Kanako Murata

Kanako Murata (村田 夏南子, born August 10, 1993) is a Japanese mixed martial artist and former wrestler, who competes in the Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional mixed martial artist since 2016, Murata has also competed in Rizin Fighting Federation and Invicta FC where she is a former Invicta FC Strawweight Champion.

Kanako Murata
Born (1993-08-10) August 10, 1993
Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan
Native name村田夏南子
Height156 cm (5 ft 1 in)
Weight115 lb (52 kg; 8 st 3 lb)
DivisionStrawweight
Flyweight
StyleWrestling, Judo
StanceSouthpaw
Fighting out ofDublin, California, United States
TeamCombat Sports Academy (2019–present)[1]
TrainerKazunori Yokota
RankPurple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu[1]
Years active2016–present (MMA)
Mixed martial arts record
Total15
Wins12
By knockout2
By submission4
By decision6
Losses3
By knockout1
By submission1
By decision1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Women's wrestling
Representing  Japan
Asian Wrestling Championships
Gold medal – first place 2012 Gumi, South Korea -55kg
Silver medal – second place 2013 New Delhi, India -55kg
Silver medal – second place 2015 Doha, Qatar -55kg
Universiade
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Kazan, Russia -55kg

Background

Murata was born and raised in Matsuyama, Japan.[1] The granddaughter of a judo dojo master, Murata started training judo at the age of three.[1] She was a national champion in judo in her high school years.[1] After judo, she transitioned to freestyle wrestling in which she won Junior World Championship in 2011.[1]

Mixed martial arts career

Rizin Fighting Federation

Murata was scheduled to make her professional debut against Natalya Denisova at Rizin 1 on April 17, 2016.[2] She won the fight by unanimous decision.[3]

Murata made her flyweight debut against Maia Kahaunaele-Stevenson at KOTC: Firefight on June 4, 2016. She won the fight by a third-round technical knockout.

Murata remained at flyweight for her next fight with Ilona Wijmans at Shoot Box Girls S-Cup 2016 on July 7, 2016.[4] She won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.[5]

Murata was scheduled to face Kyra Batara in a strawweight bout at Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 1st Round on September 26, 2016. She won the fight by unanimous decision.[6]

Murata was scheduled to face Rin Nakai in a flyweight bout at Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 2nd Round on December 29, 2016.[7] Murata suffered her first professional loss, tapping to a rear-naked choke in the third round.[8]

Murata was scheduled to face Claire Fryer in a strawweight bout at Pancrase 288 on July 2, 2017. She won the fight by unanimous decision.[9]

Murata was scheduled to face Yukari Nabe in a flyweight bout at DEEP 79 Impact on September 16, 2017.[10] She won the fight by unanimous decision.[11]

Murata remained at flyweight for her next fight, against Lanchana Green at Rizin 10 on May 6, 2018. She won the fight by a first-round anaconda choke submission.[12]

Murata was scheduled to face Angela Magana at Rizin 12 on August 12, 2018.[13] She won the fight by a first-round submission.[14]

Murata made her last appearance with Rizin against Saray Orozco at Rizin 15 on April 21, 2019. Murata was originally scheduled to face Shinju Nozawa-Auclair, before Nozawa-Auclair withdrew due to a ligament injury.[15] She won the fight by her second career, and second consecutive, Von Flue choke submission.[16]

Invicta

It was announced on August 30, 2018, that Murata had signed with Invicta FC, and would compete in their strawweight division.[17]

Murata was scheduled to make her promotional debut with Invicta, almost a year after signing with them, against Liana Pirosin at Invicta FC 35: Bennett vs. Rodriguez II on June 7, 2019. She won the fight by a first-round rear-naked choke submission.[18] This fight earned her a "Performance of the Night" award.[19]

Murata was scheduled to fight Emily Ducote for the vacant Invicta FC Strawweight Championship at Invicta FC 38: Murata vs. Ducote on November 1, 2019.[20] She won the fight by split decision.[21]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Murata announced on July 5, 2020, that she had signed with the UFC.[22]

Murata was expected to face Lívia Renata Souza on November 14, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos.[23] However, Souza pulled out in early November due to an undisclosed injury and was replaced by Randa Markos.[24] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[25]

Murata faced Virna Jandiroba on June 19, 2021 at UFC on ESPN 25.[26] She lost the fight via doctor stoppage after round 2 due to a elbow dislocation caused by an armbar applied by Jandiroba.[27]

After a two-year layoff, Murata faced Vanessa Demopoulos on October 7, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 229.[28] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[29] 13 out of 14 media outlets scored the bout as a win for Murata.[30]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
15 matches 12 wins 3 losses
By knockout 2 1
By submission 4 1
By decision 6 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 12–3 Vanessa Demopoulos Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green October 7, 2023 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 12–2 Virna Jandiroba TKO (arm injury) UFC on ESPN: The Korean Zombie vs. Ige June 19, 2021 2 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 12–1 Randa Markos Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos November 14, 2020 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 11–1 Emily Ducote Decision (split) Invicta FC 38: Murata vs. Ducote November 1, 2019 5 5:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States Won the vacant Invicta FC Strawweight Championship.
Win 10–1 Liana Pirosin Submission (rear-naked choke) Invicta FC 35: Bennett vs. Rodriguez II June 7, 2019 1 2:10 Kansas City, Kansas, United States Return to Strawweight. Performance of the Night.
Win 9–1 Saray Orozco Submission (Von Flue choke) Rizin 15 April 21, 2019 2 2:12 Yokohama, Japan
Win 8–1 Angela Magana Submission (Von Flue choke) Rizin 12 August 12, 2018 2 3:53 Nagoya, Japan Strawweight bout.
Win 7–1 Lanchana Green Submission (anaconda choke) Rizin 10 May 6, 2018 1 4:52 Fukuoka, Japan
Win 6–1 Yukari Nabe Decision (unanimous) DEEP 79 Impact September 16, 2017 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 5–1 Claire Fryer Decision (unanimous) Pancrase 288 July 2, 2017 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan Strawweight bout.
Loss 4–1 Rin Nakai Submission (rear-naked choke) Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 2nd Round December 29, 2016 3 1:16 Saitama, Japan
Win 4–0 Kyra Batara Decision (unanimous) Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 1st Round September 26, 2016 3 5:00 Saitama, Japan Strawweight bout.
Win 3–0 Ilona Wijmans TKO (punches) Shoot Box Girls S-Cup 2016 July 7, 2016 1 1:17 Tokyo, Japan
Win 2–0 Maia Kahaunaele-Stevenson TKO (punches) KOTC: Firefight June 4, 2016 3 3:43 San Jacinto, California, United States Flyweight debut.
Win 1–0 Natalya Denisova Decision (unanimous) Rizin 1 April 17, 2016 3 5:00 Nagoya, Japan Strawweight debut.

See also

References
  1. Mark Pickering (November 10, 2020). "Kanako Murata Always Destined To Be A Fighter". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
  2. Koji, Fuse (16 April 2016). "吉田沙保里のライバル、村田夏南子が「RIZIN」で総合格闘技参戦". sportiva.shueisha.co.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  3. "村田夏南子（日大卒＝フリー）がプロ・デビュー戦で勝利…総合格闘技「ＲＩＺＩＮ」". japan-wrestling.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  4. "【Ｇｉｒｌｓ Ｓ―ｃｕｐ】村田夏南子が４冠王ワイマンに嫉妬心". excite.co.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  5. "【シュートボクシング】RENAが圧倒TKO勝ち、MIOはトーナメント制覇". efight.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  6. "村田夏南子、総合４連勝！元ＵＦＣ中井りんに大みそか対戦要求". sponichi.co.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  7. "【RIZIN】中井りんが公開練習、村田夏南子と思い出話しも". efight.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  8. "中井りんがＲＩＺＩＮ初参戦初勝利 村田夏南子下す". daily.co.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  9. "【パンクラス】村田夏南子 ７か月ぶりの試合で判定勝利も一本奪えず「悔いが残る」". excite.co.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  10. "【DEEP】村田夏南子と対戦の奈部ゆかり「私が逆に塩漬けにしてやる」＝計量". efight.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  11. "【DEEP79】べク・ヒョンジュと対戦──藤野恵実 「ストロー級で一番になるために戦っている」". mmaplanet.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  12. "【ＲＩＺＩＮ】村田夏南子 １年４カ月ぶりＲＩＺＩＮ復帰戦で１本勝ちも眼窩底骨折が判明". sponichi.co.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  13. "【RIZIN】マガーナが村田夏南子をSEXY挑発". efight.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  14. "【ＲＩＺＩＮ】村田夏南子 ３カ月ぶり復帰戦で進化！今後は米国参戦も視野". sponichi.co.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  15. "【RIZIN】村田夏南子が緊急参戦「全力で闘いたい」。全試合順が決定＝4月21日（日）「RIZIN.15」横浜". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  16. "【RIZIN】スクランブル参戦の村田夏南子が圧巻の失神一本勝ち". efight.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  17. Skytte, Mike (31 August 2018). "RIZIN's Kanako Murata signs with Invicta Fighting Championships". mmasucka.com. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  18. "村田夏南子、裸絞めで米格闘技団体デビュー戦白星". nikkansports.com. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  19. "Invicta FC". twitter.com. Retrieved 9 August 2021. #InvictaFC35 Bonuses: POTN: Chelsea Chandler and Kanako Murata FOTN: Loma Lookboonmee and Monique Adriane
  20. "【Invicta FC38】ストロー級王座決定戦、村田夏南子。「自信はない。でもコーチと仲間を信じている」". mmaplanet.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  21. "【INVICTA】日本人2人目の快挙！ 村田夏南子が目指す"金メダル"「泥臭い試合だったけど、自分が決めた道を全うしたい」". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  22. Anderson, Jay (5 July 2020). "RIZIN FF, Invicta FC Star Kanako Murata Signs with UFC". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  23. Raphael Marinho (2020-08-19). "UFC adds Livinha Souza vs Kanako Murata to event on November 14". sportv.globo.com. Retrieved 2020-08-19.(in Portuguese)
  24. Neil Davidson (2020-11-03). "Canadians Randa Markos, Malcolm Gordon to fight on UFC cards this month in Las Vegas". newsoptimist.ca. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  25. Anderson, Jay (2020-11-14). "UFC Vegas 14 Results: Kanako Murata Victorious in Octagon Debut". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  26. Marcelo Barone (2021-03-03). "UFC sets fight between Virna Jandiroba and Kanako Murata for June 19". globoesporte.com (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  27. Anderson, Jay (2021-06-19). "UFC Vegas 29 Results: Virna Jandiroba Mangles Kanako Murata's Arm, Earns TKO". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  28. Anderson, Jay (19 July 2023). "UFC: Vanessa Demopoulos Draws Returning Kanako Murata on October 7". Cageside Press. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  29. Anderson, Jay (2023-10-07). "UFC Vegas 80: Kanako Murata Ends Lengthy Layoff, Loses Decision to Vanessa Demopoulos". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  30. "Vanessa Demopoulos def. Kanako Murata :: UFC on ESPN+ 87 :: MMA Decisions". mmadecisions.com. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
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