Strawweight Queen of Pancrase Champion Haruka “Salt” Hasegawa made a profitable defence of her title with a five-round Unanimous Choice win tonight at Pancrase 347 in Tokyo, Japan. Hasegawa defeated former Queen of Pancrase and present Shooto titleholder Emi “Kamikaze Angel” Fujino.
Pancrase 347 featured three extra girls’s matchups. Atomweight Queen of Pancrase Champion Satomi “Sarami” Takano defeated Yerin “Ghost” Hong in a non-title bout. Fumika Watanabe upset Takayo Hashi at flyweight, and Karen outpointed Edna “Trakinas” Oliveira Ajala at 115.
Hasegawa (5-4-0) and Fujino (30-15-1, 1 NC) circled one another early on and Hasegawa landed leg kicks and straight proper arms. She focused Fujino’s physique with knees and prevented a one-two. Earlier than the second spherical, the physician checked on Fujino’s broken left eye, however the struggle continued and Hasegawa landed a entrance kick. Fujino clinched and landed quick punches, which Hasegawa responded to with knees to her thigh. The fighters separated and Hasegawa landed a entrance kick. Fujino related with a left hook, however Hasegawa landed one other entrance kick in response.
Hasegawa jabbed to start the third spherical and Fujino tried a standing guillotine choke. Hasegawa freed her neck and landed a left knee to the physique, and Fujino clinched as soon as extra after scoring with a proper hook. Within the fourth spherical, Hasegawa jabbed and adopted with two physique kicks. Fujino caught the second and clinched, however Hasegawa kneed her within the midsection. The fighters broke aside and Hasegawa landed a entrance kick and a spinning backfist. Fujino clinched and Hasegawa fought her method out of it by touchdown an elbow adopted by another entrance kick.
The ultimate spherical started with Hasegawa touchdown a entrance kick to Fujino’s face. She threw extra entrance kicks till Fujino chased after her and clinched. Fujino took Hasegawa’s again, however Hasegawa changed into the clinch and kneed her within the physique earlier than backing away. Fujino caught a kick from Hasegawa and backed her as much as the cage, however Hasegawa shortly responded with knees to the physique and she or he pushed Fujino away. Another entrance kick landed for Hasegawa earlier than the tip of the championship struggle.
The judges returned scores of 50-45, 49-46 and 48-47 in favour of Hasegawa for a title-retaining Unanimous Choice victory. Whereas she has endured ups and downs lately, Hasegawa is an ideal 3-0 underneath the Pancrase banner.
Takano (20-14-0) initiated an early clinch with Hong (4-5-0) and she or he landed knees and elbows in shut. Extra knees scored for Takano, who threw Hong to the mat and took mount. Takano punched as Hong gave up her again after which scrambled as much as her knees, however Takano sprawled and punched from aspect management after pushing Hong again down. Hong stood and Takano hunted for a standing rear-naked choke that she used to tug Hong down, and Takano switched to an armbar try late within the spherical.
Hong landed a proper hook and a leg kick within the second spherical, and the fighters exchanged punches till Takano in the end scored a takedown from a waist deal with. She moved to aspect management and landed punches and elbows to Hong’s head. Within the remaining spherical, punches had been as soon as once more exchanged till Takano shot in for a takedown, however this time Hong stayed on her toes and she or he landed counter elbows within the clinch. Takano used a kosoto gari throw to get Hong down after which tried an armbar. Hong escaped and Takano punched her physique till Hong received again to her toes. All three judges scored the struggle 30-27 in favour of Takano for a Unanimous Choice triumph.
Watanabe (2-1-0) opened the motion with a number of kicks to the lead leg of Hashi (19-10-1), and she or he adopted with a proper cross as Hashi’s motion already started to gradual. Hashi tried to clinch and Watanabe countered with two extra leg kicks and a proper hook. She sprawled out of a Hashi takedown try and separated from the clinch. Watanabe knocked Hashi down with a proper hook early in spherical two and Hashi held on to her from the underside. Watanabe stood and Hashi adopted, however she was not in a position to take Watanabe down. Watanabe scored one other transient knockdown with a left hook after which defended in opposition to Hashi’s clinch and takedown makes an attempt.
Watanabe sprawled in defence in opposition to a Hashi takedown within the remaining spherical and she or he countered two Hashi jabs with a Superman Punch. Hashi couldn’t shut the gap and Watanabe blended issues up with jabs and leg kicks whereas sustaining motion. Hashi lastly latched on to a single-leg that went nowhere, after which to a double-leg takedown that briefly received Watanabe down, however Watanabe stood and time expired. Scores had been 30-27 throughout the board for Watanabe for a Unanimous Choice victory.
Karen (10-2-0) took management of the centre of the cage within the opening spherical and Oliveira (11-14-1) scored with a collection of leg kicks. Karen landed a straight proper hand and Oliveira continued to assault with kicks to Karen’s leg and physique. Karen took Oliveira down and fought her method out of a guillotine choke, which had its impression restricted by the cage. Karen landed a entrance kick and she or he prevented mixtures from Oliveira within the second spherical. Oliveira struggled to land something and Karen related with one other entrance kick earlier than taking Oliveira down into aspect management. Oliveira received again to half-guard and Karen landed elbows to her leg and face.
Within the remaining spherical, Karen tripped Oliveira and labored from her open guard. Karen landed punches as Oliveira arrange an armbar, then defended in opposition to the armbar by touchdown knees to Oliveira’s physique and an elbow to her face. Karen landed extra punches and knees earlier than the tip of the struggle, and her sturdy efficiency within the remaining ten minutes earned her a Unanimous Choice win with scores of 29-28 thrice.
(Photograph Credit score: Pancrase)
