Deep Women’s Flyweight Champion “Princess” Satoko Shinashi had a tougher fight on her hands than many had anticipated, but she emerged victorious tonight at Road Fighting Championship 24 in Tokyo, Japan. Shinashi stopped Ye Ji Lee very late in their featured atomweight fight.
Lee, who turned 16 earlier this month, stepped into tonight’s bout on short notice in place of Shinashi’s original opponent, Ji Hye Park. Making her pro MMA debut, Lee put forth a solid showing against the veteran judoka, but Shinashi closed the show with ground and pound in the dying seconds.
Shinashi (33-2-2) closed the distance and secured an early takedown that led to an armbar attempt on the mat, but Lee (0-1-0) scrambled free and Shinashi mounted her. She dropped punches from the top until Lee countered with a heel hook. The fight briefly returned to the feet and Lee avoided a rear-naked choke, but Shinashi took her back down and resumed her striking assault. The scrambles continued and both women held back control.
Lee fought off an armbar and wound up on top in Shinashi’s guard, but Shinashi quickly kicked her off and stood up. On the feet, knees were exchanged in the clinch and Lee reversed a takedown, but Shinashi quickly attacked with a heel hook from her back. The frenetic action continued in the final minute and Shinashi landed hammerfists from side control that set up a late armbar attempt, but Lee punched her way free before time expired.
Lee pushed Shinashi to the ground early in round two and took her back down soon after, but Shinashi used a guillotine choke to roll into top position. Lee kicked her off, but the Deep champ was undeterred and she dropped down for a heel hook that had Lee in some trouble. Lee eventually pulled her leg free and scored with a series of upkicks that prompted Shinashi to move from side control into an armbar. When Lee refused to submit, Shinashi mounted her and dropped punches that bloodied Lee’s nose and finished the fight with just seven seconds remaining.
Tonight’s victory was Shinashi’s fifth in a row and her fourth since returning to MMA in October following a six-year retirement. The 38-year-old continues to face criticism for competing against opponents with little to no MMA experience, but Lee provided Shinashi with a tough test in tonight’s spirited bout.
Winner: Satoko Shinashi by TKO (Punches) at 4:53 of round two. She improves to 33-2-2.
(Photo Credit: Deep)