Multi-time Muay Thai champion Miriam Nakamoto made a successful MMA debut tonight at Red Canvas Fight Promotions: “Submission 2” in San Jose, California. Nakamoto earned a dominant second-round TKO victory over SikJitsu’s Elizabeth Phillips after controlling the fight throughout.
Nakamoto, who sports a 15-0 Muay Thai record and captured the WCK Champion of Champions title in mid-August, prevented Phillips from taking her down and scored with some solid strikes in the clinch. A final barrage of knees put Phillips away and Nakamoto walked away with a big win.
Nakamoto (1-0-0) was a step ahead of Phillips (3-1-1 amateur; 0-1-0 pro) throughout the fight tonight. Her superior striking skills allowed her to stave off attacks from Phillips, who tried to clinch in order to get the fight to the mat. Nakamoto displayed impressive takedown defence and remained on her feet. She scored with knees and short strikes in close as Phillips continued to hunt for a takedown.
As the fight entered the second round, Nakamoto methodically wore Phillips down with punches and knees. Phillips refused to give up and gamely fired back, but a series of vicious knees from Nakamoto forced the referee to intervene and stop the fight.
Nakamoto is seen by some as the best female striker in the world today and her dominant win tonight solidified her spot as one of the bantamweight division’s newest and brightest prospects.
Winner: Miriam Nakamoto by TKO (Knees) at 3:39 of round two. She improves to 1-0-0.
Tonight’s Red Canvas card was the promotion’s first event in over two years, but four more events are already planned for later this year. Red Canvas: “Submission 3” takes place on September 29th in San Mateo, California.
(Photo Credit: Scott Hirano)
Miriam Nakamoto vs Germaine de Randaime now!
And the winner takes on Holly Holm!
Ya mean “and Miriam takes on Holly Holm…”
Germaine is 50-0 in Kickboxing, so, I am not sure Miriam would beat her so easily.
This is a fight I’d love to see.