Amanda “Powerhouse” Lucas returns to Japan for her third bout under the DEEP banner when she faces Japanese female MMA pioneer Yumiko Hotta at DEEP: “57 Impact” on February 18th in Tokyo. The matchup, which was officially announced today, will be contested for a new DEEP women’s title.

Lucas posted back-to-back first-round submission wins in her first two bouts for DEEP in late 2011 and she has won three straight since dropping her pro MMA debut. Hotta remains heavily involved in pro wrestling, but she has not competed in mixed martial arts since all the way back in November 2000.

Lucas (3-1-0) has received considerable attention from Japanese sports media since debuting for DEEP last year. The adopted daughter of Star Wars creator George Lucas has worked diligently to develop her MMA skills and was dominant in both of her victories for DEEP thus far. In November, Lucas submitted veteran journeywoman Mika “Hari” Harigai with a rear-naked choke in less than one round. She enters the bout with Hotta as a significant favourite and a victory would earn Lucas the first title of her career.

Hotta (5-3-0) was one of the original pioneers for female fights in Japan in the mid-90s. She competed on all three Ladies Legends Pro Wrestling cards, which served as hybrid events with pro wrestlers and martial artists partaking in MMA bouts, in much the same way that Pancrase began for male fighters. Many of Hotta’s fights were part of tournaments and she earned finishes in all five of her wins, with three keylock submissions. However, she has been inactive in MMA for over a decade.

During her absence from mixed martial arts competition, Hotta has maintained a presence in the professional wrestling industry and is one of the longest-standing active female pro wrestlers in Japan. She also serves as managing director and supervisor for the REINA pro wrestling promotion. Hotta now steps back into the MMA ring, but does so as a sizeable underdog to the rising star, Lucas.

DEEP: “57 Impact” takes place on February 18th at Tokyo Dome City Hall (formerly JCB Hall) in Tokyo, Japan. The event also features a number of other title bouts. DEEP Lightweight Champion Mizuto Hirota defends against Seichi Ikemoto, DEEP Bantamweight Champion Takafumi Otsuka puts his belt on the line against Yoshiro Maeda, and Kazunori Yokota and Doo Ho Choi square off for the vacant DEEP Featherweight Championship.

Also announced today was a bout between Daiki “DJ.taiki” Hata and fellow striker Yusaku Nakamura.

Go Yamamoto contributed to this report.

(Photo Credit: DEEP)