Getting back from an 11-month hiatus, multi-time Shoot Boxing champion Rena Kubota earned a victory in her sixtieth skilled fight sports activities battle tonight at Rizin Preventing Federation: “Landmark Vol. 9” in Kobe, Hyōgo, Japan. Kubota defeated former Street FC champ Yu Ri Shim at tremendous atomweight.
Regardless of getting back from a 30-month layoff herself, Shim confirmed no indicators of ring rust and she or he put Kubota on the defensive with lengthy jabs and overhand rights early in tonight’s matchup. Kubota got here on robust because the battle progressed, nonetheless, and earned a well-deserved Unanimous Resolution win.
Kubota (14-5-0), who additionally sports activities a mixed 35-5-1 professional kickboxing and shootboxing file, entered the cage tonight following intensive coaching in Thailand the place she labored to hone her placing expertise in preparation for the bout with Shim (6-4-0). It was Shim whose placing was on show in spherical one tonight, nonetheless, and she or he used her attain benefit successfully by stifling Kubota’s offence with jabs to her face. A pair of overhand rights additionally scored for Shim, who opened a gash above Kubota’s left eye late within the opening spherical.
Within the center stanza, Kubota and Shim battled in clinches and Shim appeared to nonetheless maintain a bonus within the placing exchanges. She took Kubota down and Kubota reversed with a rolling kimura. Shim was in some hassle, however she made it to the bell. The ultimate spherical was largely dominated by Kubota, who countered a pair of takedowns from Shim and reversed the second into again management. Kubota then blasted Shim with elbows and hammerfists till Shim escaped to her ft. A late takedown for Shim allowed her to very briefly move to mount, however time expired.
All three judges scored the battle in favour of Kubota, who has gained two of her previous three fights and is 6-2 general in Rizin since mid-2019. Whereas her profession has now reached 60 professional fights, and she or he has spoken about retirement up to now, Kubota proved tonight that she continues to be one of many high tremendous atomweights on the Rizin roster.
(Photograph Credit score: Rizin Preventing Federation)
