Taito Kubota Submits Seiya Ameyama With Rare Twister at DEEP Tokyo Impact

Shimil Umesh

September 7, 2026 · 5 min read

Taito Kubota made a strong statement at DEEP Tokyo Impact 2026 4th Round, submitting Seiya Ameyama with a Scottish Twister just 1 minute and 58 seconds into the opening round.

The 37 year old Kubota entered the main event at a 59 kg catchweight after suffering consecutive defeats. Rather than simply looking for a safe return to the win column, he produced one of the most memorable submissions on the card and immediately turned his attention toward DEEP’s flyweight division.

The victory came at New Pier Hall in Tokyo on September 6, with the bout serving as the main event of the DEEP card.

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A difficult matchup between two fighters looking to rebound

Kubota came into the fight with considerable experience behind him. The FourRhombus fighter had built a long career in Japanese MMA and previously won the DEEP Future King Tournament bantamweight title. He had also earned a notable victory over Junya Hibino at RIZIN Landmark 10 in November 2024.

However, his recent form had been less convincing. Kubota’s four fight winning streak ended with a second round knockout loss to Shunsuke Miyabi in May 2025. He then suffered another setback against Ren Ozaki by unanimous decision at DEEP 131 in May 2026. The Ameyama fight therefore represented an important opportunity to regain momentum.

Ameyama also entered the contest looking for a response. The 23 year old had put together a strong run in DEEP before suffering a submission defeat to Hiroki Takaoka at RIZIN 50. He returned with two first round stoppage victories before losing to Joe Hiramoto by rear naked choke at RIZIN 53 in May. Both men therefore had plenty to prove.

Kubota creates the opening with his striking

Kubota began the fight from a southpaw stance and quickly established his left kick. According to the detailed reports from the event, he landed a strong left body kick before closing the distance and entering the clinch. From there, Kubota used knees and punches to disrupt Ameyama’s balance and eventually brought him to the mat.

The sequence was important because the finish did not come from an isolated submission attempt. Kubota first forced Ameyama to deal with his striking and clinch pressure before taking the fight into his preferred grappling exchanges. Once the fight reached the ground, Kubota controlled the position and quickly worked his way toward Ameyama’s back.

The Twister appears after a scramble

Kubota moved from the initial ground position into back control and secured a body triangle. Ameyama attempted to turn and change his position, but Kubota stayed attached and used the movement against him. As Ameyama tried to face him, Kubota trapped his upper body and began working toward the Twister.

He initially threatened a choke before transitioning into the finishing position. Kubota then applied the Scottish Twister, forcing Ameyama to tap at 1:58 of the first round.

The submission was especially notable because Kubota has already demonstrated an affinity for the technique. In August 2024, he submitted Junya Hibino with a Twister at DEEP Summer Festival. That victory also came after Kubota established back control and patiently worked through Hibino’s attempts to escape.

His latest finish showed that the Twister remains one of the most dangerous weapons in his grappling arsenal.

A veteran immediately calls for the flyweight division

Kubota’s victory was not simply about ending a two fight losing streak. After the fight, he made his intentions clear. Having competed throughout his career around bantamweight, Kubota said the 59 kg bout was designed as a step toward competing at flyweight.

He called for fights against the division’s top competitors and said he intends to pursue the DEEP flyweight championship. In his backstage comments, Kubota specifically named several fighters in the division, including Sho Sekihara, Kenta Saru, Hinotori and current champion Yutaro Muramoto. He also stated that he believes he can compete with the leading names at flyweight.

That gives the victory a clear purpose. Kubota is not simply trying to extend his career. He is looking to make another run at the top of Japanese MMA.

What comes next for Taito Kubota?

The biggest question now is whether DEEP will give Kubota an immediate test against one of its established flyweights. At 37, Kubota is well into the veteran stage of his career, but his latest performance showed that he still possesses the timing, grappling awareness and finishing ability to trouble younger opponents.

The move to 59 kg also gives his career a fresh direction. If he can reproduce the same level of grappling against a ranked flyweight, his call for a title opportunity could become much harder to ignore. For now, Kubota has delivered exactly what he needed: a quick submission, a memorable finish and a new target.