After narrowly arising brief in two prior interim title bids, Machi Fukuda eventually captured championship gold tonight at Deep Jewels 50 in Tokyo, Japan. Fukuda avenged a type of previous losses and edged out Si Woo “Korean Queen Bee” Park to develop into the brand new Deep Jewels Strawweight Champion.
Tonight’s headlining rematch featured far much less motion than the primary assembly in Could 2024, which ended with Park’s hand raised, however Fukuda’s elevated offence within the closing spherical propelled her to victory. Elsewhere, Keito “Kate Lotus” Oyama stopped veteran Emi Tomimatsu within the 50kg co-main occasion.
The primary two rounds of tonight’s most important occasion have been uneventful, with Fukuda (9-2-0) and Park (12-6-0) each receiving a number of warnings for timidity. Fukuda gave the impression to be the marginally extra lively striker, as she landed a couple of leg kicks after which combined in some straight left palms within the second spherical, however the motion was so sparse that referee Masato Fukuda gave each fighters a one-point deduction within the type of a Yellow Card previous to spherical three.
Motion did decide up within the closing spherical and Fukuda scored two transient takedowns after taking Park’s again. She managed the clinch battles and closed out the struggle by touchdown jabs and a lead proper hook. Regardless of Fukuda seemingly profitable the ultimate spherical, the general end result of the struggle was nonetheless very a lot in query as a result of razor-thin nature of the lacklustre opening ten minutes.
Judges Tatsuro Nagase and Akira Shibata scored the shut struggle 28-27 for Park. They have been overruled by judges Naoya Uematsu, Ryosuke Uchida and Takashi Hashimoto, who all returned scores of 28-27 for Fukuda to provide the 22-year-old a 3-2 Cut up Resolution victory. Fukuda’s two bids for the Deep Jewels Interim Strawweight Championship had each led to contentious resolution defeats, however tonight she earned the undisputed title – which was vacated by former champion Seika Izawa earlier this yr – together with her greatest win to this point.
“I did it! I wished a belt like my mentor fighters and I’ve lastly completed it,” an elated Fukuda stated within the cage following her victory. “I really feel heavy now with the title belt,” she added when talking backstage. “This was my third title struggle, and I wanted to win badly, however I really feel that I used to be too calm within the first two rounds by having a standup struggle when I’m a grappler. I’m glad in regards to the belt, however I can’t be happy in regards to the content material of the struggle. [Emi] Fujino and [Satomi] Takano each praised me however they stated that, content-wise, I have to replicate.”
Whereas the primary occasion lacked sustained motion, the co-feature between the wildly well-liked Oyama (8-7-0) and 19-year veteran Tomimatsu (16-21-0) had a lot, although it was largely one-way visitors in favour of the youthful Oyama. The 27-year-old southpaw landed straight lefts and backed Tomimatsu up with a mix earlier than stuffing a Tomimatsu takedown try. Following a prolonged clinch, Oyama dropped Tomimatsu with a left hook to the physique. Tomimatsu regained her footing, however Oyama attacked with extra punches late within the spherical.
Oyama harm Tomimatsu and bloodied her nostril with punches early within the second spherical. Tomimatsu once more pressed on, however the bout was turning into an increasing number of one-sided as Oyama picked her aside. Tomimatsu was wounded two extra occasions by Oyama’s punches, and tried in useless to get Oyama down by diving at her ankle. Oyama swarmed on her downed foe one closing time with punches and the bout was stopped on the 4:03 mark of spherical two.
“I landed good physique punches and crescent kicks,” Oyama stated backstage following her third straight victory. “My laborious coaching on daily basis has led to this end result. I’ll struggle towards anybody if I can compete for Rizin once more in Kobe.”
In a featured 49kg bout, Sarah Ellen (2-1-0) punished opponent Yuko Kiryu (13-14-0) for lacking weight by knocking her out within the first spherical. Sarah sprawled out of a Kiryu takedown try and pushed her all the way down to the mat, the place Sarah punched from Kiryu’s half-guard. Kiryu finally escaped to her ft and she or he landed a proper hand after one other failed takedown try. Seconds later, Sarah related with an enormous proper hook that momentarily shut Kiryu’s lights out and gave Sarah a knockout victory on the 2:16 mark of spherical one.
An intriguing 50kg bout between Princess Saaya (2-3-0) and Junna Tsukii (1-2-0) ended abruptly when an upkick from Tsukii broken Saaya’s left eye. Whereas Saaya was not a grounded fighter on the time of the strike, upkicks of any kind usually are not permitted underneath the Deep Jewels guidelines and Tsukii gave the impression to be effectively conscious of her mistake proper after it landed. Previous to that, Saaya had completed effectively with a takedown into again management and a rear-naked choke try earlier than settling in to Tsukii’s full guard. It was when Saaya stood up that Tsukii landed an upkick together with her heel that struck Saaya straight in her left eye. Time was referred to as, however Saaya was unable to proceed following a prolonged break and she or he was awarded a disqualification win on the 3:36 mark of spherical one.
Nonoka Sakamoto (2-0-0, 1 NC) remained undefeated and spoiled the professional debut of Misaki Horiuchi (0-1-0) by choking her unconscious simply over one minute into their strawweight bout. Sakamoto started the struggle by diving at Horiuchi’s ankle after which hopping on her again. She pulled Horiuchi all the way down to the mat after which locked on an arm-triangle choke. Horiuchi initially tried to flee by kicking her legs for momentum, however she couldn’t accomplish that and misplaced consciousness, ending the struggle on the 1:03 mark.
In 52kg kickboxing motion, Manaka took a Unanimous Resolution victory over Riko Kita after three entertaining rounds. Manaka’s straight left punches acquired her off to a great begin within the opening spherical, and she or he countered Kita’s aggression within the second spherical by focusing on her physique with knees and kicks. Kita landed some good punches of her personal within the spherical, and she or he walked Manaka down with extra punches all through spherical three, however that late rally was not sufficient. Scores have been 30-27 and 29-28 twice in favour of Manaka for the win.
After going winless relationship again to her beginner debut for Deep Jewels in February 2020, Yuko “Pochan Z” Matsuura (1-8-0) eventually had her hand raised following a robust displaying tonight towards Hitomi Taniyama (1-4-0) at featherweight. Matsuura’s knees and left palms to the physique have been very efficient within the first spherical they usually allowed her to manage the clinch battles. Taniyama’s clinches within the second spherical didn’t yield success and Matsuura continued to land knees and brief punches. All three judges scored the struggle 20-18 in Matsuura’s favour.
Opening up the skilled portion of the cardboard, prospect Suzu Ooi (1-0-0) made a profitable professional debut by taking a clear-cut Unanimous Resolution win over Kimika “Jaka” Kawaguchi (2-3-0) of their 44kg microweight bout. Ooi instantly shocked Kawaguchi with straight lefts and an early mixture, however Kawaguchi regained her composure and she or he tried a triangle choke and an armbar when the struggle hit the mat. Ooi escaped and resumed her hanging dominance on the ft. She harm Kawaguchi once more with punches within the second spherical, and bloodied her nostril with jabs, en path to a one-sided resolution win with scores of 20-18 throughout the board.
Marin Yamabuki (2-0-0 beginner) remained undefeated by dominating former Rizin FF ring woman Akipi (1-3-0 beginner) en path to a Unanimous Resolution win in beginner strawweight motion. Yamabuki scored two takedowns within the first spherical and punched from prime place. She mounted Akipi within the second spherical and landed extra punches, however an ill-advised tornado try from Yamabuki allowed Akipi to brush. Again on the ft, Yamabuki took Akipi’s again and pulled her to the mat with a good rear-naked choke, however time expired. All three judges scored the bout 20-18 for Yamabuki.
An beginner 49kg bout between Asuka Yokoe (2-0-0 beginner) and Serina Wada (0-2-0 beginner) ended with Yokoe profitable a commanding Unanimous Resolution. Yokoe managed the grappling within the first spherical and hung out in mount and in again management. She secured two extra takedowns within the second stanza and closed out the struggle with hammerfist strikes. Scores have been 20-18 throughout the board for Yokoe.
Probably the most dominant efficiency on the preliminary card got here from Yuna Suyama (1-1-0 beginner), who steamrolled Chanrina (0-1-0 beginner) and completed her within the first spherical. Suyama scored a takedown into mount and she or he maintained the place till the ultimate minute. When Suyama postured up, she dropped heavy punches to the face of Chanrina, who might do nothing however roll to her facet and canopy up. The struggle was stopped on the 2:23 mark, giving Suyama a powerful TKO win.
Within the opening beginner prelim bout, Kokoro Taniyama (1-0-0 beginner) started her Deep Jewels profession with a detailed however well-deserved Cut up Resolution win over Mion Wachi (0-2-0 beginner) at strawweight. Wachi began effectively with an overhand proper and two extra proper palms after catching a kick. She switched to straight lefts because the spherical progressed and Taniyama responded with a mix earlier than the bell. Taniyama was extra aggressive within the second spherical and she or he backed Wachi up with punches. Wachi started to decelerate and Taniyama saved the stress on with extra flurries. Choose Hashimoto scored the struggle even at 19-19 and awarded his Should Resolution to Wachi. Judges Uematsu and Shibata additionally had it 19-19, however their Should Choices went to Taniyama for the slender Cut up Resolution win.
Full play-by-play for the Deep Jewels 50 card might be discovered right here.
