After coming up just short in her title bid on New Year’s Eve, Rena Kubota will look to get back in contention when she competes in front of hometown fans on September 10th at Rizin Fighting Federation: “Super Rizin 5” in Osaka, Japan. Kubota faces judoka Natalia “Kuzya” Kuziutina on the card.

Officials announced the super atomweight matchup this week. Kubota, who has long been a top star in Rizin, was submitted by Seika Izawa on New Year’s Eve after nearly knocking Izawa out in the opening minute. Kuziutina won her Rizin debut in impressive fashion by submitting Ayaka Hamasaki.

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Two popular prospects are set to collide on August 11th when striker Keito “Kate Lotus” Oyama takes on grappler Noeru “Noel” Narita at Rizin Fighting Federation 54 in Tokyo, Japan. The super atomweight showdown between the two fan favourites was officially announced earlier this week.

Oyama, who has developed a massive fan following during her relatively short MMA career, has tasted defeat just once in her past six fights and has made rapid improvements to her overall game. Narita, who just celebrated her 18th birthday, has submitted back-to-back opponents in Rizin bouts.

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With the Rizin women’s super atomweight title vacated, three contender’s bouts have been announced for the upcoming Rizin Fighting Federation: “Landmark Vol. 15” event on July 18th in Hiroshima, Japan. In one, Si Woo “Korean Queen Bee” Park clashes with Moeri “Black Diamond” Suda.

Also confirmed for the event this week was a pivotal rematch between recent Rizin title challenger Saori “Little Giant” Oshima and Ye Ji Lee, who upset Oshima 13 months ago. Elsewhere on next month’s card, striker Namiko “Hime” Kawabata takes on prospect Ayane “Barbie” Hirata.

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After more than 18 months away, Deep Jewels Flyweight Champion Rin Nakai made a successful return to action tonight at Deep Jewels 53 in Tokyo, Japan. Nakai posted a clear-cut Unanimous Decision victory over title challenger Yuka “Dosukoi” Okutomi in the night’s one-sided main event.

The 49kg super atomweight co-main event between Ye Ji Lee and Eru Takebayashi was much more competitive and ended with Lee edging out a razor-thin Split Decision win. At strawweight, Nonoka Sakamoto picked up her biggest victory to date by ending So Yul Kim’s eight-fight winning streak.

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Deep Jewels returned to New Pier Hall in Tokyo, Japan tonight for Deep Jewels 53. The card was topped by a Deep Jewels Flyweight Championship bout between reigning champion Rin Nakai, who made her return to the promotion after 18 months away, and challenger Yuka “Dosukoi” Okutomi.

In the 49kg super atomweight co-main event, Eru Takebayashi looked to extend her winning streak when she took on Ye Ji Lee. Elsewhere on the card, Nonoka Sakamoto clashed with So Yul Kim in a featured strawweight showdown. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for Deep Jewels 53.

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LFA Interim Strawweight Champion Natalia “Kuzya” Kuziutina scored a big victory in her super atomweight debut tonight at Rizin Fighting Federation: “Landmark Vol. 13” in Fukuoka, Japan. The 2016 Olympic bronze medallist judoka submitted former Rizin champ Ayaka Hamasaki in the first round.

Kuziutina’s impressive win over Hamasaki became even more impactful shortly after it happened and she may now be in line for a shot at the Rizin FF Women’s Super Atomweight Championship that was vacated tonight by Seika Izawa, who announced that she is pregnant with her first child.

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Following unsuccessful attempts to fight abroad, Deep Jewels Flyweight Champion Rin Nakai will at last make the first defence of her title on May 24th at Deep Jewels 53 in Tokyo, Japan. Nakai will end her inactivity when she faces off against challenger Yuka “Dosukoi” Okutomi in the main event.

In the co-main event, prospect Eru Takebayashi will look to continue her string of victories since returning from a devastating jaw injury when she takes on South Korean upset queen Ye Ji Lee at 49kg. The headlining bouts were among 13 fights officially announced for the card earlier this week.

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Shizuka Sugiyama became a two-time Flyweight Queen of Pancrase champ with a lopsided Unanimous Decision victory tonight at Pancrase 361 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. The 17-year veteran defeated previously unbeaten Ayane Wada for the vacant title in the night’s co-main event.

Sugiyama dictated the pace of the fight from start to finish tonight by scoring takedowns and controlling the frequent clinch battles against the cage with effective knees to the body. She now reclaims the Pancrase title belt that was recently vacated by her previous opponent, Fumika Watanabe.

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