad Smith

| TKO (punches)

| Total Combat: Nevada

| {{dts|2008|may|10}}

| align=center| 1

| align=center| 2:25

| Laughlin, Nevada, United States

| {{small|Defended Total Combat Lightweight Championship; Smith tested positive for marijuana}}

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 20–13

| Preston Scharf

| TKO (submission to punches)

| Total Combat 26

| {{dts|2008|February|16}}

| align=center| 1

| align=center| 4:29

| San Diego, California, United States

| {{small|Defended the Total Combat Lightweight Championship.}}

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 19–13

| David Gardner

| Submission (rear-naked choke)

| Total Combat 22

| {{dts|2007|August|3}}

| align=center| 2

| align=center| N/A

| San Diego, California, United States

| {{small|Won the Total Combat Lightweight Championship.}}

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 18–13

| Zach Light

| Submission (armbar)

| Total Combat 21

| {{dts|2007|June|8}}

| align=center| 1

| align=center| 2:35

| San Diego, California, United States

|Welterweight bout.

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 17–13

| Randy Velarde

| Submission (armbar)

| KOTC: Caged Chaos

| {{dts|2007|March|10}}

| align=center| 2

| align=center| 2:23

| Laughlin, Nevada, United States

|

|-

| {{no2}}Loss

| align=center| 16–13

| João Cunha

| Submission (armbar)

| Cage of Fire 5

| {{dts|2007|January|27}}

| align=center| 2

| align=center| 2:30

| Tijuana, Mexico

|

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 16–12

| Brandon Adamson

| TKO (cut)

| TC 18: Nightmare

| {{dts|2006|November|4}}

| align=center| 1

| align=center| 3:00

| San Diego, California, United States

|

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 15–12

| Danny Affleje

| KO (punches)

| Proving Ground

| {{dts|2006|October|21}}

| align=center| 1

| align=center| N/A

| Yuma, Arizona, United States

|

|-

| {{no2}}Loss

| align=center| 14–12

| Tetsuji Kato

| TKO (punches)

| FFCF 6: Undisputed

| {{dts|2006|June|21}}

| align=center| 1

| align=center| 0:13

| Mangilao, Guam

|

|-

| {{no2}}Loss

| align=center| 14–11

| Hermes França

| Submission (armbar)

| TC 14: Throwdown

| {{dts|2006|may|13}}

| align=center| 1

| align=center| 0:53

| Del Mar, California, United States

|Return to Lightweight.

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 14–10

| Akbarh Arreola

| Decision (unanimous)

| Total Combat 12

| {{dts|2005|December|13}}

| align=center| 3

| align=center| 5:00

| Tijuana, Mexico

|

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 13–10

| Jerimiah Carson

| TKO (punches)

| Total Combat 11

| {{dts|2005|December|10}}

| align=center| 2

| align=center| N/A

| Yuma, Arizona, United States

|

|-

| {{no2}}Loss

| align=center| 12–10

| Jake Shields

| Decision (unanimous)

| Kage Kombat

| {{dts|2005|November|12}}

| align=center| 3

| align=center| 5:00

| California, United States

|

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 12–9

| Tim Carey

| Submission (rear-naked choke)

| Total Combat 10

| {{dts|2005|October|15}}

| align=center| 1

| align=center| 2:25

| San Diego, California, United States

|

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 11–9

| Akbarh Arreola

| TKO (corner stoppage)

| Total Combat 9

| {{dts|2005|July|30}}

| align=center| 2

| align=center| 5:00

| Tijuana, Mexico

|

|-

| {{no2}}Loss

| align=center| 10–9

| Cassio Werneck

| Submission (triangle choke)

| WEC 15

| {{dts|2005|May|19}}

| align=center| 2

| align=center| 2:54

| Lemoore, California, United States

|Return to Welterweight.

|-

| {{no2}}Loss

| align=center| 10–8

| Antonio McKee

| Decision (unanimous)

| Ultimate Cage Fighting 1

| {{dts|2002|May|9}}

| align=center| 2

| align=center| 5:00

| Los Angeles, California, United States

|Lightweight bout.

|-

| {{no2}}Loss

| align=center| 10–7

| Jason Miller

| Decision

| Xtreme Pankration 2

| {{dts|2002|April|12}}

| align=center| 2

| align=center| 5:00

| Los Angeles, California, United States

|

|-

| {{no2}}Loss

| align=center| 10–6

| Dennis Asche

| Submission (triangle choke)

| IFC: Warriors Challenge 12

| {{dts|2001|April|11}}

| align=center| 2

| align=center| 3:42

| Friant, California, United States

|Middleweight debut.

|-

| {{no2}}Loss

| align=center| 10–5

| Joe Stevenson

| Decision

| KOTC 3: Knockout Nightmare

| {{dts|2000|April|15}}

| align=center| 2

| align=center| 5:00

| San Jacinto, California, United States

|Lightweight bout.

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 10–4

| Sean McCaan

| Submission (armbar)

| IFC: Warriors Challenge 6

| {{dts|2000|march|25}}

| align=center| 1

| align=center| 2:51

| Friant, California, United States

|

|-

| {{no2}}Loss

| align=center| 9–4

| Dave Strasser

| Submission (armbar)

| Neutral Grounds 13

| {{dts|1999|November|20}}

| align=center| 1

| align=center| N/A

| Lakeside, California, United States

| {{small|Neutral Grounds 13 Four-Man Tournament Final.}}

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 9–3

| David Harris

| Decision (unanimous)

| Neutral Grounds 13

| {{dts|1999|November|20}}

| align=center| 3

| align=center| 5:00

| Lakeside, California, United States

| {{small|Return to Welterweight; Neutral Grounds 13 Four-Man Tournament Semifinal.}}

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 8–3

| Brennan Kamaka

| Submission (armbar)

| Rage in the Cage 2

| {{dts|1999|October|15}}

| align=center| 1

| align=center| 6:00

| Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

|Lightweight bout.

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 7–3

| Ken Tonaria

| Submission (armbar)

| Ready to Rumble

| {{dts|1999|October|13}}

| align=center| N/A

| align=center| N/A

| Woodland Hills, California, United States

|

|-

| {{no2}}Loss

| align=center| 6–3

| Steve Heath

| Decision (unanimous)

| Extreme Challenge 27

| {{dts|1999|September|18}}

| align=center| 2

| align=center| 5:00

| Fresno, California, United States

|Light Heavyweight debut.

|-

| {{no2}}Loss

| align=center| 6–2

| Adrian Serrano

| TKO (corner stoppage)

| Extreme Challenge 27

| {{dts|1999|August|21}}

| align=center| 2

| align=center| 5:00

| Davenport, Iowa, United States

|Welterweight debut.

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 6–1

| Jason Von Flue

| Submission (armbar)

| IFC: Warriors Challenge 4

| {{dts|1999|August|7}}

| align=center| 2

| align=center| 5:08

| Jackson, California, United States

|

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 5–1

| Johnny Molano

| Submission (triangle armbar)

| Kage Kombat 18

| {{dts|1999|May|28}}

| align=center| 1

| align=center| 4:03

| United States

|

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 4–1

| Thiago De Fritas

| Submission (heel hook)

| Neutral Grounds 12

| {{dts|1999|May|28}}

| align=center| 1

| align=center| N/A

| United States

|

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 3–1

| Giovanni Lemm

| Submission (armbar)

| Neutral Grounds 11

| {{dts|1999|March|31}}

| align=center| 1

| align=center| 5:01

| Los Angeles, California, United States

|

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 2–1

| Ken Kellenberger

| Submission (rear-naked choke)

| Neutral Grounds 9

| {{dts|1999|January|10}}

| align=center| 1

| align=center| 0:45

| United States

|

|-

| {{no2}}Loss

| align=center| 1–1

| Jason Dallas

| TKO (punches)

| Neutral Grounds 6

| {{dts|1998|August|2}}

| align=center| 1

| align=center| N/A

| United States

| {{small|Neutral Grounds 6 Four-Man Tournament Final.}}

|-

| {{yes2}}Win

| align=center| 1–0

| Lee Cox

| Submission (armbar)

| Neutral Grounds 6

| {{dts|1998|August|2}}

| align=center| 1

| align=center| N/A

| United States

| {{small|Neutral Grounds 6 Four-Man Tournament Semifinal.}}

{{end}}

{{s-start}}KO PUNCHES

|- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"

| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Result

| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Opponent

| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Method

| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Event

| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Date

| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Round

| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Time

| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Notes

|-

|{{no2}}Loss||{{flagicon|BRA}} Ricardo Morais || Choke || 1998 ADCC World Championships|| March 20, 1998 || 1 || 9:22 ||

|-

|{{no2}}Loss||{{flagicon|RUS}} Karimula Barkalaev || Choke || 1998 ADCC World Championships|| March 20, 1998|| 1 || 3:05 ||

|-

|{{yes2}}Win||{{flagicon|PLO}} Lafee Al Ajloony || Shoulder Injury || 1998 ADCC World Championships|| March 20, 1998|| 1 || 3:46 ||

|-

{{s-end}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Sherdog}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Imada, Toby}}

Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:American male mixed martial artists

Category:Mixed martial artists from California

Category:Lightweight mixed martial artists

Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing shootboxing

Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing judo

Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing jujutsu

Category:American male kickboxers

Category:Kickboxers from California

Category:Welterweight kickboxers

Category:American male judoka

Category:American jujutsuka

Category:Sportspeople from Chula Vista, California

Category:American sportspeople of Japanese descent

Category:American mixed martial artists of Mexican descent