39 Facts About Ayaka Hamasaki

Ayaka Hamasaki is a Japanese female mixed martial artist, judoka and submission grappler.

Ayaka Hamasaki has fought in MMA promotions Shooto, Jewels and Rizin in Japan, and Invicta FC in the United States.

Ayaka Hamasaki is the first Asian to win a North American premier MMA promotion title.

Ayaka Hamasaki was born on March 31,1982 in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.

Outside of fighting, Ayaka Hamasaki enjoys time with her dogs and going for walks.

Ayaka Hamasaki stopped practicing judo after finishing college and was working in an office.

Ayaka Hamasaki was introduced to the Abe Ani Combat Club by her friend and AACC member Rina Tomita, and although Hamasaki knew about MMA, she was unaware of women's MMA.

Ayaka Hamasaki won the tournament in the process and became the first Jewels Lightweight Queen Champion.

Ayaka Hamasaki was then set to face Jessica Aguilar at 12th Ring instead, but the event was cancelled after the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami earlier in the day.

Ayaka Hamasaki won the fight by TKO after the first round when Ham could not continue due to injury.

Ayaka Hamasaki won the fight by submission due to a kimura in the first round.

However, Cive was unable to secure a visa to compete and Ayaka Hamasaki faced Lacey Schuckman instead.

Ayaka Hamasaki defeated Schuckman by submission due to an armbar late in the third round.

Ayaka Hamasaki was expected to face Carla Esparza at Invicta FC 4 in January 2013.

However, Ayaka Hamasaki withdrew from the fight in order to defend her Jewels title.

Ayaka Hamasaki was defeated by TKO in the third round.

Ayaka Hamasaki made her first title defense against Amber Brown at Invicta FC 16: Ayaka Hamasaki vs Brown on March 11,2016.

Ayaka Hamasaki won the fight and retained the title via second-round doctor stoppage.

Ayaka Hamasaki then faced Livia Renata Souza in a strawweight bout at Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs Kunitskaya II on March 25,2017.

Later in 2017 Ayaka Hamasaki vacated her Invicta FC Atomweight title and subsequently signed with Rizin Fighting Federation.

Ayaka Hamasaki faced Kanna Asakura on December 21,2018 at Rizin 14 for the Rizin Super Atomweight Championship.

Ayaka Hamasaki won the bout and the championship in the second rout via armbar.

Ayaka Hamasaki defended her title for the first time against Invicta FC Atomweight Champion Jinh Yu Frey at Rizin 16: Kobe on June 2,2019.

Ayaka Hamasaki faced Suwanan Boonsorn in a non-title bout on August 18,2019 at RIZIN 18.

Ayaka Hamasaki won the bout easily via first round armbar.

Ayaka Hamasaki faced former Road FC Women's Atomweight Champion Seo Hee Ham at Rizin 20 on December 31,2019.

Ayaka Hamasaki lost the trilogy fight via split decision, losing the Rizin Women's Super Atomweight Champion in the process.

Ayaka Hamasaki next faced three time freestyle wrestling World Champion Miyuu Yamamoto on December 31,2020 for the vacant RIZIN Super Atomweight belt.

Ahead of her fight against Miyuu Yamamoto at RIZIN 26, Ayaka Hamasaki said the opportunity to fight someone as legendary in combat sports like Yamamoto was an honor.

Ayaka Hamasaki won the bout and reclaimed the championship via first-round submission.

Ayaka Hamasaki made her first title defense in a rematch against Kanna Asakura at Rizin 27 on March 21,2021.

Ayaka Hamasaki was scheduled to face Emi Fujino in a non-title bout on September 19,2021 at Rizin 30.

Ayaka Hamasaki faced the reigning Jewels Strawweight champion Seika Izawa in a non-title bout at Rizin 33 - Saitama on December 31,2021.

Ayaka Hamasaki suffered her first loss in two years, as Izawa won the bout by a second-round technical knockout.

Ayaka Hamasaki made her second Super Atomweight title defense against Seika Izawa at Rizin 35 on April 16,2022.

On July 7,2022, it was revealed that Ayaka Hamasaki would be one of eight participants in the 2022 Rizin Super Atomweight Grand Prix.

Ayaka Hamasaki faced the inaugural WSOF Women's Strawweight champion Jessica Aguilar in the tournament quarterfinals which were held at Rizin 37 - Saitama on July 31,2022.

Ayaka Hamasaki was booked to face Si Woo Park in the tournament semifinals at Rizin 38 on September 25,2022.

Ayaka Hamasaki was scheduled to face Claire Lopez at Rizin Landmark 8 on February 24,2024.