Deep Jewels contender Namiko “Hime” Kawabata will welcome a contemporary challenger when she returns to motion on March twenty third at Deep Jewels 48 in Tokyo, Japan. Kawabata is about to face former Flyweight Queen of Pancrase Champion Honoka Shigeta in a 50kg matchup that can headline the cardboard.
Deep Jewels officers introduced the featured bout together with ten further fights for the cardboard this week. Within the bantamweight co-main occasion, Deep Jewels Featherweight Champion Yoko Higashi returns to the promotion to face prospect Mana Akagi, who’s coming off of a fast win in November.
Kawabata (5-4-0) picked up a much-needed victory at Deep Jewels 46 in September when she dropped again right down to the tremendous atomweight division and earned a Unanimous Resolution win over Saki Kitamura. That halted a three-fight dropping skid for Kawabata, although two of these defeats got here at larger weights together with a 58kg bout in opposition to Deep Jewels Flyweight Champion Rin Nakai that Kawabata took on brief discover. The 37-year-old will now look to spoil the Deep Jewels debut of Shigeta, who has already developed some historical past with Nakai herself.
Shigeta (4-1-0) started her professional profession for Pancrase in April 2023 and racked up three straight wins to earn a shot on the promotion’s ladies’s flyweight title that was then held by Takayo Hashi. At Pancrase 341 this previous March, Shigeta posted a Unanimous Resolution win over Hashi to take the title. Nevertheless, her championship reign was short-lived, and he or she misplaced the belt when she was rapidly choked out by Shizuka Sugiyama at Pancrase 346. Previous to dropping her Pancrase title, Shigeta had supplied to step in as a substitute opponent for Nakai on the Deep Jewels 45 card, however that did not materialise and Shigeta will as a substitute make her promotional debut on the a lot decrease weight of 50kg.
Higashi (8-5-0) turned Deep Jewels Featherweight Champion in Might 2022 when she defeated “King” Reina Miura for the second time, and he or she fought as soon as extra for Deep Jewels as a bantamweight earlier than shifting on to the Skilled Fighters League. Higashi’s PFL tenure got here to an finish after two defeats, and he or she then misplaced rapidly to Taylor Guardado – who missed weight – in a would-be bantamweight bout at Invicta FC 55 in June. Higashi now returns dwelling to Deep Jewels in hopes of getting again on observe.
Akagi (4-4-0) has struggled with consistency, and has alternated between wins and losses relationship again to her novice debut, however she is likely one of the high finishers on the Deep Jewels roster and earned a key win in her most up-to-date look. Going through the well-travelled Marina Kumagai at Deep Jewels 47, Akagi submitted her extra skilled foe with a shawl maintain armlock in simply 68 seconds. An upset of Higashi could be big for the 25-year-old Akagi, as she seeks her second straight win.
In different featured motion at Deep Jewels 48, long-time title contender Hikaru Aono (11-7-0) seems to be to increase her profitable streak to a few when she takes on the aforementioned Saki Kitamura (3-3-0) in a 49kg tremendous atomweight bout. Aono gained each of her 2024 fights on Deep playing cards in Osaka, and he or she now returns to Deep Jewels for the primary time in additional than 18 months. Kitamura gained two of her three bouts this previous 12 months and he or she is coming off of a three-round choice win over one other veteran fighter, Yuko Kiryu, on the Deep: Tokyo Affect occasion on December eighth.
The 44kg microweight division might be featured prominently at Deep Jewels 48, with two matchups scheduled for the occasion. In a single, Momoko Yamazaki (4-7-0) takes on the returning Kimika “Jaka” Kawaguchi (2-1-0). Yamazaki seems to be to get again on observe following latest defeats, whereas Kawaguchi goals to attain her third straight victory. Additionally at microweight, Kyoka “Chibisai” Minagawa (2-5-0, 1 NC) faces Rena Kobayashi (4-4-0). Minagawa is coming off of a choice loss to Mahina China in March, whereas Kobayashi had her profitable streak snapped by Akari Kamise throughout that very same month.
Rounding out the Deep Jewels 48 card, Yuko “Pochan Z” Matsuura (0-7-0) faces the debuting Elena (0-0-0) in a 63kg matchup; Misaki Suda (1-0-0) meets Princess Saaya (1-1-0) in 49kg tremendous atomweight motion; Karin Horii (0-1-0) takes on Yua Yokose (0-1-0) at strawweight; Miku Yokose (0-1-0) welcomes Asuka Yokoe (1-0-0 novice) to the professional ranks in a 49kg bout; Yuka Shimamura battles Saki Nakamura in a strawweight kickboxing contest; and former Rizin ring woman Akipi (0-1-0 novice) goals for her first MMA win when she faces Yuna Suyama (0-1-0 novice) in an novice strawweight struggle.
Deep Jewels 48 takes place on March twenty third at New Pier Corridor in Tokyo, Japan.
