Sumiko Inaba (born February 6, 1991) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Women's Flyweight division of the Bellator MMA.
| Sumiko Inaba | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 6, 1991 Pukalani, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Other names | Lady Samurai |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) |
| Weight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8 st 13 lb) |
| Division | Flyweight |
| Reach | 64.0 in (163 cm) |
| Fighting out of | Hawaii, U.S. |
| Team | Fly Pen Boxing Maui |
| Years active | 2020–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 7 |
| Wins | 6 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Losses | 1 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Background edit
After graduating King Kekaulike High School, Inaba studied nursing before she discovered mixed martial arts while attending boxing classes to get into shape.
She has a daughter, Kiyarah-Lei, who was born around 2009.[1][2]
Mixed martial arts career edit
Early career edit
She went 6-1 as an amateur, including four TKOs and one submission. After the pandemic put her career in the travel industry on hiatus, she put her full-time efforts into training. She decided to go professional in 2020 and landed an endorsement with Hilo-based Waiakea Water Company.[3][4]
Bellator MMA edit
After a successful amateur career, Inaba signed with Bellator MMA.[5]
She made her professional MMA debut against Jessica Ruiz on November 5, 2020, at Bellator 251.[6]
In her sophomore performance, Inaba faced Kristina Katsikis on May 21, 2021, at Bellator 259.[7] She won the bout via third-round TKO.[8]
Inaba faced Randi Field on October 16, 2021, at Bellator 268. She won the bout via arm-triangle choke in the second round.[9][10]
Inaba faced Whittany Pyles on April 23, 2022, at Bellator 279.[11] At the weigh-ins, Pyles missed weight for her bout, weighing in at 127.4 pounds, 1.4 pounds over the flyweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Pyles was fined a percentage of her purse, which went to Inaba.[12] Inaba knocked out her opponent with a left hook in the first round.[13]
Inaba faced Nadine Mandiau on October 1, 2022, at Bellator 286.[14] She won the bout after grinding out a unanimous decision.[15]
Inaba faced Veta Arteaga on April 22, 2023, at Bellator 295.[16] She won the bout via unanimous decision.[17]
Inaba faced Denise Kielholtz on November 17, 2023, at Bellator 301.[18] In a bout contested mostly on the feet, Kielholtz maintained the advantage and won the bout via unanimous decision.[19]
Inaba was scheduled to Kaytlin Neil on April 4, 2024 at PFL 1.[20] However, a week before the event it was announced that Inaba had pulled out.[21]
Mixed martial arts record edit
| 7 matches | 6 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 3 | 0 |
| By submission | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 2 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 6–1 | Denise Kielholtz | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 301 | November 17, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Veta Arteaga | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 295 | April 22, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Nadine Mandiau | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 286 | October 1, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Long Beach, California, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Whittany Pyles | KO (punches) | Bellator 279 | April 23, 2022 | 1 | 1:22 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | Catchweight (127.4 lb) bout; Pyles missed weight. |
| Win | 3–0 | Randi Field | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Bellator 268 | October 16, 2021 | 2 | 2:02 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Kristina Katsikis | TKO (punches) | Bellator 259 | May 21, 2021 | 3 | 3:35 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Jessica Ruiz | TKO (elbows) | Bellator 251 | November 5, 2020 | 1 | 4:59 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States |
| Amateur record breakdown | ||
| 7 matches | 6 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 4 | 0 |
| By submission | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 6–1 | Kelsey Gilmore | TKO (punches) | Cowboy Fight Series 2 | June 29, 2019 | 3 | 0:57 | Sterling, Virginia, United States | Won the vacant CFS Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 5–1 | Nadine Mandiau | TKO (punches) | Tuff-N-Uff: Fight Night Henderson | October 5, 2018 | 1 | 1:05 | Henderson, Nevada, United States | Won the TUFF Strawweight Championship. |
| Win | 4–1 | Tenika Waldroup | Submission (armbar) | Tuff-N-Uff: Pack The Mack | June 30, 2018 | 2 | 2:03 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Won the TUFF Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 3–1 | Brianne Jhun | Decision (unanimous) | War on the Valley Isle 6 | November 11, 2017 | 3 | 3:00 | Wailuku, Hawaii, United States | Won the SBC Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 2–1 | Des Vida | TKO (punches) | War on the Valley Isle 5 | November 12, 2016 | 2 | 2:31 | Wailuku, Hawaii, United States | |
| Loss | 1–1 | Kendra Elizabeth Linn | Decision (majority) | Maui FC 6 | March 26, 2016 | 3 | 3:00 | Maui, Hawaii, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Katherine Antoniak | TKO (punches) | War on the Valley Isle 3 | November 8, 2014 | 2 | 1:49 | Kahului, Hawaii, United States |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Major motivation: Inaba fights with daughter in mind". mauinews.com. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
- ^ "Sumiko Inaba: The Lady Samurai | MauiTimes.News". mauitimes.news. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
- ^ "Two wins in two fights, Inaba hungry for more". mauinews.com. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
- ^ "Coming off victorious pro debut, Inaba ready to keep on fighting". mauinews.com. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
- ^ "Report: Bellator MMA Signs Sumiko Inaba | Fightful News". www.fightful.com. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
- ^ "Sumiko Inaba out to shows she's an MMA fighter in pro debut at Bellator 251 | MMAWeekly.com". 2020-11-05. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
- ^ McDonagh, Joe (2021-05-10). "Bellator 259 Adds Hawaiian Sensation Sumiko Inaba vs. Kristina Katsikis". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
- ^ "Maui's Sumiko Inaba scores TKO victory over Kristina Katsikis at Bellator 259". KHON2. 2021-05-21. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
- ^ "Sumiko Inaba elated after Bellator 268 submission win: 'That was great'". MMA Junkie. 2021-10-17. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
- ^ "Sumiko Inaba elated after Bellator 268 submission win: 'That was great'". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (2022-04-06). "Sumiko Inaba Puts Undefeated Record on the Line at Bellator 279". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
- ^ "Bellator 279 weigh-in results: Title bout competitors on point, but one prelim fighter misses her mark". MMA Junkie. 2022-04-22. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
- ^ Newswire, MMA Fighting (2022-04-23). "Bellator 279 Results: Cyborg vs. Blencowe 2". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
- ^ King, Nolan (2022-08-24). "Rising prospect Sumiko Inaba set to return at Bellator 286". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
- ^ Samano, Simon (2022-10-02). "Bellator 286 results: Sumiko Inaba pushed by Nadine Mandiau, grinds out unanimous decision win". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
- ^ Heck, Mike (2023-02-15). "Bellator returns to Hawaii with doubleheader, Raufeon Stots vs. Patchy Mix and Liz Carmouche vs. DeAnna Bennett title fights". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- ^ "Bellator 295 'Stots vs. Mix' Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring". Sherdog. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
- ^ "Bellator 301 set for Chicago: 2 title fights, including Sergio Pettis vs. Patchy Mix, grand prix semifinal, grudge rematch". MMA Junkie. 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
- ^ "Maui's Sumiko Inaba suffers first career loss at Bellator 301". KHON2. 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
- ^ Cruz, Guilherme (2024-03-11). "PFL announces full line-ups for first 3 season events, 8 ex-Bellator champions debut". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ "Cappelozza removed from PFL card on April 4". ESPN.com. 2024-03-26. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ "Sumiko Inaba". Sherdog. Retrieved 2020-08-07.