A complete of 4 girls’s bouts together with two championship fights at the moment are official for Pancrase 341, which takes place on March thirty first in Tokyo, Japan. Flyweight Queen of Pancrase Takayo Hashi places her title on the road in opposition to undefeated 20-year-old challenger Honoka Shigeta, who’s 3-0 in Pancrase.
Additionally set for Pancrase 341 is the inaugural Atomweight Queen of Pancrase event closing between Satomi “Sarami” Takano and Sayako Fujita. In non-title flyweight bouts, Emiko “Fujin” Raika rematches Shizuka Sugiyama in Sugiyama’s Pancrase debut, and Nori takes on Fumika Watanabe.
Hashi (19-8-1) transitioned to Pancrase in 2018 after shedding her Deep Jewels bantamweight title and went 2-2 in her first two Pancrase bouts as a flyweight. In October 2021, she captured the Flyweight Queen of Pancrase title with a five-round Unanimous Determination win in opposition to Nori, after which repeated that feat this previous April by defeating Nori as soon as once more in a rematch.
Shigeta (3-0-0) continues to be very younger in her MMA profession, however she has made a robust influence in simply three fights for Pancrase. After debuting in April with a call victory, Shigeta picked up a first-round submission win in August after which secured her title shot by defeating former championship contender Raika at Pancrase 338 in November.
“This can be a battle after my one-year absence, however I do know I’ll defend my belt,” Hashi stated throughout right now’s Pancrase 341 press convention. “I’ll use all of my energy to battle. I’ve fought for Pancrase since 2018 and I’ve an extended historical past with it. I need to present that my willpower has come from that historical past on this battle. She confirmed enchancment in her final battle, and I really feel that she is aggressive and has good coaching, however I’m extra of an all-around MMA fighter than her. It’s not comparable. I cannot lose.”
“I’ll take the belt and be a fundamental attraction on March thirty first,” Shigeta stated. “I’ll break her historical past with my younger energy. I do know that she turned a champion for a motive, however I’ll take her all.”
Champion Takayo Hashi (left) and challenger Honoka Shigeta (proper).
Former Shooto champion Takano (18-14-0) debuted for Pancrase through the opening spherical of the inaugural Queen of Pancrase title event in December and defeated Zenny Huang to advance on to the championship closing. The 12-year veteran brings a major expertise benefit into subsequent month’s title battle as she appears to change into the primary feminine atomweight champion in Pancrase.
Fujita (8-2-0) introduced a robust four-fight profitable streak into her Pancrase debut in late 2019 and she or he has since gone 4-1 beneath the Pancrase banner. Her lone defeat got here by way of second-round submission in opposition to the aforementioned Huang at Pancrase 330, however Fujita received each of her fights in 2023 together with a razor-thin Break up Determination verdict in opposition to Mei Yamaguchi of their event semi-final bout.
“I’m glad to be again right here and I’ll win the belt on March thirty first,” Takano stated. “I feel she is nice at aggression and stamina, however that’s it. I feel this belt will show my high quality as a fighter. I need to obtain that on my own. My energy is small, however I need to present that I can win.”
“I lastly battle for a title,” Fujita stated. “I’ll win this battle with tenacity. She is nice at techniques, however I’m okay to keep away from her sport. She did the identical sample in her final battle and in order that didn’t change my impression of her and my coaching is identical. I need to defend the Pancrase belt as many instances as doable. She helped me earlier in my profession and that is my probability to point out my enchancment to her.”
Satomi Takano (left) and Sayako Fujita (proper).
Raika (13-10-1, 1 NC) has been a flyweight contender for Pancrase for greater than 5 years and her time with the promotion dates again to her fourth professional MMA battle in 2015. The 48-year-old received two of her three fights this previous 12 months, with each wins coming in opposition to debuting fighters, and dropped a call to Shigeta of their primary contender’s battle at Pancrase 338.
Sugiyama (21-7-1) debuted on the inaugural Jewels occasion in 2008 and went on to change into one of the crucial in style and well-known fighters on the Jewels and Deep Jewels rosters within the years since. In 2014, she defeated Raika on the year-end Deep: “Dream Influence” occasion. Sugiyama has not fought since Might 2022 when she was defeated within the Deep Jewels Flyweight Grand Prix Ultimate. She has remained lively with commentary work for Rizin FF and now makes her long-awaited return to competitors.
“Thanks for inviting me to compete on the 30-year anniversary occasion,” Raika stated. “She beat me simply 9 years in the past, however I need to present my present energy. I solely take into consideration profitable.”
“I need to present a very good battle for my first Pancrase look,” Sugiyama stated. “I would like the belt. I watched Emi Fujno sporting her belt and it was cool for me to see. I’m coming again after an extended break and I need to have a powerful efficiency. Raika improved as an MMA fighter and I count on to have to search out one other approach to win this time.”
Emiko Raika (left) and Shizuka Sugiyama (proper).
Former two-time Pancrase title challenger Nori (6-6-1) faces Watanabe (0-1-0) in different flyweight motion on the cardboard. Whereas her success in Pancrase has been stifled, Nori has received all 4 of her Deep Jewels fights since mid-2016. She now appears to switch that success from exterior of Pancrase over to the long-running promotion when she faces Watanabe, who took Raika to a aggressive Break up Determination in her debut at Pancrase 331.
“I need to present my sort of battle as a result of I need to win the title sooner or later,” Nori stated. “I battle in opposition to a youthful opponent for the primary time, however I’ll crush her. I didn’t prepare with [sister and former Pancrase champion] Karen just lately, however I felt her enchancment and I need to present my enchancment to her.”
“I modified my fitness center and rebuilt my MMA abilities from the fundamentals, and I need to present that,” Watanabe stated. “I would like an entertaining battle and I’m aiming for a knockout this time. My husband is an MMA fighter for Shooto and we co-operate collectively.”
Nori (left) and Fumika Watanabe (proper).
