Top Japanese prospect Mizuki Inoue returns to mixed martial arts action for the first time in six months at Jewels: “18th Ring” this Saturday evening in Tokyo. The 17-year-old karateka faces off against unbeaten Australian jiu-jitsu practitioner Alexandra Chambers in a featured bout on the card.
Inoue upset Shoot Boxing champion Ai Takahashi in a non-title bout under shoot boxing rules earlier this month and now looks to rebound from her first pro MMA setback. Also announced for “18th Ring” today was a kickboxing match between two-division champion Yui Takada and Satoko Ozawa.
Inoue (2-1-0) has maintained an active schedule in kickboxing and shoot boxing matches since 2009 and found considerable success in mixed martial arts after debuting in late 2010. The standout striker first attracted attention with a pair of wins for the J-Girls kickboxing promotion and went on to capture the 2010 Jewels Rough Stone Grand Prix title at 56kg. She took a big step up in competition to face Hamasaki this past September and engaged in a spirited battle with the reigning champion, but fell short on the scorecards. She looks to get back on track against her first foreign opponent.
Chambers (2-0-0) debuted with two victories for Australia’s Rize promotion in 2010, but she has not fought since then and could encounter ring rust as she makes her first foray into Japan. Like Inoue, Chambers has a background in karate, but her formidable ground skills could be the key to defeating the young Japanese prodigy. Should Chambers be able to replicate Hamasaki’s takedown-heavy strategy, she could hand Inoue her second straight defeat and also potentially earn a second fight for Jewels later this year.
In a three-round kickboxing match, veteran Yui Takada faces the returning Satoko Ozawa. Takada holds the WPMF Women’s Lightweight Championship as well as the WMF Women’s Super Lightweight Championship. Ozawa makes her second appearance for Jewels after a Majority Decision victory at “16th Ring” in September.
Jewels: “18th Ring” takes place on March 3rd at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring in Tokyo, Japan. The main event is expected to feature Mika “Future Princess” Nagano taking on Emi “Kamikaze Angel” Fujino.
Go Yamamoto contributed to this report.
Jewels: “18th Ring” Fight Card (to date; subject to change):
– Mika “Future Princess” Nagano vs Emi “Kamikaze Angel” Fujino [52kg Jewels Official Rules – 2×5]
– Roxanne “The Happy Warrior” Modafferi vs Takayo Hashi [58kg Jewels Special Rules – 2×5]
– Mizuki Inoue vs Alexandra Chambers [53.5kg Jewels Official Rules – 2×5]
– Yuko “Amiba” Oya vs Emi Tomimatsu [52kg Jewels Official Rules – 2×5]
– Ayame “Iris” Miura vs Celine Haga [52kg Jewels Official Rules – 2×5]
– Yui Takada vs Satoko Ozawa [61.5kg Jewels Kickboxing Rules – 3×2]
(Photo Credit: Jewels blog)