Kenji Osawa is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter born on November 4, 1976 in Musashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan. Osawa is an experienced veteran who has competed in the bantamweight division in the WEC and DREAM. However Osawa is mostly known for his history in the Shooto featherweight division where he's had most of his fights take place. 

Osawa's martial arts background come from his high school days where he began training in boxing. However in the year 2000 he saw the famous 90 minute fight between Royce Gracie and Kazushi Sakuraba at PRIDE Grand Prix Final 2000 was when Osawa gained interest in MMA. 

 
In the year 2001, Osawa entered his first mixed martial arts tournaments as he entered the 8th Shooto All Japan Amateur Championship Tournament in which he successfully defeated his first round opponent by decision, but eventually lost by decision in the second round. He however continued participating in amateur tournaments winning various such as the 2002 Shooto East Japan Amateur Championship Tournament in the featherweight division. 

 
On February 9, 2003 Osawa made his professional MMA debut defeating Koki Sato by TKO due to knees in 1:46 of round 2.
Osawa then continued competing in various organizations in Japan before making his American MMA debut opposing Chris Manuel at WEC 33 in close fight which ended in a split decision draw. Osawa had a somewhat unsuccessful run in the WEC going 1-2-1 defeating Rafael Rebello, but losing to tough bantamweight fighters Scott Jorgensen and Antonio Banuelos. 

 
After his WEC run, Osawa returned to Japan to compete in the DREAM organization where he went 3-1 defeating Yoshiro Maeda, Takafumi Otsuka and Keisuke Fujiwara and losing by submission to a leglock to submission and leglock specialist Masakazu Imanari. 

 
After DREAM closed it's doors on a regular basis, Osawa competed at the Vale Tudo Japan 1st where he defeated "Lion" Takeshi Inoue.