Former Valkyrie Featherweight Champion “V.V” Mei Yamaguchi makes her Deep Jewels debut on May 18th at Deep Jewels 4 in Tokyo, Japan. The skilled grappler is set to face off against journeywoman Yukiko Seki in a featured 48-kilogram matchup that was officially announced earlier today.

Yamaguchi was in talks to compete for Deep Jewels when the promotion formed this past year, but she instead opted to sign with Pacific Xtreme Combat. Also announced today for the Deep Jewels 4 card was a grappling match between veteran Miyoko Kusaka and newcomer Sayuri Yamaguchi.

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Three additional matchups have been added to the upcoming Deep Jewels 4 card on May 18th in Tokyo, Japan. In a featured kickboxing bout, reigning Deep Jewels Featherweight Champion Seo Hee Ham makes a quick return to action to battle Shoot Boxing JKS48 tournament finalist Yuuki Kira.

Deep Jewels officials also confirmed plans for two MMA bouts on the card. Grappling specialist Ayaka Miura and BJJ purple belt Ella “Power” Wu make their respective pro MMA debuts in an intriguing matchup. Elsewhere, Tomo Maesawa looks to spoil the MMA debut of grappler Brittany Ann Decker.

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Three-time Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup Champion Rena Kubota has been added to next Friday’s Shoot Boxing 2014: Act.2 event at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Kubota is scheduled to face off against 18-year-old South Korean champion Seo Hee Im, who has won all 17 of her fights to date.

Kubota has endured a number of last-minute opponent changes during the past year and her most recent fight, a February bout with Katie Klimansky-Casimir, was scrapped when Casimir encountered immigration issues. Im competes in Japan for the first time after capturing a title in South Korea.

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Bantamweight Queen of Pancrase Rin Nakai returns to action to face off against arguably her toughest opponent to date on May 11th at Pancrase 258 in Tokyo, Japan. The undefeated champion is set to battle Invicta FC contender Sarah “The Monster” D’Alelio in a non-title bout on the card.

D’Alelio first announced her participation in the fight earlier this week and Pancrase officials confirmed plans for the matchup on Thursday. Nakai became the inaugural Bantamweight Queen of Pancrase in late 2012 and she most recently defeated Tara LaRosa at Pancrase 252 in September.

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Kickboxing prodigy Saya Ito will make her long-awaited professional debut on April 27th at Muaylok 2014: 1st in Tokyo, Japan. The 15-year-old “Muay Thai Genius” is set to face off against once-beaten South Korean prospect Hye-Young Park in a five-round bout on the event’s featured main card.

Ito is one of Japan’s most decorated female kickboxers and she has captured numerous titles during her 11-year career that dates back to the young age of four. The 93-fight veteran now makes her domestic pro debut against Park, who brings an impressive record into her first fight in Japan.

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Japanese star Shizuka Sugiyama and former Strikeforce title challenger Takayo Hashi will face off for the inaugural Deep Jewels Middleweight Championship at Deep Jewels 4 on May 18th in Tokyo. The 135-pound matchup was officially announced during a press conference today.

Sugiyama returned to the win column after fighting to a disappointing Draw with Ji-Yeon Kim in November by stopping Mizuho Sato in just 75 seconds at Deep Jewels 3. Hashi stepped back into action this month following a two-year hiatus and she also fought to a two-round Draw against Kim.

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Two-time Shoot Boxing JKS48 tournament champion Mio Tsumura earned her fifth straight victory on Sunday night at Shoot Boxing 2014: Act.1 in Tokyo, Japan. The 18-year-old rising star posted a hard-fought Unanimous Decision win over Akari “Eneos” Nakamura in a rematch from August 2012.

Tsumura’s mentor, three-time Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup Champion Rena Kubota, was set to compete on Sunday’s card, but her bout was scrapped when Katie Klimansky-Casimir encountered immigration issues. A fight between Ai Takahashi and Miyumi Takahashi was cancelled due to illness.

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Deep Jewels crowned its first 114-pound women’s champion under unique and contentious circumstances tonight at Deep Jewels 3 in Tokyo, Japan. Grappling specialist Emi Tomimatsu took home the Deep Jewels Interim Lightweight Championship when opponent Mizuki Inoue missed weight.

Tomimatsu and Inoue faced off in what became a non-title fight on tonight’s card, which Inoue unofficially won via third-round armbar. However, as a result of her inability to make weight, Inoue was disqualified. Other winners on the card included Naho “Sugi Rock” Sugiyama and Shizuka Sugiyama.

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