Inoue is a former Welterweight and current Lightweight fighter. He fought most of his career in Pancrase but has also fought in Dream. He holds notable victories over Takuya Wada, Satoru Kitaoka, Kyle Noke, Koji Oishi and Fabricio Nascimento.

Pancrase was where Inoue really made his name and had his best success. He was a former 2 time Welterweight King of Pancrase and 2 time Lightweight King of Pancrase. He also won the 2007 Neo Blood Tournament. Outside of Pancrase Inoue lost to Nick Diaz in a Dream Welterweight title eliminator.

After losing to Diaz at DREAM 3, Inoue would win his next bout against Koji Oishi at Pancrase - Shining 10. Inoue would defeat Oishi via unanimous decision. He would then beat Daisuke Hanazawa at Pancrase - Changing Tour 1, winning the fight via unanimous decision. 

Inoue would draw in his next bout against Mizuto Hirota at GCM - Cage Force EX on February 28, 2009.

Inoue would then compete at Pancrase - Changing Tour 4 against Maximo Blanco. Blanco would defeat his Japanese opponent via TKO in the second round.

The loss to Blanco would begin a losing streak for Inoue, who would go 1-3 over the next two years. Following his loss to the Venezuelan, Inoue would bounce back with a win over Katsuhiko Nagata at GCM - Cage Force 17 before dropping his next two bouts, a KO loss to Kota Okazawa at Pancrase - Impressive 4, and an armbar loss to Naoyuki Kotani at Pancrase - Impressive Tour 9.