After more than six years away from the sport, Deep Women’s Flyweight Champion “Princess” Satoko Shinashi makes her long-awaited return to MMA on October 26th at Deep: “69th Impact” in Tokyo, Japan. Shinashi battles South Korean teen Ye Jin Jung in a 45kg bout on the card.

Deep officials announced the fight on Monday. Shinashi was one of MMA’s top pound-for-pound female fighters prior to leaving the sport in late 2008 in order to focus on family life. The diminutive grappler seeks her 30th career victory when she takes on 15-year-old kickboxer Jung this Sunday night.

Shinashi (29-2-2) began her pro MMA career in late 2001 and went on to become one of the top female MMA stars in Japan. Undefeated in her first 23 bouts, Shinashi battled kickboxing and MMA star Hisae Watanabe in a rematch for the 48kg Deep Women’s Lightweight Championship on August 4, 2006 in what was widely regarded at the time as the biggest female fight in Japanese MMA history. Watanabe avenged a submission loss and knocked out Shinashi in devastating fashion to claim the vacant title.

Following the loss to Watanabe, Shinashi dropped down to the 45-kilogram (99-pound) division and became the inaugural Deep Women’s Flyweight Champion by winning a one-night tournament at Deep: “34th Impact.” She dropped a close decision to pro wrestling convert Mai Ichii in a non-title fight three months later and announced plans to retire following a quick submission victory over Yukiko Seki on October 23, 2008. Shinashi’s six-year hiatus from MMA ends on Sunday when she returns to Deep.

Jung (0-0-0) enters this weekend’s fight as a massive underdog due to her limited experience in MMA, but the 15-year-old has developed a reputation as a talented striker in her home country thanks to her impressive performances in kickboxing matches, including in bouts against male opponents. The standup specialist recently transitioned to mixed martial arts for Road FC’s Central League and fought four times under amateur rules. She makes her pro debut on Sunday and looks to accomplish what Ichii did in 2008 by upsetting the heavily-favoured Deep champion.

Deep: “69th Impact” takes place on October 26th at TDC Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

(Photo Credit: Deep)