Hiroko_Yamanaka

Hiroko Yamanaka

Hiroko Yamanaka

Japanese mixed martial arts fighter

Hiroko Yamanaka (山中 裕子, Yamanaka Hiroko), more commonly known simply as Hiroko (styled in capitals) and nicknamed Incomplete Queen (未完の女王, mikan no joō) or Cat's Eye, is a retired Japanese female mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. She fought for Invicta FC, Strikeforce and Jewels, and was the final Smackgirl Open Weight Champion. Yamanaka announced her retirement on August 6, 2013 (2013-08-06).[1][2][3]

Quick Facts Born, Other names ...

Early life

Yamanaka was born on (1978-10-24)October 24, 1978 in Kisarazu, Chiba, Japan.[4][5] Through a personal friend's suggestion, Yamanaka initially took on mixed martial arts for health and fitness purposes only. After time, she found the sport of MMA agreed with her physicality and became more involved, fighting her first official match in May 2006.

Mixed martial arts career

Her first MMA fight was a draw against Mariko Fujimoto in a match with Smackgirl amateur rules on May 14, 2006 (2006-05-14) at S-Keep: Eggs Fight 4.[6]

Her next fight was in the Super Gals Mix Cup Open Weight Tournament 1st Round against Rie Murakami, whom Yamanaka defeated by unanimous decision on November 29, 2006 (2006-11-29) at Smackgirl: Legend of Extreme Women.[7] This was her professional debut.[4]

Yamanaka would go on to win the Super Gals Mix Cup Open Weight Tournament by defeating Yuiga by unanimous decision on March 11, 2007 (2007-03-11)[8] and Michiko Takeda by split decision on May 19, 2007 (2007-05-19).[9]

On September 6, 2007 (2007-09-06) at Smackgirl: Queens' Hottest Summer, Yamanaka defeated champion Yoko Takahashi by unanimous decision and won the Smackgirl Open Weight Championship, becoming the fourth and final title holder.[10] Yamanaka was defeated for the first time in a non-title bout as part of the Open Weight World ReMix tournament by Hitomi Akano, who submitted Yamanaka with an armbar on April 25, 2008 (2008-04-25) at Smackgirl: World ReMix 2008 Second Round.[11][12][13][14] This was Yamanaka's last fight in Smackgirl since the promotion folded in the following months.

Yamanaka made her debut in the Jewels promotion on November 16, 2008 (2008-11-16), defeating Mayumi Aoki by unanimous decision at Jewels 1st Ring.[15][16][17]

At Jewels 2nd Ring on February 4, 2009 (2009-02-04), Yamanaka once again faced Michiko Takeda and defeated her for the second time; this time by TKO at 3:25 of the second round.[18] On May 16, 2009 (2009-05-16), Yamanaka defeated Josh Barnett's student Shannon Hooper by unanimous decision during the event Jewels 3rd Ring.[19][20]

Yamanaka would avenge her only loss at Jewels 7th Ring when she defeated Hitomi Akano by split decision on March 19, 2010 (2010-03-19).[21][22] Unlike their first open-weight match, this match was contracted at 143 lb (65 kg) and, for the first time in her career, Yamanaka had to cut weight;[23] cutting more than 20 lbs.[22] On May 23, 2010 (2010-05-23), Yamanaka defeated Atsuko Emoto by unanimous decision at Jewels 8th Ring.[24][25] Emoto announced her retirement after the fight.

Debuting with the Shoot boxing promotion, Yamanaka won by forearm choke submission against Australian Muay Thai kickboxing champion Sandy Furner on August 29, 2010 (2010-08-29) in an MMA bout at Shoot Boxing: Girls S-Cup 2010.[26][27] Yamanaka was originally set to face Olympic freestyle wrestling Bronze medal winner Randi Miller,[28] but Miller was forced to withdraw due to injury.[29]

On December 3, 2010 (2010-12-03), Yamanaka was announced as facing Miller at Jewels 11th Ring on December 17.[30] However, the fight was later cancelled.[31] Yamanaka faced Molly Helsel instead[32] and defeated Helsel by TKO in the second round.[33][34]

Yamanaka faced Bolormaa "Esui" Erdenebileg at Jewels 15th Ring on July 9, 2011 (2011-07-09).[35][36] She defeated Esui by armbar submission in the second round.[37][38]

On September 23, 2011, Strikeforce announced that Yamanaka would debut for the promotion against featherweight champion Cris Cyborg. The fight took place at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal on December 17, 2011 (2011-12-17).[39] Yamanaka lost the bout via TKO 16 seconds into the first round.[40] On January 6, 2012, the bout's result was changed to a no decision due to Cyborg having tested positive for anabolic steroids.[41]

Yamanaka faced Germaine de Randamie at Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Kaufman on August 18, 2012 (2012-08-18) in San Diego, California.[42] She was defeated by unanimous decision.[43][44]

Yamanaka made her Invicta Fighting Championships debut against Ediane Gomes at Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt on January 5, 2013 (2013-01-05).[45][46] She was defeated by unanimous decision.[47][48]

On August 6, 2013, Yamanaka announced her retirement on her official blog, thanking her fans for their support and saying she would like to continue to support her team, Master Japan, in the future.[49]

Submission grappling

Yamanaka made her debut in submission wrestling in the 2006 Smackgirl Grappling Queen Tournament, being defeated by American fighter Roxanne Modafferi by decision.[50][51] She fought two more times on August 31, 2008 (2008-08-31) at Gi grappling 2008, first winning against Akiko Naito and then losing against Sayaka Shioda.[52]

Shoot boxing career

Yamanaka debuted in Shoot boxing on August 23, 2009 (2009-08-23) at the 2009 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup. She faced Mayumi "Super Benkei" Aoki, whom Yamanaka had previously defeated in MMA, and won the fight by TKO in round one.[53][54][55]

On August 19, 2011 (2011-08-19), Yamanaka faced Megumi Yabushita in a shoot boxing match at the 2011 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup. She won the fight by TKO (doctor stoppage) after Yabushita suffered a knee injury in round three.[56][57]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
16 matches 12 wins 3 losses
By knockout 2 0
By submission 2 1
By decision 8 2
No contests 1
More information Res., Record ...

Submission grappling

More information 3 Fights, 1 Win, 2 Losses, 0 Draws, Result ...

Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest

Shoot boxing record

More information 2 Fights, 2 Wins, 0 Losses, 0 Draws, Result ...

Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest

Championships and accomplishments

  • Smackgirl Open Weight Champion
  • Super Gals Mix Cup Open Weight Tournament winner

See also

References

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