Kanako Murata has signed with the UFC. She is the latest in a long line of Invicta FC fighters to go on to compete inside the octagon.
The Rizin veteran is the reigning Invicta FC strawweight champion. She took to Twitter to confirm the stories in the Japanese media about her signing with the UFC:
UFCとの契約書にサインしました！
いろんな人たちのサポートのおかげでスタートラインに立つことができました！
これからも2015年RIZINのリングで挨拶したときの気持ちを忘れず突き進んでいきたいと思います！
これからもよろしくお願いします！ https://t.co/zOV6YDcFbH— 村田夏南子 KanakoMurata (@m_r_t_k_n_k) July 5, 2020
Murata (11-1) is riding a seven fight winning streak. At Invicta 38 she beat Emily Ducote by split decision to become the promotion’s strawweight champion.
The 26 year old has won six fights out of seven for Rizin. However she suffered the only loss of her career under the Japanese promotion, getting submitted by Rin Nakai in 2016.
At UFC on ESPN 12 two Invicta strawweights faced off. Kay Hansen emerged victorious, submitting Jinh Yu Frey with an armbar midway through the third round.
The UFC strawweight title is currently the property of Weili Zhang. The Chinese fighter has won five fights out of five for the promotion and was crowned as champion last year.
