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. A professional mixed martial artist since 2016, Murata has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Rizin Fighting Federation and Invicta FC where she is a former Invicta FC Strawweight Champion.

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]

On November 7, 2023 it was announced that Murata was no longer with the UFC.[31]

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. ^ a b c d e f 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. ^ a b "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.
  31. ^ "❌ Fighter removed: Kanako Murata". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-11-08.

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by 7th Invicta FC Strawweight Champion
November 1, 2019 – September 2, 2020 		Succeeded by