A fateful rematch headlined tonight’s Deep Jewels 54 card at New Pier Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The event featured a 49kg super atomweight bout between Saki Kitamura and Eru Takebayashi, who first faced off three years ago in a violent clash that sidelined Takebayashi and altered both fighters’ careers.

The 54kg co-main event between Nonoka Sakamoto and Honoka Shigeta was scrapped yesterday due to Shigeta’s failed weight cut. The new co-feature saw Mizuki Furuse, stepping in on short notice, take on Misaki Suda in a 49kg contest. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for Deep Jewels 54.

 

49kg Bout – 3×5

Eru Takebayashi vs Saki Kitamura

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Masato Fukuda. Kitamura struck first with a liver kick and Takebayashi used a quick combination to set up a takedown into back control. She remained on Kitamura’s back as Kitamura stood up. Kitamura turned into the clinch and Takebayashi held her against the cage. She kneed Kitamura twice in the face and then hopped on her back once more. A scramble followed, and Takebayashi had to resort to pulling guard after failing to take Kitamura down. She attempted a triangle choke and an armbar, but Kitamura escaped from both.

Round 2:
Takebayashi punched her way into a clinch and then kneed Kitamura’s midsection. More hard knees scored for Takebayashi as she targeted Kitamura’s body and face. She got Kitamura down into back control and punched the side of her head. Kitamura finally created a bit of space, but that only resulted in Takebayashi cracking her with a combination of punches and a body kick that forced Kitamura to backpedal. Takebayashi dragged Kitamura down and very nearly finished her with punches and hammerfists, but Kitamura was saved by the bell.

Round 3:
Once again, Takebayashi took Kitamura down, but this time Kitamura reversed into a ninja choke attempt and the fighters stood back up. Takebayashi tripped Kitamura and worked for an armbar on her right arm. She let it go and battered Kitamura with punches. Kitamura covered up as Takebayashi continued the onslaught and the lopsided fight was finally stopped.

Winner: Eru Takebayashi by TKO (Punches) at 4:19 of round three. She improves to 6-5-0, 1 NC.

 

49kg Bout – 2×5

Misaki “Iruka Umisaki” Suda vs Mizuki Furuse

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Masato Fukuda. Suda ducked under a head kick and knocked Furuse down with a counter one-two. Furuse quickly stood and Suda closed in with punches and a knee to her body. Following a clinch stalemate, Suda cracked Furuse with a hard right cross. Furuse dove at Suda’s lower legs, but she could not take her down. Furuse held Suda against the cage until the fighters separated and Suda landed a right cross. The round ended with Furuse trying unsuccessfully for a takedown.

Round 2:
It required two minutes of time spent working against the cage, but Suda eventually got Furuse down with a body-lock takedown in round two. She worked to pass to half-guard, but Furuse did well to retain her full guard. Suda pushed Furuse’s head up against the base of the cage and postured up with punches until the final bell.

Judges Uchida, Nagase and Yamazaki all scored the fight 20-18 for the winner by Unanimous Decision, Suda.

Winner: Misaki Suda by Unanimous Decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18) after two 5:00 rounds. She improves to 3-2-0.

 

Strawweight Bout – 2×5

Yua Yokose vs Yuko Kiryu

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Naoya Uematsu. As soon as the opening bell sounded, Yokose took Kiryu down into back control and began immediately attacking with a rear-naked choke attempt. Kiryu managed to shake her off and got to her knees. Yokose again tried for a rear-naked choke and then eventually mounted Kiryu three minutes into the round. Yokose punched and then landed knees as Kiryu used the cage wall to scramble up to her feet. The fighters separated with one minute remaining in the round and Yokose landed a hard right cross. Kiryu was wobbled, and she ducked right into a knee from Yokose that dropped Kiryu to a seated position against the cage and ended the fight.

Winner: Yua Yokose by TKO (Knee) at 4:19 of round one. She improves to 5-2-0.

 

44kg Microweight Bout – 2×5

Suzu Ooi vs Mahina China

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Naoya Uematsu. China countered one Ooi takedown attempt with a front headlock, but Ooi threw her to the mat and landed punches while pushing China’s face into the canvas. China turned over and Ooi punched from China’s guard. Ooi remained on top and she punched China’s body as China hunted for a late-round kimura.

Round 2:
Ooi secured another takedown in the second round and she stacked China against the base of the cage. Action was fairly sparse, but Ooi stayed busy enough with punches to China’s body to avoid being stood up. Ooi finally postured up and landed some more powerful punches shortly before the end of the fight.

Judge Uchida scored the fight 20-17, while judges Nagase and Yamazaki both had it 20-18 for the winner by Unanimous Decision, Ooi.

Winner: Suzu Ooi by Unanimous Decision (20-17, 20-18, 20-18) after two 5:00 rounds. She improves to 4-0-0.

 

49kg Bout – 2×5

Sarah Ellen vs Hanami Watanabe

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Minoru Toyonaga. Watanabe got a takedown 15 seconds into the fight and she transitioned to Sarah’s back. Sarah defended against rear-naked chokes and she spun into a heel hook attempt. Sarah stood up and then dropped down into Watanabe’s guard, where she landed punches. Watanabe tried to set up an armbar from the bottom and Sarah punched her in the face. Late in the round, the fighters stood up and Sarah landed knees and a body kick.

Round 2:
Watanabe took Sarah down in the second round and worked her way to side control. Sarah stood up against the cage and Watanabe swept out her leg. Working from side control again, Watanabe punched and then took Sarah’s back in search of a rear-naked choke. Sarah turned over into Watanabe’s guard with 90 seconds remaining. She landed short punches from the top and then went for a kneebar and an inverted heel hook. Watanabe evaded both of them, but Sarah landed punches and dropped back for an Achilles lock just before the bell.

Judge Yamazaki scored the fight 20-18 for Sarah. Judges Nagase and Uchida both had it even at 19-19 and awarded their Must Decisions to the winner by Unanimous Decision, Sarah.

Winner: Sarah Ellen by Unanimous Decision (20-18, 19-19 [Must Decision: Sarah], 19-19 [Must Decision: Sarah]) after two 5:00 rounds. She improves to 3-2-0.

 

Strawweight Bout – 2×5

Misaki Horiuchi vs Mika “Arami” Arai

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Minoru Toyonaga. Arai secured an early clinch and Horiuchi countered with knees to the body as Arai tried unsuccessfully to take her down. The fighters were separated and Horiuchi landed a hard jab before Arai dropped levels and took her down. Horiuchi stood back up and pressed forward with a combination. Arai was not able to take her down, but she clinched with Horiuchi and landed knees to her body late in the round.

Round 2:
Horiuchi dropped Arai with a right hook and followed up with more right hands as a wobbly Arai got to her feet. Arai recovered and she took Horiuchi’s back in a standing clinch. A stalemate followed and time was called to warn Horiuchi for illegal downward elbows. Action resumed and Horiuchi countered an Arai takedown attempt with a ninja choke. Arai escaped and Horiuchi landed a right hand while standing over her downed foe. Arai got to her feet and held Horiuchi against the fence, but Horiuchi blasted her with hammerfists when Arai dropped levels in search of a late takedown.

Judge Uematsu scored the fight even at 19-19 and awarded his Must Decision to Horiuchi. Judges Uchida and Yamazaki both had it 20-18 for the winner by Unanimous Decision, Horiuchi.

Winner: Misaki Horiuchi by Unanimous Decision (20-18, 20-18, 19-19 [Must Decision: Horiuchi]) after two 5:00 rounds. She improves to 2-1-0.

 

50kg Bout – 2×5

Miku Yokose vs Marin Yamabuki

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Tatsuro Nagase. Following an early exchange of punches, Yokose pinned Yamabuki against the cage. Yamabuki broke free and another clinch followed soon after. Neither woman could take the other down and Yokose countered a right cross with two lunging left hooks. Another battle for position followed against the cage and the fight stayed on the feet until the bell.

Round 2:
Yokose ducked under a right hand and swiftly took Yamabuki down seconds into round two. She moved to half-guard and punched Yamabuki’s ribs. Yokose passed to mount and punched as Yamabuki tried to buck and escape. Yamabuki managed to get back to half-guard, where she tried to set up a kimura on Yokose’s left arm. Yokose stayed on top until the final 15 seconds when Yamabuki stood up and punched the side of her head.

Judge Fukuda scored the fight even at 19-19 and awarded his Must Decision to Yokose. Judges Uematsu and Yamazaki both had it 20-18 for the winner by Unanimous Decision, Yokose.

Winner: Miku Yokose by Unanimous Decision (20-18, 20-18, 19-19 [Must Decision: Yokose]) after two 5:00 rounds. She improves to 2-2-0.

 

Strawweight Bout – 2×5

Sayaka “Juicy” Hishinuma vs Karin Horii

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Tatsuro Nagase. Horii clinched and took Hishinuma down into back control, where she locked on a tight face crank. Hishinuma defended as Horii continued to try to finish the fight with face cranks. Hishinuma escaped out the back and stood up. She unloaded with punches that hurt Horii and Horii wilted against the cage. Hishinuma continued to land left and right hooks until a wounded Horii fell forward to her knees and the fight was stopped.

Winner: Sayaka Hishinuma by TKO (Punches) at 3:14 of round one. She improves to 6-3-0.

 

54kg Amateur Bout – 2×3

Mina Muramatsu vs Noa Saito

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Ryosuke Uchida. Muramatsu quickly took Saito down, but she was unable to mount much offence and Saito eventually stood up. Muramatsu tripped her again and Saito tried to take Muramatsu’s back. Muramatsu returned to Saito’s guard and Saito attempted an armbar in the dying seconds.

Round 2:
Saito landed a left hook in the second round as the fighters circled one another. Muramatsu got her down against the base of the cage and worked her way to mount, where she landed hammerfists. Late in the round, Muramatsu took Saito’s back and trapped her in a rear-naked choke.

Judges Fukuda, Nagase and Yamazaki all scored the fight 20-18 for the winner by Unanimous Decision, Muramatsu.

Winner: Mina Muramatsu by Unanimous Decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18) after two 3:00 rounds.

 

50kg Amateur Bout – 2×3

Manami “Akipi” Abe vs Seari Sumimura

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Ryosuke Uchida. Abe held Sumimura against the cage and tried to take her back. Sumimura broke free from the clinch and punches were exchanged. Abe clinched again and this time she got Sumimura down. Abe punched from the top, but Sumimura used a kimura sweep to reverse the position and she worked from Abe’s half-guard until shortly before the bell.

Round 2:
Once again, Abe backed Sumimura up against the cage. She took Sumimura down one minute into the round and held her there as Sumimura tried to set up a kimura. Abe punched from the top and Sumimura locked on a guillotine choke. Abe freed her neck and she finished the round by landing punches to the sides of Sumimura’s face.

Judge Yamazaki scored the fight 20-18 for Abe. Judges Fukuda and Nagase both had it even at 19-19 and awarded their Must Decisions to the winner by Unanimous Decision, Abe.

Winner: Manami Abe by Unanimous Decision (20-18, 19-19 [Must Decision: Abe], 19-19 [Must Decision: Abe]) after two 3:00 rounds.

 

50kg Amateur Bout – 2×3

Asuka Yokoe vs Cororo Taniyama

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Takaya Ishikawa. Quick punches were exchanged right away and Yokoe landed three kicks to Taniyama’s body. Taniyama threw her to the mat, but Yokoe stood and backed Taniyama up with a combination to the face. Taniyama was not able to take Yokoe down, but she dropped her with a left hook. Yokoe immediately stood up and the fighters continued to trade punches. Yokoe rocked Taniyama late in the round with a flurry of hooks and uppercuts. Excellent opening round.

Round 2:
Yokoe clinched and kneed Taniyama in the body. She scored with punches that backed Taniyama up to the cage and then dropped her for good with a knee to the liver that ended the fight.

Winner: Asuka Yokoe by KO (Knee To The Body) at 1:33 of round two.

 

50kg Amateur Bout – 2×3

Rio Yamauchi vs Mion Wachi

Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Takaya Ishikawa. Yamauchi got an early takedown into side control and then took Wachi’s back. Wachi fought off rear-naked chokes and got back to her feet. In the final minute, Yamauchi took Wachi back down and she transitioned from mount to an armbar. Wachi defended with punches until the bell.

Round 2:
Yamauchi took Wachi’s back and tripped her to the mat. Wachi stood once, but Yamauchi passed to mount after the second takedown and then dropped back into an armbar. Wachi bridged out to escape and she wound up on top in side control as the fight came to a close.

Judges Toyonaga, Nagase and Yamazaki all scored the fight 20-18 for the winner by Unanimous Decision, Yamauchi.

Winner: Rio Yamauchi by Unanimous Decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18) after two 3:00 rounds.