Competing in front of 18,316 fans in what was arguably the biggest women’s title fight in Japanese MMA history, Kanna Asakura became the inaugural Rizin FF Women’s Super Atomweight Grand Prix Champion tonight at Rizin Fighting Federation World Grand Prix 2017: Final Round in Saitama, Japan.

The 20-year-old Asakura won two fights in one night and choked out Shoot Boxing superstar Rena Kubota in the 108-pound tournament final to claim the title. Flyweight Shinju “Juju” Nozawa-Auclair avenged a loss by stopping Chelsea LaGrasse. All fighters discussed their performances backstage.

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UFC and Invicta FC veteran Cindy “Battlecat” Dandois picked up one of her biggest career victories tonight at Rizin Fighting Federation World Grand Prix 2017: 2nd Round in Saitama, Japan. Dandois edged out previously undefeated rising star “King” Reina Miura in featured lightweight action.

Dandois was not the only judoka who secured a key win tonight. Skilled prospect Kana Watanabe scored her second victory in 26 days with a Unanimous Decision verdict over Deep Jewels contender Shizuka Sugiyama in a flyweight bout. All four fighters discussed their performances backstage.

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Road FC Women’s Atomweight Champion Seo Hee Ham retained her title with a quick and decisive victory tonight at Road Fighting Championship 45 in Seoul, South Korea. Ham knocked out former Invicta FC title challenger Jinh Yu Frey in round one of tonight’s championship main event.

Ham, who captured Road FC’s inaugural 105-pound women’s title in June after suffering a pair of controversial decision defeats at strawweight in the UFC, solidified her spot atop the atomweight rankings tonight as she floored Frey with a counter left hook and finished the fight with ground and pound.

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“Thug” Rose Namajunas made the most of a big opportunity and scored a thrilling victory on November 4th at UFC 217 in New York City, New York. Namajunas knocked out the previously unbeaten Joanna Jędrzejczyk in quick fashion to become the new UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion.

Capping off weeks of competition, Nicco Montaño upset veteran Roxanne “The Happy Warrior” Modafferi at the The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale to become the inaugural UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion. At Bellator 186, Ilima-Lei “The Iliminator” Macfarlane also captured 125-pound title gold.

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Perennial contender Satomi “Sarami” Takano earned another shot at the Deep Jewels Atomweight Championship with a hard-fought decision victory today at Deep Jewels 18 in Tokyo, Japan. Takano defeated long-time rival Tomo Maesawa for a third time in the closely-contested main event.

Takano, who previously bested Maesawa in 2015 and again earlier this year, has won four of her past five fights and will now seek to avenge a 2014 defeat when she challenges Deep Jewels champion Mina Kurobe. Also at Deep Jewels 18, highly-touted judoka Kana Watanabe stopped Hikari Sato.

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan tonight for UFC 218: “Holloway vs Aldo 2.” The event was headlined by a UFC Featherweight Championship rematch between Max “Blessed” Holloway and former titleholder José “Scarface” Aldo.

In tonight’s co-main event, Alistair Overeem battled Francis “The Predator” Ngannou in a heavyweight contender’s matchup. At flyweight, Henry “The Messenger” Cejudo met Sergio “The Phenom” Pettis, and TUF 26 coaches Eddie Alvarez and Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje clashed at 155.

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Deep Jewels showcased its 18th all-female fight card on Sunday afternoon at Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo, Japan. The event was headlined by a trilogy bout between Satomi “Sarami” Takano and Tomo Maesawa, who met for a third time to determine a future Deep Jewels atomweight title challenger.

In Sunday’s catchweight co-main event, Yukari Nabe took on Yurika Nakakura. Yuko Kiryu faced Kyu Kitano in an atomweight matchup, and highly-touted judoka Kana Watanabe made her Deep Jewels debut against Hikari Sato at flyweight. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.

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Weigh-ins for Deep Jewels 18 took place earlier today in Tokyo, Japan. Sunday’s 11-fight card is headlined by a trilogy bout between long-time rivals Satomi “Sarami” Takano and Tomo Maesawa, which will determine a future title challenger for the Deep Jewels Atomweight Championship.

Deep Jewels 18 also features a number of promotional debuts including that of powerful judoka Kana Watanabe, who is regarded as one of the top prospects on the Deep Jewels roster. Full weigh-in results, as well as pre-fight comments from Maesawa and Watanabe, are included below.

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