For the second straight year, teenage sensation RENA is the Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup Champion. She won this year’s tournament by defeating Hisae Watanabe and Kate Martinez to advance to the finals, then narrowly edged out Ai Takahashi on points in a second extra round to win the title.
In the card’s lone mixed martial arts bout, Jewels star Hiroko Yamanaka faced multi-time Muay Thai kickboxing champion Sandy “Feisty” Furner and submitted Furner less than two minutes into the first round. Perhaps more impressively, Yamanaka held her own in the striking exchanges.
2010 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup Final
RENA vs Ai Takahashi
Round 1:
Takahashi opened the fight aggressively with kicks and RENA kept her at bay with jabs. She connected with a combination and a front kick to Takahashi’s face. More punches landed for RENA and she threw another front kick to the face. Takahashi began to use her reach advantage to score punches with stiff jabs, but RENA landed knees in close before the end of the round.
Round 2:
RENA rushed forward in round two and threw a flying kick, but Takahashi saw it coming and stepped to the side. She went to work with punches and RENA countered with a pair of right hands. She clinched and landed short knees. Takahashi answered with knees of her own and RENA secured a throw. It did not meet the height and arc requirements for a point, however, and the fighters traded big punches back on the feet. RENA landed a right cross and a left hook late in the round.
Round 3:
The third round began with a right cross and a front kick to the face from RENA. She started to take control of the exchanges and scored with more quick combinations of punches and front kicks to the head and body. Takahashi answered with a right cross and avoided a spinning backfist. She clinched and attempted a knee. RENA used right hooks to battle out of the clinch and followed with kicks. Takahashi threw punches before the bell.
Following three rounds, the fight was ruled a Majority Draw (30-29 [RENA], 30-30, 29-29). As Draws were not permitted in the tournament, the fight went on to a fourth round.
Round 4:
Takahashi was aggressive again early in round four, but RENA backed her into a corner with punches. Takahashi clinched and attempted a throw, but RENA defended. Takahashi landed knees and RENA fired back with a right cross and a left hook. Takahashi blocked both of the punches, but a follow-up one-two from RENA found the mark. The fighters exchanged big punches in the final seconds.
Through four rounds, the fight was still a Majority Draw (10-9 [RENA], 10-10, 10-10).
Round 5:
Despite competing in a fifth round and having both fought twice earlier in the afternoon, RENA and Takahashi did not appear fatigued in the final round. RENA landed right hands and a front kick, but Takahashi answered with stiff jabs and a right cross. A looping right hook landed for RENA and Takahashi looked to counter with body punches and a kick. RENA replied with body shots of her own and countered a jab with a left hook and a right cross. As in the previous rounds, the fighters both landed hard shots in the final seconds.
Winner: RENA by Unanimous Decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) after a second extra round and fifth overall. She becomes 2010 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup Tournament Champion.
RENA (right) defeats Ai Takahashi (left) in tournament final.
[Photo Credit: SportsNavi Japan]
Mixed Martial Arts Bout
Hiroko Yamanaka vs Sandy “Feisty” Furner
Round 1:
Yamanaka connected with jabs and a right cross early on. Furner threw a left hook, but Yamanaka sidestepped and countered with a leg kick. Furner attempted a leg kick of her own and ate another stiff jab for her efforts. Yamanaka clinched near the corner and took Furner down. She landed in Furner’s half-guard and threw short hammerfists from the top. Yamanaka then pressed down with her left forearm across Furner’s throat and applied pressure with her right hand. Furner had nowhere to go and was forced to submit.
Another impressive win for Yamanaka, who has campaigned for a bout with Strikeforce Women’s Middleweight (145-Pound) Champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos on multiple occasions.
Winner: Hiroko Yamanaka by Submission (Forearm Choke) at 1:45 of round one. She improves to 10-1-1.
Hiroko Yamanaka (top) submits Sandy Furner (bottom).
[Photo Credit: GBRing.com]
2010 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup Semi-Final
Ai Takahashi vs Mei “V Hajime” Yamaguchi
Round 1:
Yamaguchi landed a right hook early on and clinched in an effort to score with a throw, but Takahashi defended. The fighters were separated and Yamaguchi resumed efforts to secure a throw. Takahashi landed a punch in close and continued to fend off throw attempts. She stayed on her feet until the end of the close round.
Round 2:
Takahashi looked to keep Yamaguchi at bay with jabs in the second round, but Yamaguchi closed the distance. She clinched and tried for a throw. Takahashi countered with knees and leg kicks. Yamaguchi was relentless in her pursuit of throws, but could not take Takahashi down and began to become visibly frustrated.
Round 3:
Yamaguchi targeted the body in the third round and landed an overhand right, but ate a hard right cross from Takahashi. Yamaguchi’s left eye began to swell badly and Takahashi followed with knees to the body. Takahashi landed more knees and attempted one of the flying variety. She defended a throw attempt and landed leg kicks as Yamaguchi moved forward.
Following three rounds, the fight was ruled a Majority Draw (30-28 [Takahashi], 30-30, 29-29). As Draws were not permitted in the tournament, the fight went on to a fourth round.
Round 4:
Yamaguchi pushed forward aggressively in the final round, but ate a knee. Takahashi backed her up and the fighters exchanged kicks and punches. Takahashi landed a one-two and a right hook, then defended a throw. She drilled Yamaguchi with a hard knee to the face and follow-up kicks. Yamaguchi tried to counter with a jab and kicks late in the round.
Winner: Ai Takahashi by Unanimous Decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) after an extra round and fourth overall. She advanced to the tournament final with the victory.
Ai Takahashi (left) defeats Mei Yamaguchi (right) in tournament semi-final.
[Photo Credit: SportsNavi Japan]
2010 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup Semi-Final
RENA vs Kate Martinez
Round 1:
Martinez was the aggressor early in round one and landed a right cross and body shots. RENA, despite giving up a reach advantage, managed to punch through Martinez’s defences and began to rack up points with crisp strikes. She landed a right cross that snapped Martinez’s head back briefly and tried for a throw. Martinez defended, but RENA landed a looping hook to close out the round.
Round 2:
RENA threw big right hooks in the second round and Martinez backed up. She flashed out a head kick that was blocked and followed with front kicks to the body. RENA clinched and threw Martinez to the mat, but the throw did not meet height and arc requirements for a point. RENA landed another right hook and a Superman Punch that sent Martinez to the mat. She stood and threw a combination, but RENA sidestepped and landed a flurry of her own. RENA secured another throw late in the round, but it was also not enough for a point.
Round 3:
Martinez looked to land punches in the final round, but RENA kept her at bay with leg kicks. RENA also landed front kicks and fought off a clinch, then countered Martinez’s jabs with a nice right cross. Martinez threw more right hands, but RENA blocked them and continued to be effective with quick counterpunches.
Winner: RENA by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-28) after three rounds. She advanced to the tournament final with the victory.
RENA (left) defeats Kate Martinez (right) in tournament semi-final.
[Photo Credit: SportsNavi Japan]
Note: Mai Ichii defeated Sumie Yamada by Majority Decision (30-28, 30-28, 30-30) in the tournament’s Reserve Bout. None of the semi-finalists or finalists suffered injuries, so Ichii did not advance on. For full results from quarterfinal bouts, turn to Page Two.