Chihiro Sawada

is a Japanese mixed martial artist and former wrestler, competing in the atomweight divisions of Shooto, Combate Global and ONE Championship. She is a former Shooto Women's Atomweight champion.

Mixed martial arts career Shooto Early career Sawada transitioned to the sport of mixed martial arts in 2021, following a successful amateur wrestling career, the standouts of which included a silver medal at the 2019 All Japan Adult Championship and a silver medal at the 2017 Asian Junior Championship.

Shooto Infinity League It was announced on October 17, 2021, that Sawada would be one of four participants in the 2022 Shooto Atomweight Infinity League, which held to crown the inaugural Shooto Women's Atomweight champion. Each fighter earned a set number of points after each bout under the rules of the tournament, depending on whether the contest ended in a decision or stoppage victory or in a draw, with each fighter facing every other.

Sawada faced Miku Nakamura at Professional Shooto 2021 Vol. 7 on November 6, 2021, in the opening round of the tournament. She won the fight by majority decision, with two judges having scored the bout 20–18 in her favor, while the third judge had it scored as an even 19–19 draw. The victory earned her two points and a joint top place in the league standings.

Sawada faced the tournament favorite Hisae Watanabe at Professional Shooto 2022 Vol. 3 on May 22, 2022. She won the fight by a second-round submission. Sawada first knocked Watanabe down with a right overhand, before advancing to back mount and forcing her opponent to tap to a rear-naked choke. She earned an additional three points for the stoppage victory and the top place in the league standings.

Sawada was expected to face Haruna Kato at Professional Shooto 2022 Vol. 6 on September 19, 2022. Kato was forced to withdraw with vestibular disorder and paroxysmal positional vertigo. Although the fight was scrapped, Sawada was nonetheless awarded the full three points, bringing her to a total of eight, twice as much as the second-placed contestants had.

Sawada faced Yuki Ono at Professional Shooto 2022 Vol. 7 on November 27, 2022. She won the fight by majority decision, with scores of 20–18, 20–18 and 20–17. With ten total points, Sawada won the Infinity League tournament, as well as the inaugural Shooto Women's Atomeweight Championship.

ONE/Combate Sawada made her ONE Championship debut against Sanaz Fayazmanesh at ONE Friday Fights 5 on February 17, 2023, in what was also her strawweight debut. She won the fight by a second-round submission. Fayazmanesh was forced to tap to an Americana 53 seconds into the penultimate round.

Sawada faced Ana Palacios at Combate Global: Mexico vs. Japan on May 13, 2023. She won the fight by unanimous decision. Following this victory, Sawada was ranked as the tenth best atomweight mixed martial artist in the world by Fight Matrix.

Sawada made her first Shooto Women's Atomweight Championship defense against Miku Nakamura at Shooto Colors Vol.2 on December 2, 2023. She won the fight by a first-round submission.

Sawada faced Jihin Radzuan on March 9, 2024, at ONE Fight Night 20. At weigh-ins, Radzuan missed weight, she weigh in at 120 pounds, 5 pounds over the atomweight limit and failed hydration, while Sawada failed hydration, with their bout was negotiated at a catchweight. Sawada won the fight by unanimous decision.

Sawada faced Noelle Grandjean at ONE Fight Night 22 on May 4, 2024. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Sawada faced Meng Bo on January 11, 2025, at ONE Fight Night 27. She lost the fight by unanimous decision, suffering her first professional defeat.

Sawada faced Macarena Aragon at ONE Fight Night 33 on July 12, 2025. Aragon failed to make weight at the official weigh-ins, as she weighed in 2.25 lbs over the agreed upon limit. Sawada won the fight by a first-round submission.

Sawada faced Itsuki Hirata at ONE 173 on November 16, 2025, after stepping in for an injured Ritu Phogat. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Sawada faced Natalie Salcedo at ONE Fight Night 39 on January 24, 2026. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Championships and accomplishments Freestyle wrestling

2010 National Junior High School Championship (41 kg) 2012 Junior Queen's Cup (Junior High School Division) (44 kg) 2014 Junior Queen's Cup (Cadet) (46 kg) Inter Highchool Wrestling Championships (46 kg) All Japan Women's Open Championship (46 kg) 2015 Junior Queen's Cup (Junior) (44 kg) Junior Olympic Cup (44 kg) Asian Junior Championship (44 kg) Inter Highchool Wrestling Championships (46 kg) 2016 Junior Queen's Cup (Junior) (48 kg) Junior Olympic Cup (48 kg) East Japan Student Women's Championship (48 kg) All Japan Student Championship (48 kg) All Japan Women's Open Championship (Senior) (48 kg) 2017 Junior Queen's Cup (Junior) (48 kg) Junior Olympic Cup (48 kg) Asian Junior Championship (48 kg) East Japan Student Women's Championship (48 kg) All Japan Student Championship (48 kg) All Japan Women's Open Championship (Senior) (48 kg) 2018 East Japan Student Women's Championship (50 kg) All Japan Amateur Championship (50 kg) All Japan Student Championship (50 kg) All Japan Women's Open Championship (Senior) (50 kg) 2019 All Japan Adult Championship (50 kg) All Japan Student Championship (50 kg)

Mixed martial arts Shooto Shooto Women's Atomeweight Championship One successful title defense 2022 Shooto Atomweight Infinity League Winner

Mixed martial arts record Win

Ayaka Miura Submission (armbar) ONE Samurai 1

Tokyo, Japan Win

Natalie Salcedo Decision (unanimous) ONE Fight Night 39

Bangkok, Thailand Win

Itsuki Hirata Decision (unanimous) ONE 173

Tokyo, Japan Win

Macarena Aragon Submission (armbar) ONE Fight Night 33

Bangkok, Thailand Loss

Meng Bo Decision (unanimous) ONE Fight Night 27

Bangkok, Thailand Win

Noelle Grandjean Decision (unanimous) ONE Fight Night 22

Bangkok, Thailand Win

Jihin Radzuan Decision (unanimous) ONE Fight Night 20

Bangkok, Thailand Win

Miku Nakamura Technical Submission (armbar) Shooto Colors Vol.2

Tokyo, Japan Win

Ana Palacios Decision (unanimous) Combate Global: Mexico vs. Japan

Miami, Florida, United States Win

Sanaz Fayazmanesh Submission (keylock) ONE Friday Fights 5

Bangkok, Thailand Win

Yuki Ono Decision (unanimous) Professional Shooto 2022 Vol. 7

Tokyo, Japan Win

Hisae Watanabe Submission (rear-naked choke) Professional Shooto 2022 Vol. 3

Tokyo, Japan Win

Miku Nakamura Decision (majority) Professional Shooto 2021 Vol. 7

Tokyo, Japan Draw

Yuki Ono Draw (unanimous) Professional Shooto 2021 Vol. 3

Tokyo, Japan