Next Cinderellas Head To Finals, Fujii Shines in Grappling
Continue Reading July 23rd, 2006
In the last three years, Abe Ani Combt Club’s Megumi Fujii has established herself as the one of the foremost stars in women’s MMA. What’s more is that her star has, for the most part, risen outside of the top promotion for women’s MMA, Smackgirl. Now, in only her third appeareance in Smackgirl, she’s proven yet again that its completely credible to speak of her in the same breath as top veterans such as Yuka Tsuji, Tara Larosa, and Satoko Shinashi. Fujii dominated the -53kg division of the 2006 Smackgirl Grappling Queen Tournament in a combined time of only 50 seconds!
Her first bout was the semifinal against Wajyutsu Keisyukai RJW’s Akiko Naito, whom she quickly dispatched in 30 seconds after catching Naito on a front choke. In the final round she faced Emi Tomimatsu of Paraestra Matsudo, home of former Shooto Featherweight Champion Ryota Matsune and 2005 Shooto Lightweight Rookie Tournament Finalist Yutaka Nishioka. Tomimatsu quickly fell victim to the strength of Fujii’s reknowned double-leg takedown, which was quickly followed through with an ankle lock that ended in the bout in 20 seconds.
Other results of note were 2005 Smackgirl Next Cinderella Middleweight Finalist Takayo Hashii of Wajyutsu Keisyukai Tokyo winning the Openweight division while yet again coming up short against arch-rival and 2005 Next Cinderella Middleweight Champion Hitomi Akano, also of AACC, in the finals of the -58kg division. Wajyutsu Keisyukai A-3’s Eri Kanetari defeated Ikuko Tamada to take the 48 kilogram division.
In the two Next Cinderella bouts on the card acting as superfights prior to the final round of the grappling tournament, ground specialist KM-MAKI defeated Mitsuki to advance to the flyweight finals while Kaneko Takeshita defeated takedown artist Kazu Moroboshi to advance to the finals of the Middleweight tournament.
Smackgirl and Upper Life Present Smackgirl: Grappling Queen Tournament 2006
July 23, 2006
Gold Gym South Tokyo Annex
Tokyo, Japan
Official Results:
Smackgirl 2006 Flyweight Grappling Queen Tournament
Finals
Eri Kanetari (Wajyutsu Keisyukai A-3) defeated Ikuko Tamada (Abe Ani Combat Club) by points (4-2).
Third Place Bout
Miyuki Shibuya (Triforce) defeated Naoko Omuro (Wajyutsu Keisyukai Tokyo Headquarters).
Smackgirl 2006 Lightweight Grappling Queen Tournament
Finals
Megumi Fujii (Abe Ani Combat Club) defeated Emi Tomimatsu (Paraestra Matsudo) by submission via ankle Lock at :20.
Third Place Bout
Megumi Takekazu (Wajyutsu Keisyukai Tokyo Headquarters) defeated Akiko Naito (Wajyutsu Keisyukai RJW) by submission via Kimura lock at 2:14
Smackgirl 2006 Middleweight Grappling Queen Tournament
Finals
Hitomi Akano (Abe Ani Combat Club) defeated Takayo Hashii (Wajyutsu Keisyukai Tokyo Headquarters) by submission via rmbar at 4:30
Third Place Bout
Motoko Ninomiya (NASCER DO SOL) defeated Rin Nakai (Paraestra Ehime) by advantage.
Smackgirl 2006 Openweight Grappling Queen Tournament
Finals
Takayo Hashii (Wajyutsu Keisyukai Tokyo Headquarters) defeated Keiko Hattori (ALIVE) on points (2-0).
Third Place Bout
Roxanne Modafferi (Wajyutsu Keisyukai Tokyo) defeated Felicia Oh (1oth Planet Jiu-Jitsu).
Smackgirl 2006 Next Cinderella Tournament Flyweight Semifinal
48 KG, 2R 5M
KM-MAKI (Rise Fight Club) defeated MITSUKI (Dragon Gym) by submission via armbar at 1:50 of the second round.
Smackgirl 2006 Next Cinderella Tournament Middleweight Semifinal
58 KG, 2R 5M
Kanako Takeshita (Wajyutsu Keisyukai Tokyo Headquarters) defeated Kazu Moroboshi (Harajuku Dojo) by submission via armbar at 5:00 of the first round.
In their ongoing quest to become Blazers East, the Cincinnati Bengals have seen another member of their football team get arrested. And DT Matthias Askew has done it in grand style, somehow managing to get tasered after a parking violation. I am applauding politely.
