A professional competitor since 2003, he has formerly competed for the UFC, World Victory Road, Pancrase, Shooto, DREAM, Vale Tudo Japan, and DEEP.

Over nearly three years, he amassed a record of 15-0-2 with wins over Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Ronald Jhun, and Daisuke Nakamura.

Nakamura lost by contentious split decision to Rob Emerson at UFC 81 on February 2, 2008 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Nakamura suffered a devastating loss to heavy underdog Korean fighter, Jang Yong Kim in his second post-retirement comeback fight.

Since then, he has seen a resurgence, going 13-2-1 over the next few years, including winning the Sengoku Welterweight Grand Prix with a submission victory over Yasubey Enomoto.

[8] Nakamura next faced Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos on October 1, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 96.

[9] Nakamura faced Alex Morono at UFC Fight Night: Saint Preux vs. Okami on September 23, 2017.

After winning his promotional debut via TKO, he next faced Lorenz Larkin at Bellator & RIZIN: Japan on December 29, 2019.

[21] Nakamura fought Roberto Satoshi de Souza in a non-title bout in the main event of RIZIN Landmark 9 on March 23, 2024.