Japanese legend Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii is set to retire from active competition following an illustrious MMA career spanning nine years. Fujii announced plans for her retirement during tonight’s Vale Tudo Japan 2nd event in Tokyo. She will compete one final time at VTJ 3rd in October.
In addition to her success inside the ring, Fujii has trained some of MMA’s top female fighters in Japan including past and present champions Hitomi “Girlfight Monster” Akano, Yasuko “Ikuko” Tamada and Ayaka Hamasaki. She inspired countless others to begin training and competing in MMA.
Fujii (26-2-0) initially pondered retirement in 2010 after she sustained multiple injuries that significantly hindered her training. Feeling that she had accomplished all that she could in MMA, Fujii was ready to step away from the sport in order to get married and start a family. However, a golden opportunity soon presented itself in the form of the inaugural Bellator 115-pound women’s title tournament and Fujii agreed to take part in order to potentially capture her first world championship.
After submitting Carla Esparza and Lisa Ellis in succession, Fujii faced off against Zoila Gurgel in the tournament final. Gurgel prevailed via a close and contentious decision and Fujii suffered the first defeat of her career. She has since fought five more times, winning four and dropping an equally controversial decision to Jessica Aguilar at Bellator 69 last year. In her most recent fight, Fujii edged out former Valkyrie champ Mei Yamaguchi at VTJ 1st in December.
Fujii is one of only two mixed martial artists to begin a career with at least 22 consecutive victories. For many years, she reigned supreme atop the women’s pound-for-pound rankings. An incredible 19 of Fujii’s 26 career wins came via submission and she totalled notable victories over most of MMA’s top female fighters in the 115- and 125-pound divisions.
“I’m happy that I’ll be included in VTJ 3rd, but I also have another announcement today,” Fujii said. “My fight at VTJ 3rd will be my last. I was a little worried about it, because I learned and trained martial arts all my life, but I need to take that next step for the next stage of my life. And so, I decided that this will be my last fight I want to give my all for my last fight. Thank you very much for your support.”
Fujii continues to battle nagging injuries, but the 39-year-old will persevere and compete one final time on October 5th. For many years, fans in Japan have hoped to one day witness a fight between Fujii and fellow legend Yuka Tsuji, but an opponent has not been announced for Fujii’s retirement bout at VTJ 3rd.
Mega Megu is undefeated, and her real record is 28-0;-).
Glad she will have one last fight.
Best WMMA fighter ever!
Disagree about her being the best ever given she only faced Japanese until later in her career and then was beaten twice. The level of WMMA is much higher now than when she was in her prime and will evolve even more in the next five years as UFC expands more into WMMA. It is like looking at MMA in 1995 and watching it now.
If Rousey can keep the belt for the next two years, she is the greatest ever.
Actually, she was fighting international opponents right from the second fight of her career. Of her first five opponents, only one was Japanese. Your assessment of Ronda is true, though. The bantamweight division now is more competitive than 115/125 was in the mid-2000s. Holding a title at 135 right now is difficult to do for the long-term. Ronda certainly has the potential to be the greatest female MMA fighter of all time if she remains unbeaten for a while.