Jewels showcased its first event of the year on Saturday at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring in Tokyo, Japan. Jewels: “23rd Ring” was headlined by a lightweight contender’s bout between promotional star Mika “Future Princess” Nagano and talented grappling specialist Emi Tomimatsu at 114 pounds.

Also on the card, Jewels Featherweight Queen Champion Naho “Sugi Rock” Sugiyama tried to rebound from the first loss of her career when she faced Norway’s Celine Haga in a non-title bout. Shizuka Sugiyama faced veteran striker Sung Eun Kim. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the event.

 

52kg Jewels Special MMA Rules – 2×5

Mika “Future Princess” Nagano vs Emi Tomimatsu

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Ryogaku Wada. Both women trade small shots, but in the ensuing clinch neither can get the takedown. They break again to exchange a few more grazing punches, and again engage in the clinch. In the ensuing scramble, it’s Nagano that gets it to the floor thanks to a whizzer. Tomimatsu struggles free momentarily, almost giving up her back in the escape. They get back to their feet, again in the clinch, but this time Tomimatsu has the waist lock and puts Nagano up against the corner.

Tomimatsu lands some knees to the body and legs, a few of which Nagano returns before referee Wada breaks them up. Tomimatsu works in some deft, multi-level combinations, landing to the head and body. They momentarily fluster Nagano, whose answer after several exchanges is to shoot for a takedown. Tomimatsu stuffs her and puts her back into the corner for some knees to the body. Wada breaks them again and Tomimatsu goes back to working combinations until she’s in range for another clinch. The bell rings just after she puts Nagano up against the ropes once again.

Round 2:
Tomimatsu bullies Nagano back into the corner again, where both women exchange knees. Nagano spins out and chucks Tomimatsu off. Tomimatsu responds by charging back in with more punches, clinching up and bulldozing Nagano into the corner. They trade knees for a bit until Tomimatsu disengages. Nagano lands a few stiff jabs as Tomimatsu rushes in again. Tomimatsu seems to have given up her combos in favour of single punches now, which naturally does not serve her as well. Still, she does put Nagano back into the corner, where they return to kneeing each other’s bodies and thighs.

Nagano whips Tomimatsu around for a takedown and secures side control on her opponent’s back. This awkward position allows Tomimatsu to get back to her feet and spin around in the clinch. Referee Wada breaks them up again. Both women duke it out on the feet again, but Nagano digs deep, landing hard punches while backpedalling. Nagano even gets in a few hard uppercuts from the single-collar tie-up. Tomimatsu isn’t scoring nearly as much with her wild single shots. They end up against a ring corner in the clinch again, just as the bell rings.

Judges Yoshinori Umeki, Kenichi Serizawa and Akira Yamazaki all score the close fight for the winner by Unanimous Decision, Nagano.

Winner: Mika Nagano by Unanimous Decision after two rounds. She improves to 12-8-0.

 

49kg Jewels Special MMA Rules [Non-Title Bout] – 2×5

Celine Haga vs Naho “Sugi Rock” Sugiyama

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Yoshinori Umeki. Sugiyama pressures Haga into the corner with a stream of jabs. They clinch, but Haga’s height and reach allow her to manoeuvre her legs around to almost steal back mount. She’s unable to complete the transition, however, and ends up on the ground with Sugiyama in her guard. Haga hammers at the side of Sugiyama’s head before trying to work some rubber guard action. Sugiyama escapes while she’s attempting this, however, and drags Haga back into the ring since they were close to spilling out from under the ropes.

Sugiyama drops big punches before resetting herself back in guard. Haga goes next for a reverse triangle choke attempt, but can’t lock it up. Both women appear to be stuck in this position, but in the final ten seconds, Sugiyama extricates her head and spins around to take top in riding time position. She can’t get off many punches before the bell, however.

Round 2:
Haga lands a few stiff punches from range, but the scrappy Sugiyama continues to push forward past her range to land hard, short punches of her own. This causes Haga to give up ground, backpedalling into the corners. Haga lands some solid knees to the body from the clinch, however, keeping her balance and staying on her feet all the while. When it does hit the ground, it’s on Haga’s terms thanks to an outside trip.

Haga secures the mount and stays in close, smashing a fist to the side of Sugiyama’s head. Sugiyama gives up her back during this, and Haga flattens her out. Haga tries for a rear-naked choke, but she cannot sink it. Referee Umeki checks to see if she’s still in it, and Sugiyama motions that she is. Haga lets the choke go momentarily to punch the sides of Sugiyama’s head. She continues to keep Sugiyama locked down and flattened, working away with head punches until the bell.

Judges Akira Yamazaki, Kenichi Serizawa and Ryogaku Wada all score the fight for the winner by Unanimous Decision, Haga.

Winner: Celine Haga by Unanimous Decision after two rounds. She improves to 4-11-0.

 

60kg Jewels Special MMA Rules – 2×5

Shizuka Sugiyama vs Sung Eun Kim

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Kenichi Serizawa. Kim barely snaps off a jab before Sugiyama gets her in the clinch and trips her to the canvas. Sugiyama immediately transitions to mount, where she begins dropping the heat by blasting Kim in the face with punch after punch after punch. Kim’s wild bucking eventually gives way to an omoplata.

While locked up, Sugiyama continues to hammer Kim’s head with punches. It takes a bit, but Serizawa eventually stops the bout at 1:01. It’s unclear exactly what the stoppage is for – the omoplata or the punches – but as the official call is a TKO, it’s likely due to the punches.

Winner: Shizuka Sugiyama by TKO (Punches) at 1:01 of round one. She improves to 9-3-0.

 

56kg Jewels Official MMA Rules – 2×5

Takumi Umehara vs Yasuko “Pink Spider” Mogi

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Yoshinori Umeki. Mogi closes in with jabs pumping, to which Umehara responds with a harai-goshi into side control. Umehara attacks the body with punches while looking to lock up an armbar. Mogi struggles to four points position, but Umehara stays on top of her and continues her attacks to the body. Umehara backs up and away, but Mogi dives for her legs, trying to get the fight back down to the canvas on her terms.

Umehara keeps her balance, staying on her feet, all the while landing punches to Mogi’s ribs. Umehara breaks free and retreats to the opposite end of the ring, prompting a standup. Both women trade wild punches until Umehara gets Mogi up against a corner in the clinch. Mogi pulls guard while Umehara goes back to attacking the body. Mogi sets up a loose triangle attempt, but there’s too much space for Umehara to operate in. Umehara spends the final ten seconds dropping punches to the body.

Round 2:
Both women trade a few wide punches before ending up in the clinch. Umehara attempts more hip throws, but Mogi maintains her balance. Mogi pulls guard, but Umehara punches her way free and back to standing. It doesn’t stay up long, as Umehara gets the next takedown and lands on top in half-guard. Mogi reaches out to cup Umehara’s far leg so that she can roll her over and reverse position. It doesn’t work out for her, however.

Mogi gives up her back when she goes to four points, allowing Umehara to transition to riding time position and land more punches to the body. Mogi turns in toward her opponent and again looks to hook a leg for a takedown. She finally gets it, landing on top in half-guard. Mogi drops punches to the body this time, in between attempting to pass. Umehara has Mogi, for all intents and purposes, locked in her half-guard. Time thus expires with both women attacking each other with body punches.

Judges Kenichi Serizawa, Ryogaku Wada and Akira Yamazaki all score the fight for the winner by Unanimous Decision, Umehara.

Winner: Takumi Umehara by Unanimous Decision after two rounds. She improves to 1-0-0.

 

53kg Jewels Special MMA Rules – 2×5

Mizuki Inoue vs Seo Ye Jung

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Ryogaku Wada. Jung slips off of an over-extended push kick and Inoue is quick to capitalise, chasing her to the ground. Jung struggles back to her feet in the clinch, but Inoue puts her right back down on her back and secures top position in half-guard. Jung momentarily extricates herself, but before she can get back to her feet Inoue drives her down to the mat, throwing punches to the face all the while. Inoue continues the onslaught, forcing Jung to turn onto her belly. Inoue takes the gift of back mount and sinks in the choke. Wada stops the bout at 1:43.

Winner: Mizuki Inoue by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 1:43 of round one. She improves to 5-1-0.

 

53.2kg Jewels Kickboxing Rules – 3×2

Rena Matsuda vs Yoshimi “Arika” Miyake

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Ryogaku Wada. Miyake starts strong this round with blistering left hook-right straight combos that have the sweat flying from Matsuda’s head. Matsuda gets in a few good counterpunches and knees to the body, but only in retreat and whenever the overzealous Miyake crashes into the clinch.

Round 2:
Matsuda is stepping things up this round, landing solid counterpunches and body kicks. Miyake has resorted to gimmicky attacks, like the spinning backfist, Superman Punch, etc. She lands a few, but pays for it when she eats more counterpunches and kicks.

Round 3:
Both women step up their offensive output this round. It’s a rollicking good time, with Miyake landing more big punches and Matsuda returning with a barrage of punches and knees to the body, and neither fighter showing any slow down.

Judge Akira Yamazaki scores the fight 30-28 for Matsuda, while judges Yoshinori Umeki and Kenichi Serizawa both have it even at 29-29 for a Majority Draw.

Result: Majority Draw (30-28 [Matsuda], 29-29, 29-29) after three 2:00 rounds.

 

48kg Jewels Special MMA Rules – 2×5

Mina Kurobe vs Tomo Maesawa

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Kenichi Serizawa. Maesawa lands a low kick, and Kurobe eats it while charging in with punches. Maesawa retreats and uses Kurobe’s forward momentum to take her down with a hip throw. Kurobe shrimps out and gets to her feet. It isn’t long before they’re scrambling on the canvas, however, this time with Kurobe taking dominant position and stealing Maesawa’s back. Kurobe sinks in a rear-naked choke and Maesawa arches back as she’s caught. She taps out soon after at 1:49.

Winner: Mina Kurobe by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 1:49 of round one. She improves to 2-0-0.

 

50kg Jewels BJJ Rules Final – 1×5

Yukari Yamaguchi vs Aya Abe

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Akira Yamazaki. They fight for grips from distance for a few moments before Abe drops and shoots for a leg. Yamaguchi pancakes her, but cannot pass to side. Yamaguchi has the headlock and manages to trip Abe, whereupon in the ensuing scramble she takes the mount for four points. Abe reverses her way into Yamaguchi’s guard. Yamaguchi bides her time until she can buck and reverse to take top, getting another three points. This is followed by the mount for another four points. Yamaguchi gets a keylock and and referee Yamazaki calls it at 3:29 with no tap.

Winner: Yukari Yamaguchi by Technical Submission (Keylock) at 3:29 of round one. She wins the one-day Jewels BJJ tournament.

 

50kg Jewels Amateur Kickboxing Rules – 2×2

Miiri Sasaki vs Moga

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Ryogaku Wada. Sasaki is clearly technically more sound than Moga, but Moga is adopting a strategy of taking one to give one. The start of the bout sees Moga landing a number of right hands over Sasaki’s middle kicks. She can’t keep this up, however, as Sasaki’s continuous barrage of middle kicks and push kicks to the body take some steam out of Moga’s onslaught, and locks up the round for her.

Round 2:
Moga winds up and charges in, eating kick after kick. Again, it’s about mid-round that she begins to slow down and rethink her tactics. Sasaki, in the interim, stops retreating and begins lobbing knees to the body and chest of her slowing opponent. In the final 30 seconds, Moga lands a few more solid punches, but then gets overwhelmed by more of Sasaki’s kicks.

Judges Yoshinori Umeki, Kenichi Serizawa and Akira Yamazaki all score the fight 20-18 for the winner by Unanimous Decision, Sasaki.

Winner: Miiri Sasaki by Unanimous Decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18) after two 2:00 rounds.

 

53kg Jewels Amateur Kickboxing Rules – 2×2

Mao Muronaga vs Ayumi Otaki

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Ryogaku Wada. A fairly even round, with Muronaga advancing while Otaki snipes with potshots while retreating. Both women landed some solid middle kicks and right hands to the face, but neither left their mark on the round.

Round 2:
Otaki’s strategy of countering from afar serves her well enough to land shots, but Muronaga clearly doesn’t care. She charges in with a flurry of punches and kicks in an attempt to get into the clinch to land as many knees as she can before referee Wada breaks them apart. It’s a more active round, but again, neither woman really leaves much of an impression.

Judge Yoshinori Umeki scores the fight 20-19 for Otaki. Judge Akira Yamazaki has it 20-19 for Muronaga. Judge Kenichi Serizawa has it even at 20-20 for a Split Draw.

Result: Split Draw (20-19, 20-20, 19-20) after two 2:00 rounds.

 

50kg Jewels BJJ Rules Qualifier – 1×5

Yukari Yamaguchi vs Tamaki Usui

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Akira Yamazaki. Yamaguchi gets an early takedown into side control for two points. Usui is in big trouble, however, as she cannot stop the lightning quick Yamaguchi from immediately taking her back for another three points, bringing the total to five in just a matter of seconds. Yamaguchi continues her blitz, moving immediately to an armbar. Usui defends and recovers her guard momentarily.

Yamaguchi passes again for another three points, followed by the mount for another four. On top, Yamaguchi begins isolating Usui’s right arm, while Usui struggles to keep it squarely on her chest. Yamaguchi won’t be denied, however, as she sets up the armbar on that arm anyway. As soon as she falls back, Yamazaki calls the stop without seeing a tap at 3:48.

Winner: Yukari Yamaguchi by Technical Submission (Armbar) at 3:48 of round one. She advances to the BJJ tournament final.

 

55kg Jewels Grappling Rules – 1×4

Megumi Sugimoto vs Ayaka Miura

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Akira Yamazaki. They fight for grips in the clinch, but Sugimoto gets the upper hand early, locking on a headlock. Miura drops for a leg, but Sugimoto has little difficulty pancaking her and advancing to side control on her back. Sugimoto jumps on Miura’s back and immediately sinks in a choke. Yamazaki calls the catch, and soon after, the bout.

Winner: Megumi Sugimoto by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 1:50 of round one.

 

50kg Jewels BJJ Rules Qualifier – 1×5

Aya Abe vs Tamaki Usui

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Akira Yamazaki. Usui drops to her back to work an active open guard. Abe navigates past her opponent’s legs to settle in guard and work in close. Usui practising semi-decent arm control, but is mostly only holding Abe as she attempts to get some distance to work guard passing. Abe’s corner is telling her to watch out for the triangle. The warnings would be warranted if in fact that’s what Usui was trying to do. In reality, however, Usui appears to be just hanging onto Abe as she tires herself out trying to free her arms and work at breaking free from guard to advance position.

Abe’s persistence pays off eventually, however, and she manages to break free and pass to side control, earning three points. 30 seconds remain on the clock. Perhaps knowing she’s behind, Usui gets to her feet, hanging onto Usui in the clinch. She again pulls guard with ten seconds to go. Abe tries to score just a tad bit more, but the bell rings just as she breaks free from guard. Abe thus wins the one-round BJJ bout, 3-0.

Winner: Aya Abe by Decision (3-0 Points) after one 5:00 round. She advances to the BJJ tournament final.