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Kanako Murata
Born	(1993-08-10) August 10, 1993 (age 31) Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan
Native name	村田夏南子
Height	156 cm (5 ft 1 in)
Weight	115 lb (52 kg; 8 st 3 lb)
Division	Strawweight Flyweight
Style	Wrestling, Judo
Stance	Southpaw
Fighting out of	Dublin, California, United States
Team	Combat Sports Academy (2019–present)
Trainer	Kazunori Yokota
Rank	Purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Years active	2016–present (MMA)
Mixed martial arts record
Total	15
Wins	12
By knockout	2
By submission	4
By decision	6
Losses	3
By knockout	1
By submission	1
By decision	1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record Women's wrestling Representing  Japan Asian Wrestling Championships 2012 Gumi, South Korea -55kg 2013 New Delhi, India -55kg 2015 Doha, Qatar -55kg Universiade 2013 Kazan, Russia -55kg

Kanako Murata (村田 夏南子, born August 10, 1993) is a Japanese mixed martial artist and former wrestler, who competes in the Strawweight division. A professional mixed martial artist since 2016, Murata has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Rizin Fighting Federation and Invicta FC where she is a former Invicta FC Strawweight Champion.

Background

Murata was born and raised in Matsuyama, Japan. The granddaughter of a judo dojo master, Murata started training judo at the age of three. She was a national champion in judo in her high school years. After judo, she transitioned to freestyle wrestling in which she won Junior World Championship in 2011.

Mixed martial arts career

Rizin Fighting Federation

Murata was scheduled to make her professional debut against Natalya Denisova at Rizin 1 on April 17, 2016. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Murata made her flyweight debut against Maia Kahaunaele-Stevenson at KOTC: Firefight on June 4, 2016. She won the fight by a third-round technical knockout.

Murata remained at flyweight for her next fight with Ilona Wijmans at Shoot Box Girls S-Cup 2016 on July 7, 2016. She won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.

Murata was scheduled to face Kyra Batara in a strawweight bout at Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 1st Round on September 26, 2016. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Murata was scheduled to face Rin Nakai in a flyweight bout at Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 2nd Round on December 29, 2016. Murata suffered her first professional loss, tapping to a rear-naked choke in the third round.

Murata was scheduled to face Claire Fryer in a strawweight bout at Pancrase 288 on July 2, 2017. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Murata was scheduled to face Yukari Nabe in a flyweight bout at DEEP 79 Impact on September 16, 2017. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Murata remained at flyweight for her next fight, against Lanchana Green at Rizin 10 on May 6, 2018. She won the fight by a first-round anaconda choke submission.

Murata was scheduled to face Angela Magana at Rizin 12 on August 12, 2018. She won the fight by a first-round submission.

Murata made her last appearance with Rizin against Saray Orozco at Rizin 15 on April 21, 2019. Murata was originally scheduled to face Shinju Nozawa-Auclair, before Nozawa-Auclair withdrew due to a ligament injury. She won the fight by her second career, and second consecutive, Von Flue choke submission.

Invicta

It was announced on August 30, 2018, that Murata had signed with Invicta FC, and would compete in their strawweight division.

Murata was scheduled to make her promotional debut with Invicta, almost a year after signing with them, against Liana Pirosin at Invicta FC 35: Bennett vs. Rodriguez II on June 7, 2019. She won the fight by a first-round rear-naked choke submission. This fight earned her a "Performance of the Night" award.

Murata was scheduled to fight Emily Ducote for the vacant Invicta FC Strawweight Championship at Invicta FC 38: Murata vs. Ducote on November 1, 2019. She won the fight by split decision.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Murata announced on July 5, 2020, that she had signed with the UFC.

Murata was expected to face Lívia Renata Souza on November 14, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos. However, Souza pulled out in early November due to an undisclosed injury and was replaced by Randa Markos. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Murata faced Virna Jandiroba on June 19, 2021 at UFC on ESPN 25. She lost the fight via doctor stoppage after round 2 due to a elbow dislocation caused by an armbar applied by Jandiroba.

After a two-year layoff, Murata faced Vanessa Demopoulos on October 7, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 229. She lost the fight via unanimous decision. 13 out of 14 media outlets scored the bout as a win for Murata.

On November 7, 2023 it was announced that Murata was no longer with the UFC.

Championships and accomplishments

• Invicta Fighting Championships
  • Invicta FC Strawweight Championship (One time, former)
  • Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Liana Pirosin

Mixed martial arts record

See also

• List of female mixed martial artists

References

1. ^ Mark Pickering (November 10, 2020). "Kanako Murata Always Destined To Be A Fighter". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
2. Koji, Fuse (16 April 2016). "吉田沙保里のライバル、村田夏南子が「RIZIN」で総合格闘技参戦". sportiva.shueisha.co.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
3. "村田夏南子（日大卒＝フリー）がプロ・デビュー戦で勝利…総合格闘技「ＲＩＺＩＮ」". japan-wrestling.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
4. "【Ｇｉｒｌｓ Ｓ―ｃｕｐ】村田夏南子が４冠王ワイマンに嫉妬心". excite.co.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
5. "【シュートボクシング】RENAが圧倒TKO勝ち、MIOはトーナメント制覇". efight.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
6. "村田夏南子、総合４連勝！元ＵＦＣ中井りんに大みそか対戦要求". sponichi.co.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
7. "【RIZIN】中井りんが公開練習、村田夏南子と思い出話しも". efight.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
8. "中井りんがＲＩＺＩＮ初参戦初勝利 村田夏南子下す". daily.co.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
9. "【パンクラス】村田夏南子 ７か月ぶりの試合で判定勝利も一本奪えず「悔いが残る」". excite.co.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
10. "【DEEP】村田夏南子と対戦の奈部ゆかり「私が逆に塩漬けにしてやる」＝計量". efight.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
11. "【DEEP79】べク・ヒョンジュと対戦──藤野恵実 「ストロー級で一番になるために戦っている」". mmaplanet.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
12. "【ＲＩＺＩＮ】村田夏南子 １年４カ月ぶりＲＩＺＩＮ復帰戦で１本勝ちも眼窩底骨折が判明". sponichi.co.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
13. "【RIZIN】マガーナが村田夏南子をSEXY挑発". efight.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
14. "【ＲＩＺＩＮ】村田夏南子 ３カ月ぶり復帰戦で進化！今後は米国参戦も視野". sponichi.co.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
15. "【RIZIN】村田夏南子が緊急参戦「全力で闘いたい」。全試合順が決定＝4月21日（日）「RIZIN.15」横浜". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
16. "【RIZIN】スクランブル参戦の村田夏南子が圧巻の失神一本勝ち". efight.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
17. Skytte, Mike (31 August 2018). "RIZIN's Kanako Murata signs with Invicta Fighting Championships". mmasucka.com. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
18. "村田夏南子、裸絞めで米格闘技団体デビュー戦白星". nikkansports.com. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
19. ^ "Invicta FC". twitter.com. Retrieved 9 August 2021. #InvictaFC35 Bonuses: POTN: Chelsea Chandler and Kanako Murata FOTN: Loma Lookboonmee and Monique Adriane
20. "【Invicta FC38】ストロー級王座決定戦、村田夏南子。「自信はない。でもコーチと仲間を信じている」". mmaplanet.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
21. "【INVICTA】日本人2人目の快挙！ 村田夏南子が目指す"金メダル"「泥臭い試合だったけど、自分が決めた道を全うしたい」". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
22. Anderson, Jay (5 July 2020). "RIZIN FF, Invicta FC Star Kanako Murata Signs with UFC". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
23. Raphael Marinho (2020-08-19). "UFC adds Livinha Souza vs Kanako Murata to event on November 14". sportv.globo.com. Retrieved 2020-08-19.(in Portuguese)
24. Neil Davidson (2020-11-03). "Canadians Randa Markos, Malcolm Gordon to fight on UFC cards this month in Las Vegas". newsoptimist.ca. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
25. Anderson, Jay (2020-11-14). "UFC Vegas 14 Results: Kanako Murata Victorious in Octagon Debut". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
26. Marcelo Barone (2021-03-03). "UFC sets fight between Virna Jandiroba and Kanako Murata for June 19". globoesporte.com (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-03-04.
27. Anderson, Jay (2021-06-19). "UFC Vegas 29 Results: Virna Jandiroba Mangles Kanako Murata's Arm, Earns TKO". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
28. Anderson, Jay (19 July 2023). "UFC: Vanessa Demopoulos Draws Returning Kanako Murata on October 7". Cageside Press. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
29. Anderson, Jay (2023-10-07). "UFC Vegas 80: Kanako Murata Ends Lengthy Layoff, Loses Decision to Vanessa Demopoulos". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
30. "Vanessa Demopoulos def. Kanako Murata :: UFC on ESPN+ 87 :: MMA Decisions". mmadecisions.com. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
31. "❌ Fighter removed: Kanako Murata". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-11-08.

External links

• Professional MMA record for Kanako Murata from Sherdog
• Kanako Murata at UFC

• 1993 births
• Living people
• Japanese female mixed martial artists
• Strawweight mixed martial artists
• Mixed martial artists utilizing judo
• Mixed martial artists utilizing freestyle wrestling
• Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu
• Japanese practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
• Female Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners
• Japanese female sport wrestlers
• Japanese female judoka
• Summer World University Games medalists in wrestling
• Sportspeople from Matsuyama, Ehime
• FISU World University Games bronze medalists for Japan
• Medalists at the 2013 Summer Universiade
• Asian Wrestling Championships medalists
• Ultimate Fighting Championship female fighters
• 21st-century Japanese sportswomen