After a short however thrilling battle in 2023, tremendous atomweights Saki Kitamura and Eru Takebayashi are set to collide for a second time on September sixth at Deep Jewels 54 in Tokyo, Japan. The Kitamura-Takebayashi rematch is predicted to headline the cardboard, which was introduced this previous week.
Kitamura badly broke Takebayashi’s jaw early within the pair’s first assembly, and survived an onslaught of offence from her bloodied foe, earlier than the physician halted the struggle. Within the Deep Jewels 54 co-main occasion, Nonoka Sakamoto seems to remain unbeaten when she faces Honoka Shigeta at 54kg.
Kitamura (5-5-0) and Takebayashi (5-5-0, 1 NC) first clashed in a preliminary bout at Deep Jewels 42 in September 2023 when Kitamura was competing for less than the second time as an expert. She dropped Takebayashi a number of instances early within the struggle, however it was a head kick and follow-up punches that had been notably damaging and Takebayashi started to bleed from her mouth. Nonetheless, Takebayashi rallied again and practically completed Kitamura with a barrage of punches in opposition to the cage. Kitamura held on and secured a clinch, and the struggle was halted and waved off by the cageside physician. Takebayashi had sustained a badly damaged jaw, which stored her out of competitors for greater than two years.
Since that first struggle, Kitamura has been an lively mainstay on the Deep Jewels roster, the place she has alternated between wins and losses and holds two first-round finishes in below 40 seconds apiece. Takebayashi eventually returned to the cage in November, now below the tutelage of former Rizin FF and Deep Jewels champ Seika Izawa, and gained back-to-back fights whereas displaying off much-improved abilities. She most not too long ago dropped a contentious Cut up Determination to Ye Ji Lee in Might.
Sakamoto (3-0-0, 1 NC) faces her hardest check thus far in September when she takes on former Pancrase champion Shigeta (4-2-0), who will search redemption after lacking weight and dropping her Might 2025 Deep Jewels debut. Sakamoto has gained all 4 of her professional fights, although she additionally missed weight in her victory over Mayumi Ono, which resulted within the bout being dominated a No Contest. She most not too long ago outpointed So Yul Kim at Deep Jewels 53. Shigeta claimed the Flyweight Queen of Pancrase title in her fourth professional struggle in 2024, however she was dethroned by Shizuka Sugiyama in her first title defence. An try to drop right down to tremendous atomweight didn’t go as deliberate, and Shigeta’s failed weight reduce could have performed a think about her loss to Namiko “Hime” Kawabata at Deep Jewels 49.
Deep Jewels Bantamweight Champion Momoko Saito (4-2-0, 1 NC) will look to increase her successful streak to 5 when she clashes with Russia’s Vladlena “Cutie” Petrova (5-1-0) in a non-title matchup. Saito claimed the vacant title in February when she stopped Juki Sue within the second spherical at Deep Jewels 52. Three of her 4 wins have come by way of a type of knockout, together with the second-round end in opposition to Sue. Petrova makes her Deep Jewels debut after a prolonged layoff and can also be a confirmed finisher. A victory over Saito would possible earn her a direct rematch for the title.
Misaki “Iruka Umisaki” Suda (2-2-0) and Junna Tsukii (2-3-0) each intention to get again on the successful observe after they meet in a featured tremendous atomweight contest. Suda sustained her first defeat in November when she misplaced her Rizin debut to Noeru “Noel” Narita, and she or he was swiftly stopped by Eru Takebayashi at Deep Jewels 52. Tsukii was unable to comply with up on her sensational knockout win in November, and she or he suffered a second-round TKO defeat in opposition to the way more skilled Yuko Kiryu at Deep Jewels 53 in Might.
Talking of Kiryu (15-14-0), she may even be in motion in September, as she meets Yua Yokose (4-2-0) in strawweight motion. Kiryu has confronted a lot of the prime fighters on the Deep Jewels roster, and sustained defeats alongside the best way, however she has completed two straight opponents together with the aforementioned Tsukii. Yokose is a gifted grappler with three submission wins on her report. She most not too long ago tapped out Miki Oka with a shoulder choke on the Deep Jewels 52 card.
In a matchup between two of the very best prospects on the Deep Jewels roster, Suzu Ooi (3-0-0) meets a returning Mahina China (2-0-0) in 44kg microweight motion. Ooi turned professional in September and she or he has gained three straight Deep Jewels bouts whereas additionally turning into a fan favorite. China, who made her Deep Jewels debut at age 15, gained each of her fights in 2024 earlier than accidents to opponents and herself derailed further struggle plans. The Okinawa native, who turns 18 subsequent month, now seems to make a triumphant return by halting Ooi’s hype prepare.
Rounding out the skilled bouts, Mika “Arami” Arai (6-9-0) competes for Deep Jewels for the primary time in practically 4 years when she faces Misaki Horiuchi (1-1-0) at strawweight; Sarah Ellen (2-2-0) hopes at hand highly-touted grappler Hanami Watanabe (1-0-0) her first defeat after they do battle in 49kg tremendous atomweight motion; Miku Yokose (1-2-0) goals to spoil the skilled debut of Marin Yamabuki (4-0-0 beginner) of their 50kg matchup; and Karin Horii (1-4-0) faces off in opposition to former light-weight Sayaka “Juicy” Hishinuma (5-3-0), who has gained 4 straight fights whereas shifting down in weight and can now compete as a strawweight for the primary time.
In beginner motion, Manami “Akipi” Abe (3-4-0 beginner) faces a returning Seari Sumimura (4-3-0 beginner) in a 50kg bout; Asuka Yokoe (2-2-0 beginner) tangles with Cocoro Taniyama (1-3-0 beginner) in one other 50kg contest; and, additionally at 50kg, Mion Wachi (1-2-0 beginner) meets Rio Yamauchi (1-0-0).
Deep Jewels 54 takes place on September sixth at New Pier Corridor in Tokyo, Japan.
