Kanna Asakura (); born October 12, 1997, in Kashiwa, Chiba,

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

, is a female Japanese retired

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 ...

. She competed in the Atomweight (106 lb) division and completed with the Rizin Fighting Federation. She is the #6 ranked Atomweight in the world according to

Sherdog Sherdog is an American website devoted to the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA). It also has many forums and discussion pages on the many topics of MMA like records, promotions, etc. The site is a member of the CraveOnline network and provides MM ...

and #6 Atomweight according to

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Background

Due to her father's influence, she started wrestling from the age of 5 and belonged to "Tokyo Gold Kids" from the upper grades of elementary school. Asakura won first at the 2011 Klippan Ladies International Wrestling Tournament in the cadet division for 38 kg and in the first year of high school, she achieved a brilliant record of 3rd place in the 46 kg class of the National High School Championships. She quit wrestling at 16, she re-entered high school, and while thinking about what to do with her future, saw footage of

shoot boxing , commonly written as Shootboxing, is a combat sport. Shoot boxing is also a stand-up fighting promotion company based in Tokyo, Japan. The organization was founded by former kickboxer Caesar Takeshi in 1985. Shootboxing, the combat sport, ...

and

shoot wrestling Shoot wrestling is a Japanese hybrid grappling style and combat sport. Shoot wrestling incorporates techniques from various wrestling, submission grappling, kickboxing and karate styles. It was particularly inspired and influenced by catch ...

bouts. Seeing an avenue to make use of her wrestling and the Jiu Jitsu she was learning, she started mixed martial arts.

Mixed martial arts career

Asakura made her professional mixed martial arts debut on October 4, 2014, at the age of 17 when she faced Naomi Okaki at Vale Tudo Japan 6 and won by unanimous decision. Following this, Asakura compiled a professional record of 9–2, with wins over Yasuko Tamada and Saori Ishioka, before signing with the Rizin Fighting Federation to join their Super Bantamweight World Grand Prix Tournament in December 2017.

Rizin FF

Super Atomweight Grand Prix

Victorious in the quarterfinals and semifinals, Asakura advanced to the finals, then competing in front of 18,316 fans in what was arguably the biggest women’s title fight in Japanese MMA history, choked out Shoot Boxing superstar Rena Kubota to become the Super Atomweight Grand Prix winner. On May 6, 2018, Kanna Asakura faced Melissa Sophia Karagianis at Rizin 10. She won the fight via three round unanimous decision extending her win streak to 7. After the fight Rena Kubota entered the ring and challenged her to a rematch. Soon after the fight was made official, and scheduled to take place on July 29, 2018, at Rizin 11 in Saitama,

. Despite several improvements from Rena, Asakura used her relentless pressure to win the bout by unanimous decision.

First title shot

Asakura faced Ayaka Hamasaki on December 21, 2018, at Rizin 14 for the inaugural Rizin Super Atomweight Championship. She lost the bout in the second rout via armbar. On March 9, 2019, she faced against DEEP JEWELS Atomweight champion Tomo Maesawa in a non-title bout at Deep Jewels 23 and won via a unanimous decision. On June 2, 2019, Asakura faced Miyuu Yamamoto at Rizin 16. She lost the bout via unanimous decision. On August 18, 2019, Kanna faced future Invicta FC Atomweight Champion Alesha Zappitella at RIZIN 18 and won a split unanimous decision. On December 29, 2019, Kanna faced Jamie Hinshaw at Bellator 237/Bellator Japan and won via a third round armbar. On August 9, 2020, she faced Mizuki Furuse at Rizin 22 and won via TKO by pounding. On December 31, 2020, Kanna faced Ai Shimizu at Rizin 26, winning the bout via unanimous decision.

Second title shot

Asakura faced Ayaka Hamasaki in a rematch for the Rizin Super Atomweight Championship at Rizin 27 on March 21, 2021. She lost a close bout via split decision. Asakura faced the reigning Jewels atomweight and DEEP Microweight champion Saori Oshima at Rizin 31 - Yokohama on October 24, 2021. She lost the bout via split decision. Asakura faced the Shooto Super Atomweight champion Satomi Takano on April 17, 2022, at Rizin 35. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Super Atomweight Grand Prix 2022

Asakura faced Si Woo Park in the quarterfinal bout of the Rizin Super Atomweight Grand Prix at Rizin 37 - Saitama on July 31, 2022. She lost the fight by unanimous decision. Asakura faced the Mei Yamaguchi at Rizin Landmark 5 on April 29, 2023, winning the fight by unanimous decision. Asakura faced Rizin Super Atomweight Champion Seika Izawa in a non-title bout at Rizin 48 on September 29, 2024. She lost the fight by unanimous decision. Asakura left her gloves in the ring following the bout signaling her retirement from mixed martial arts competition.

Personal life

After her bout at Rizin 11, Asakura was seen hugging kickboxing superstar Tenshin Nasukawa, fuelling further speculation that they may be in a relationship. They later confirmed that they were dating. They broke up at the end of 2019 after photos of Tenshin being physical with Rizin ring girl, Hakase Mai, leaked online. She also has a Youtube channel with 100K subscribers and 15 million views.

Championships and accomplishments

* Rizin Fighting Federation ** Rizin Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix Winner **Tied (with Yuki Motoya) for most bouts in Rizin FF promotional history (17)

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Loss , align=center, 20–8 , Seika Izawa , Decision (unanimous) , Rizin 48 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , Saitama, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 20–7 , Mei Yamaguchi , Decision (unanimous) , Rizin Landmark 5 , , 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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Yokohama is the List of cities in Japan, second-largest city in Japan by population as well as by area, and the country's most populous Municipalities of Japan, municipality. It is the capital and most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a popu ...

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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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, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 16–4 , Jayme Hinshaw , Submission (kimura) , Bellator 237 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:33 , Saitama, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 15–4 , Alesha Zappitella , Decision (split) , Rizin 18 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 14–4 , Miyuu Yamamoto , Decision (unanimous) , Rizin 16 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Kobe Kobe ( ; , ), officially , is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. With a population of around 1.5 million, Kobe is Japan's List of Japanese cities by population, seventh-largest city and the third-largest port city after Port of Toky ...

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, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 13–3 , Ayaka Hamasaki , Submission (armbar) , Rizin 14 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 4:34 , Saitama, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 13–2 , Rena Kubota , Decision (unanimous) , Rizin 11 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , Saitama, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 12–2 , Melissa Sophia Karagianis , Decision (unanimous) , Rizin 10 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Fukuoka is the List of Japanese cities by population, sixth-largest city in Japan and the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city is built along the shores of Hakata Bay, and has been a center of international commerce since ancient times. ...

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, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 8–2 , Saori Ishioka , Decision (unanimous) , Deep Jewels 17 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 7–2 , Aleksandra Toncheva Plamenova , Decision (unanimous) , Rizin 2017 in Yokohama: Sakura , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 6–2 , Natsuki Shimomakise , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Deep Jewels 15 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:29 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 5–2 , Alyssa Garcia , Decision (unanimous) , Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 2nd Round , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , Saitama, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 5–1 , Yoon Ha Hong , Decision (unanimous) , Deep Jewels 13 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 4–1 , Mikiko Hiyama , Submission (rear naked choke) , Shooto: Professional Shooto 7/17 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:43 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 3–1 , Syuri Kondo , Decision (unanimous) , Pancrase 277 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 3–0 , Yasuko Tamada , Decision (unanimous) , Vale Tudo Japan: VTJ 7th , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Miyuki Furusawa , Submission (rear naked choke) , Vale Tudo Japan: VTJ in Osaka , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:17 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Naomi Okaki , Decision (unanimous) , Vale Tudo Japan: VTJ 6th , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Ōta, Tokyo is a Special wards of Tokyo, special ward in the Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolis in Japan. The ward refers to itself in English as Ōta City. It was formed in 1947 as a merger of Ōmori, Ōta, Tokyo, Ōmori and Kamata, Ōta, Tokyo, Kamata following Tokyo C ...

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Amateur mixed martial arts record

, - , Win , align=center, 1-0 , Mikiko Hiyama , Submission (Rear naked choke) , Shooto / STF - Hardball , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:18 , Nagano, Japan , , -

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Asakura, Kanna 1997 births Living people Martial artists from Chiba Prefecture Sportspeople from Kashiwa Japanese female mixed martial artists Atomweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing wrestling Mixed martial artists utilizing boxing Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Japanese female Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners 21st-century Japanese sportswomen