is a Japanese

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

, currently fighting in the super atomweight division of

Shooto is a combat sport and mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission (ISC). Shooto was originally formed in 1985, first as a particular fighting system and then in 1989 as a ...

, where she is the current Shooto Super Atomweight champion in her first reign. A professional competitor since 2020, Watanabe has also competed in

Jewels A gemstone (also called a fine gem, jewel, precious stone, semiprecious stone, or simply gem) is a piece of mineral crystal which, when cut or polished, is used to make jewellery, jewelry or other adornments. Certain Rock (geology), rocks (such ...

and

Pancrase is a Japanese mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Tokyo. It was founded in 1993 by professional wrestlers Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki. The name was based on pankration, a fighting sport in the An ...

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

In her professional mixed martial arts debut, Watanabe was scheduled to face Akari Jinno at Deep Jewels 31 on December 19, 2020. She won the bout by a first-round technical knockout. Watanabe faced

Emi Fujino is a Japanese mixed martial artist, kickboxer and professional wrestler, occasionally nicknamed . Background Fujino was born on in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. After graduating from college, she started training in Japanese style of catch wrestlin ...

at Pancrase 28th Neo-Blood Tournament Finals on October 9, 2022, having been brought in to replace Song Hye Yun. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Shooto

In her Shooto debut, Watanabe faced

Mina Kurobe is a Japanese mixed martial artist, currently fighting in the super atomweight division of Shooto, where she is the former and inaugural Shooto Super Atomweight champion. A professional competitor since 2012, Kurobe is also the former DEEP JE ...

on January 15, 2023, at Shooto 2023 Opening Round. She won the bout by knockout in the second round. Watanabe faced defending Shooto Super Atomweight champion Satomi Takano, at Shooto Colors 1 on May 21, 2023. She won the fight by a second-round technical knockout to win the title. Watanabe faced Machi Fukuda at Rizin Landmark 6 on October 1, 2023, losing the fight by split decision.

Championships and accomplishments

** Shooto Super Atomweight Championship (One time, current)

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Loss , align=center, 3–3 , Park Bo-hyun , Decision (unanimous) , Shooto Colors Vol.3 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

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Nagoya is the largest city in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is the list of cities in Japan, fourth-most populous city in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020, and the principal city of the Chūkyō metropolitan area, which is the List of ...

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, Decision (unanimous) , Pancrase – 28th Neo-Blood Tournament Finals , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

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, Japan ,

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Watanabe, Ayaka 1997 births Living people People from Toyokawa, Aichi Japanese female mixed martial artists Martial artists from Aichi Prefecture Atomweight mixed martial artists 21st-century Japanese sportswomen