Rin Nakai was crowned Deep-Jewels flyweight champion last weekend. The UFC veteran beat three separate opponents to win the Grand Prix and the belt.
In the Deep-Jewels 37 headliner Nakai faced fellow veteran Shizuka Sugiyama. But their paths to the flyweight Grand Prix final were very different with the 35 year old receiving a bye after Aoi Kuriyama missed weight.
By contrast Nakai was forced to win a semi final. She did so in style, submitting Tae Murayama with an armbar late in the second round.
Deep-Jewels
Early takedown
It means Nakai had already fought for nearly ten minutes while Sugiyama was fresh heading into the final. The UFC veteran looked for an early takedown but ended up eating some knees.
Sugiyama was getting the better of the standup exchanges but Nakai was determine to get the action down and eventually secured a double leg. She immediately looked to lock in an armbar but couldn’t complete the submission.
Nakai secured mount but elected to continue looking for submissions and moved to side control. From there she wasted no time in locking on an armbar and the referee stepped in to save her opponent, stopping the fight just as Sugiyama was starting to tap.
With the win Nakai improves to 24-2-1. She wins the Deep-Jewels 125lbs Grand Prix and becomes the promotion’s first ever flyweight champion.
Deep-Jewels
Best of the rest
There were two more title fights on the card. Deep-Jewels atomweight Grand Prix winner Saori Oshima (8-3) was defending her title against Moeri Suda (5-3).
Oshima beat Kanna Asakura at Rizin 31 but then dropped a decision to Namiko Kawabata at Deep-Jewels 36 in a non title bout. She was making the first defence of her title here and needed just 2:58 to sink in a kimura and finish the fight.
The inaugural featherweight belt was on the line when Yoko Higashi (7-2) faced Reina Miura (13-5) in a rematch. The outcome was exactly the same as the first fight which took place at Deep 101.
Higashi beat Miura by decision for the second time in succession. She becomes the first fighter to ever win the Deep-Jewels 145lbs title.
Deep-Jewels 37, Tokyo, June 7th
Rin Nakai def. Shizuka Sugiyama via Submission (Armbar) at 4:53 of round one
Saori Oshima def. Moeri Suda by Submission (Kimura) at 2:58 of round one
Yoko Higashi def. Reina Miura by Decision (Unanimous)
Mika Nagano def. Kate Oyama by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 0:57 of round two
Momoko Yamazaki,Kyoka Minagawa by Decision (Unanimous)
Rin Nakai def. vs Tae Murayama by Submission (Armbar) at 4:43 of round two
Yuka Okutomi def. Mana Akagi by Decision (Unanimous)
