DEEP-JEWELS has announced Wednesday an eight woman grand prix that will start February 21 to crown a new 106 champion. The title was vacated by Seo Hee Ham when she signed to the UFC late last year.
Among the announced participants are former Valkyrie champion and veteran fighter Mei Yamaguchi (12-8); and the former interim D-J 115 champion Emi Tomimatsu (8-9). Tomimatsu will be making her atomweight debut in the tournament.
Also slated to take part in the tournament: Tomo Maesawa (4-4), Ayaka Miura (1-1), Satomi Takano (4-5), Mina Kurobe (4-0), Yukiko Seki (13-24), and Masako Yoshida (18-20). A reserve bout has also been announced between Miyoko Kusaka (5-8) and Miki Araki (nee Pan Hui) (1-0).
Conspicuous by their absences are former 106 champion Naho Sugiyama and current #2 Unified ranked atomweight Ayaka Hamasaki. Hamasaki’s non-participation fuels speculation she will be fighting on the next InvictaFC card; if not in a title match, a match that would be a title eliminator. Sugiyama has also fought under the Invicta banner and could see action as well.
We will have complete coverage of the pairings and the event in the coming weeks.
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