Shizuka Sugiyama will return to DEEP Jewels in July, as a bout against Kano Kagaya was announced by the promotion on Monday. The fight joins the now seven-fight “DEEP Jewels 29” show. The event is set to happen at the promotion’s regular venue, Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo, Japan.
Sugiyama, one of the more experienced fighters in the Japanese women’s MMA scene returns in hopes to extend her winning streak to three-in-a-row. In her last outing, Sugiyama defeated Asami Nakai with an armbar in the second round.
Fighting in various promotion’s including top JMMA organization RIZIN, Sugiyama has spent the majority of her career in DEEP Jewels.
Her opponent, Kagaya, made her professional MMA debut in 2019. Fighting in December, Kagaya defeated Mao Ueda via split decision.
The co-main event joins the card which has a headlining strawweight championship fight between Asami Nakai, also known as “Akaringo” and Miki Motono.
Smaller Fights on The Card
So far, the main event and co-main event are the only two bouts booked for the show that have three rounds scheduled for them. Other matches either have two rounds of five minutes or three minutes.
In a two-round battle, Hikaru Aono will return to DEEP Jewels after a loss in Korea. Aono, who has won five bouts in the promotion, will face Krazy Bee fighter Lion Noda. Noda made her professional debut in September with a split decision victory.
Sakura will have her third professional fight on the card, as she is matched with debuting Mayu Kawanashi. Training out of the BURST gym, Kawanashi has won two fights on the amateur scene.
KAI also returns on the card in a two-rounder against Otoha Nagao. Both fighters will try to bounce back from recent losses in the promotion.
Two “semi-pro” fights will open the show. The first is a strawweight battle between Aya Murakami and Yuri Takeda. Also, an atomweight semi-pro battle will happen between Moochan and Suda Moeri. Both fighters will be two three-minute sounds.
Full Card
Bout 7: Asami Nakai (4-2) vs. Miki Motono (4-1) (Vacant DEEP Jewels Strawweight Championship) (5×3)
Bout 6: Shizuka Sugiyama (18-6-1) vs. Kano Kagaya (1-0) (135 lbs) (5×3)
Bout 5: Hikaru Aono (5-3) vs. Lion Noda (1-0) (108 lbs) (5×2)
Bout 4: Sakura (2-0) vs. Mayu Kawanashi (0-0) (108 lbs) (5×2)
Bout 3: KAI (5-5) vs. Otoha Nagao (2-2) (108 lbs) (5×2)
Bout 2: Aya Murakami vs. Yuri Takeda (Semi-Pro) (114 lbs)(3×2)
Bout 1: Moochan vs. Suda Moeri (Semi-Pro) (108 lbs) (3×2)
Knockdown News 