2014 48kg Shoot Boxing Japan Girls S-Cup Champion Yukari Yamaguchi is set to compete in a J-Girls mini flyweight title eliminator on September 6th at J-Fight 44 in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan. The talented 17-year-old faces off against Yuuki Kira in this year’s J-Girls mini flyweight tournament final.

Yamaguchi followed up on her successful pro MMA debut on June 21st by winning her J-Girls mini flyweight semi-final bout against Ruri three weeks later. Kira picked up a decision victory over Mari in the mini flyweight semi-finals and now looks to upset the highly-touted Yamaguchi next month.

Yamaguchi (12-2-0 amateur, 6-1-0 pro KB/SB) has rapidly followed in the footsteps of her teammate, Deep Jewels Strawweight Champion Mizuki Inoue, by becoming one of the top female prospects in Japan. Finding success in MMA, grappling and shoot boxing, Yamaguchi is still best known for her formidable striking skills, which were on full display in her one-sided victory over Ruri this past month. Her lone professional kickboxing defeat came in December when she suffered a three-round Split Decision loss to Kira’s older sister, Chihiro, who now holds the J-Girls pinweight title.

Kira (6-9-3 KB/SB) has not achieved the same level of success as her older sister, but she remains a tough test for any opponent in the lighter weight classes. After advancing to the finals of the 2013 Shoot Boxing JKS48 tournament, Kira won back-to-back fights before suffering a loss to former Deep Jewels champion and current UFC fighter Seo Hee Ham under kickboxing rules. Following a disappoing Draw in May, Kira returned to the win column with a clear-cut Unanimous Decision victory over Mari at “J-Fight & J-Girls 2015 3rd” on June 21st to advance to next month’s tournament final.

J-Fight 44 takes place on September 6th at Gold’s Gym South Tokyo Annex in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan. The winner of the bout between Yamaguchi and Kira will then move on to challenge J-Girls Mini Flyweight Champion Momi Furuta.

(Photo Credit: Bout Review)