Returning after a knee damage saved her sidelined for all of 2025, Momoko Saito turned Deep Jewels Bantamweight Champion with a dominant second-round TKO victory tonight at Deep Jewels 52 in Tokyo, Japan. Saito overwhelmed opponent Juki Sue on the bottom to earn the primary occasion win.
Elsewhere on the Deep Jewels 52 card, reigning strawweight champion Machi Fukuda simply received her non-title co-main occasion bout towards Highway FC consultant Dan Bi Kim. Fukuda wanted simply 58 seconds to submit the South Korean with a guillotine choke within the shortest battle of the night time.
Saito (4-2-0, 1 NC) utilized early stress by kneeing Sue (5-2-0, 1 NC) in a clinch towards the cage, nevertheless it was Sue who scored the primary takedown of the battle. Saito battled again to her toes and each ladies landed punches, with Sue aggressively chasing after her foe. She landed a pleasant three-punch combo, however Saito trapped her in a physique lock and tripped Sue to the mat. From there, momentum immediately shifted in Saito’s favour, and she or he rained down elbows and punches that nearly earned her a TKO stoppage. Sue narrowly made it to the bell and the battle carried on.
Early within the second spherical, Saito took Sue’s again in a standing clinch and kneed her legs till she was capable of get Sue down. Saito resumed placing from the highest with punches and a tough elbow. Sue was pinned down, and Saito continued to land elbows and punches till the battle was stopped on the 3:13 mark of the second spherical.
“I couldn’t think about coming again after my damage, however many individuals’s assist helped me to get this title,” an emotional Saito said within the cage instantly following her victory. She mentioned future plans when talking extra backstage.
“I’m relieved that I might TKO [Sue],” Saito stated. “I knew that she would goal my arm, however I’ve achieved judo and I perceive how my opponents use physique motion [in clinches]. Once I injured my knee, it was onerous for me to consider making a comeback, however my teammates helped me. I teared up after this win due to the onerous street to get right here. I want to battle towards international opposition and I goal to tackle the world.”
Whereas her title was not on the road tonight, Fukuda (10-2-0) confirmed precisely why she is a Deep Jewels champion by steamrolling Kim (2-2-0), who has now dropped back-to-back fights. Early within the battle, Fukuda took Kim down and held her in a seated place towards the bottom of the cage. Kim tried to get to her toes, however Fukuda mounted her and locked on a decent guillotine choke. With Kim pinned towards the cage, she had nowhere to go and shortly tapped out simply 58 seconds into the competition.
“I did coaching at Ok-Clann, and had deliberate to strike and present what I had realized, however as an alternative I received the early submission,” Fukuda mirrored backstage. “I had not received through guillotine earlier than, however I executed it effectively at present. I want to face extra international opponents and problem myself on a bigger stage.”
In featured 49kg tremendous atomweight motion, 22-year-old Eru Takebayashi (5-4-0, 1 NC) adopted up on her spectacular victory in November by scoring an emphatic second-round TKO stoppage towards latest Rizin FF competitor Misaki “Iruka Umisaki” Suda (2-2-0). Takebayashi, who was sidelined for greater than two years after sustained a badly damaged jaw in September 2023, has confirmed large enhancements in her general expertise as she trains underneath Rizin FF and Deep Jewels champion Seika Izawa.
Early on, Takebayashi used a one-two to arrange a takedown into again management. She held Suda in a physique triangle and labored for a rear-naked choke, however an tried go to mount allowed Suda to flee into Takebayashi’s guard. A back-and-forth scramble ensued, with Suda securing a rolling kimura and Takebayashi later countering with an armbar from the underside. After standing again up, Suda took Takebayashi down, however Takebayashi reversed it and mounted her towards the cage.
The second spherical opened with a clinch towards the fence, and Takebayashi harm Suda with a knee to her face. Sensing that Suda was dazed, Takebayashi knocked her down with 4 extra knees. The bout was not instantly stopped, so Takebayashi adopted up with just a few punches on the bottom till referee Masato Fukuda intervened to save lots of Suda from any additional harm. The TKO stoppage got here on the 1:08 mark of spherical two.
“I repeatedly labored on takedowns throughout coaching, however I used to be too targeted on attempting to get the rear-naked choke within the first spherical,” a victorious Takebayashi stated backstage. “Once I landed the knee, it seemed efficient, so I continued [with knees] after which punched. I’ll have higher performances and I wish to turn out to be champion as quickly as attainable.”
Veteran Yuko Kiryu (14-14-0) prevailed in her strawweight conflict towards Karin Horii (1-4-0). Kiryu was efficient with knees to the physique throughout a pair of clinches within the opening minutes. Horii attacked with a rear-naked choke on the bottom that had Kiryu in some bother, however Kiryu was capable of battle her manner out of it. She mounted Horii and spun into an armbar for the tapout victory on the 4:29 mark of spherical one.
Additionally at strawweight, Yua Yokose (4-2-0) bounced again from a defeat in December by submitting Miki Oka (1-1-0) within the second spherical. Yokose badly rocked Oka with two proper hooks throughout the opening spherical, however Oka recovered throughout a clinch and Yokose later threatened with a modified Tornado on the bottom. Yokose bloodied Oka’s nostril with punches within the second spherical and took her all the way down to the mat. She secured a shoulder choke from the highest, and utilized added power by wedging her physique between Oka and the cage. Oka held on for some time earlier than tapping out on the 3:42 mark of the second stanza.
Ruka Sakamoto narrowly received her strawweight kickboxing match towards Yura “Dynamite” Narumoto after two rounds. Narumoto began robust by touchdown a strong knee to the physique and punches that backed Sakamoto up. A spinning backfist additionally landed for Narumoto, however her nostril was quickly a bloody mess after Sakamoto linked with a mix. Narumoto knocked Sakamoto down with a leg kick seconds into spherical two, however she illegally punched her on the bottom and Sakamoto was given time to get well. A Yellow Card level deduction was utilized to Narumoto for the foul. Narumoto landed leg kicks and two knees to the physique throughout the remaining minute, however Sakamoto rallied and linked along with her finest punches of the battle. One decide scored the bout 19-18 for Narumoto, whereas the remaining two had it 19-18 in favour of Sakamoto for the Cut up Choice win.
The opposite kickboxing bout on the cardboard, a really lopsided 50kg contest, was simply received by Yuka Shimamura. Proper from the outset of the battle, Shimamura landed continuous punches, knees and leg kicks that prevented opponent Ryoka Nakazawa from doing something in response. Nakazawa stayed on her toes all through the battle, which was an accomplishment in itself, however Shimamura remained dominant with extra knees and punching combos. She landed a spinning again kick to the physique and a remaining barrage of lefts and rights earlier than the bell. Scores had been 20-18 throughout the board for Shimamura, who cruised to the Unanimous Choice victory.
The Deep Jewels 52 undercard featured 5 beginner MMA bouts. Standard prospect Marin Yamabuki (3-0-0 beginner) prevailed through Unanimous Choice in her 49kg tremendous atomweight battle towards Narumi “Zacky” Murai (0-1-0 beginner). Yamabuki shocked Murai with three proper palms early within the battle, however many of the the rest of the primary spherical was spent in clinches towards the cage. Murai scored a takedown and briefly mounted Yamabuki in spherical two, then took her down a second time earlier than the bell. Scores had been 20-18 twice and 19-19 with the Should Choice going to Yamabuki.
Former Rizin FF ring lady Manami “Akipi” Abe (3-3-0 beginner) evened her MMA file with a Unanimous Choice triumph towards Chanrina (1-2-0 beginner) at strawweight. Chanrina nullified two takedowns from Abe by trapping her in half-nelsons from the underside. Abe managed to land some first rate punches from the highest and handed to facet management earlier than the bell. Chanrina countered Abe’s knees to the physique by taking her again and pulling her to the mat in spherical two. Abe escaped from a rear-naked choke and landed robust punches from the highest that left an impression on the judges. Scores had been 20-18 twice and 19-19 with the Should Choice going to Abe.
Additionally at strawweight, Mina Muramatsu (1-1-0 beginner) picked up her first win by stopping Cocoro Taniyama (1-2-0 beginner) within the second spherical. Muramatsu tried a far-side keylock from facet management in spherical one, however an tried go to mount allowed Taniyama to energy out and arise. Taniyama landed a pleasant mixture of punches within the second stanza, however Muramatsu was persistent with takedown makes an attempt and received Taniyama down. She took Taniyama’s again and punched either side of her head till the battle was stopped on the 2:10 mark of spherical two.
In a 50kg contest, Serina Wada (1-3-0 beginner) earned a Unanimous Choice victory over Kanon Yamagishi (0-1-0 beginner). Wada scored with early leg kicks till Yamagishi took her down with a headlock throw. Yamagishi punched from the highest as Wada labored to arrange armbars. Yamagishi received one other takedown within the second spherical, however she was not energetic sufficient on the mat and the fighters had been stood up simply when it seemed like Yamagishi was about to go to mount. That modified the tide of the spherical, and Wada knocked Yamagishi down with a facet kick. Wada adopted up with punches and a rear-naked choke on the bottom earlier than the ultimate bell. Scores had been 20-18 twice and 19-19 with the Should Choice going to Wada.
Opening up the cardboard, Naho Tagawa (1-0-0 beginner) stopped Takara Kii (0-2-0 beginner) within the second spherical of their flyweight battle. Tagawa’s fast motion and frequent leg kicks saved Kii guessing within the first spherical, however Kii was finally capable of get a takedown and held Tagawa in a smother choke. Tagawa fought out of it and Kii landed proper palms earlier than the spherical ended. Kii clinched following a flurry of punches and a head kick from Tagawa in spherical two. Nonetheless, that proved to be her undoing, as Tagawa unleashed a collection of knees to her physique and a few punches as a wounded Kii coated up. The battle was waved off, giving Tagawa the TKO victory on the 2:07 mark of the second spherical.
Full play-by-play for the Deep Jewels 52 card might be discovered right here.
