Ricaco Yuasa has a very busy month ahead. The 20-year-old purple belt in jiu-jitsu will compete in a grappling match against Kazue Matake at Jewels: 14th Ring in Tokyo, Japan next weekend before travelling to Los Angeles, California for the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championships in June.
Currently regarded as one of the best female grapplers in Japan, the former high school phenom will represent Jewels in her match against Valkyrie’s Matake next Saturday at “14th Ring.” While still young at age 20, Yuasa has already captured multiple titles in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and grappling.
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Unbeaten Colorado prospect Cat “Alpha” Zingano will put one of her many championship titles on the line against Japanese veteran Takayo Hashi at Fight To Win: “Outlaws” on May 14th in Denver, Colorado. Hashi enters the bout on one week’s notice after Angela Samaro withdrew due to injury.
MMARising.com confirmed the updated fight with sources on Friday. While Zingano’s 130-pound Fight To Win title will be on the line, the fight will take place at a catchweight of 128 pounds using three five-minute rounds. Hashi is coming off of title fight losses to Sarah Kaufman and Tara LaRosa.
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Two more matches have been announced for the upcoming Jewels: “14th Ring” event on May 14th in Tokyo, Japan. Teen prodigy Mizuki Inoue will return to Jewels after winning last year’s Rough Stone Grand Prix at 56kg. The 16-year-old will face Natsuka in her second shoot boxing match.
Also confirmed for the card is a grappling match between jiu-jitsu specialists Emi Tomimatsu and Mayumi Suzuki. Tomimatsu has competed in grappling matches on two consecutive Jewels cards and will make her third straight appearance at 14th Ring, while Suzuki makes her Jewels debut.
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Fresh off of her successful pro MMA debut in March, Olympic Judo Bronze Medallist “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey will return to action on June 17th. The judoka will face standout kickboxer Charmaine “Not So Sweet” Tweet for Hard Knocks Fighting Championship in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
MMARising.com confirmed plans for the fight with the promotion today. The matchup will be contested at 150 pounds, slightly above Rousey’s previous fighting weight of 145, and will be part of “School of Hard Knocks 12” at the Century Casino in Calgary. Tweet will be making her professional debut.
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Valkyrie Featherweight Champion “V.V” Mei Yamaguchi earned her second victory in Pancrase on Tuesday night in Tokyo, as she submitted veteran Akiko “Betiko” Naito with a first-round armbar at Pancrase Impressive Tour 4. Yamaguchi is unbeaten in her last six fights, dating back to 2008.
Both Yamaguchi and Naito entered the matchup on Tuesday after battling kickboxing and MMA veteran “Windy” Tomomi Sunaba to close Majority Decisions. Yamaguchi edged Sunaba in their fight, while Naito came up just short and has now dropped back-to-back fights inside the promotion.
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Carina “Beauty But The Beast” Damm and husband Luis “Sapo” Santos will both compete at Amazon Fight 8 on May 27th in Belém, Brazil. Damm will face newcomer Deize “Gorilla” in one bout, while Santos battles rival Carlos Alexandre “Índio” Pereira in a rematch from their December 2007 fight.
Damm is currently in the midst of a three-fight losing streak where she has been stopped by divisional standouts Hitomi Akano, Cat Zingano and Tara LaRosa. Prior to the losing skid, she had won ten straight fights. Santos has won 11 of his last 12 fights, with the lone defeat coming via Split Decision.
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Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz successfully defended his title in a thrilling bout with British striker Paul “Semtex” Daley on April 9th. With his tenth straight win, Diaz moves up the welterweight rankings and eyes a showdown with UFC Welterweight Champion Georges “Rush” St. Pierre.
In April women’s action, Sheila “The German Tank” Gaff upset Aisling “Ais The Bash” Daly at Cage Warriors 41 and debuts in the 125-pound rankings, while San Jose’s Elaina “Beef” Maxwell returns to the top ten at 145 pounds after defeating fellow Strikeforce veteran Shana “Rock Solid” Olsen.
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Leading all-female promotion Jewels has announced four additional fights for its May 14th doubleheader of events. In MMA bouts at “13th Ring” in the afternoon, Yukiko Seki will take on Yuka Okumura in a 48kg matchup, while Sadae “Manhoef” Suzumura squares off with Anna Saito at 53kg.
The promotion also revealed two grappling matches for the evening portion of the all-day fundraising festival at “14th Ring.” Jewels Lightweight Queen Champion Ayaka Hamasaki will face Saori “Shooting Star” Ishioka in one grappling match, while Ricaco Yuasa faces Kazue Matake in the other.
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