A rematch between veteran female fighters “Happy” Fukuko Hamada and Kayo Nagayasu has been announced for Pancrase Impressive Tour 12 on November 27th in Osaka, Japan. The promotion officially confirmed the bout today and it will take place during part one of the all-day Osaka event.
Hamada and Nagayasu first faced off in the now-defunct Valkyrie promotion in April 2010. Nagayasu emerged victorious via a close Majority Decision and most recently battled Naoko Omuro to a Majority Draw in Pancrase last month. Hamada has earned wins in both of her Pancrase fights this year.
Hamada (7-6-0) opened her pro career with four wins in her first five fights, but managed just a single win in her next five outings against top-level opposition. Among the setbacks were two decision defeats at the hands of final Valkyrie Flyweight Champion Yasuko “Ikuko” Tamada and former two-division DEEP champion “Princess” Satoko Shinashi. Hamada has found success since joining the Pancrase ranks in March and has scored back-to-back TKO victories over Mamiko Mizoguchi and Yuko Takagi. She has been stopped just one time in 13 bouts.
Nagayasu (7-6-3) has battled many of the same opponents as Hamada throughout her career, including Shinashi and Tamada. She has faced Tamada on three separate occasions, but was unable to defeat the AACC star. Nagayasu also endured a tough three-fight losing streak in years passed, but her victory over Hamada in the first meeting was arguably her most notable win to date. In her Pancrase debut in September, Nagayasu survived a late rally from Omuro and walked away with a Majority Draw after two hard-fought rounds.
Pancrase Impressive Tour 12 takes place on November 27th at Azalea Taisho Hall in Osaka, Japan. The rematch between Hamada and Nagayasu will be contested at 45.4kg (100 pounds).