Kanna Asakura

Kanna Asakura (; born October 12, 1997, in Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan) is a female Japanese retired mixed martial artist. She competed in the Atomweight (106 lb) division and completed with the Rizin Fighting Federation. She is the #6 ranked Atomweight in the world according to Sherdog and #6 Atomweight according to Fight Matrix.

Background Due to her father's influence, she started wrestling from the age of 5 and belonged to "Tokyo Gold Kids" from the upper grades of elementary school. Asakura won first at the 2011 Klippan Ladies International Wrestling Tournament in the cadet division for 38 kg and in the first year of high school, she achieved a brilliant record of 3rd place in the 46 kg class of the National High School Championships.

She quit wrestling at 16, she re-entered high school, and while thinking about what to do with her future, saw footage of shoot boxing and shoot wrestling bouts. Seeing an avenue to make use of her wrestling and the Jiu Jitsu she was learning, she started mixed martial arts.

Mixed martial arts career

Asakura made her professional mixed martial arts debut on October 4, 2014, at the age of 17 when she faced Naomi Okaki at Vale Tudo Japan 6 and won by unanimous decision. Following this, Asakura compiled a professional record of 9–2, with wins over Yasuko Tamada and Saori Ishioka, before signing with the Rizin Fighting Federation to join their Super Bantamweight World Grand Prix Tournament in December 2017.

Rizin FF Super Atomweight Grand Prix Victorious in the quarterfinals and semifinals, Asakura advanced to the finals, then competing in front of 18,316 fans in what was arguably the biggest women’s title fight in Japanese MMA history, choked out Shoot Boxing superstar Rena Kubota to become the Super Atomweight Grand Prix winner.

On May 6, 2018, Kanna Asakura faced Melissa Sophia Karagianis at Rizin 10. She won the fight via three round unanimous decision extending her win streak to 7. After the fight Rena Kubota entered the ring and challenged her to a rematch. Soon after the fight was made official, and scheduled to take place on July 29, 2018, at Rizin 11 in Saitama, Japan. Despite several improvements from Rena, Asakura used her relentless pressure to win the bout by unanimous decision.

First title shot Asakura faced Ayaka Hamasaki on December 21, 2018, at Rizin 14 for the inaugural Rizin Super Atomweight Championship. She lost the bout in the second rout via armbar.

On March 9, 2019, she faced against DEEP JEWELS Atomweight champion Tomo Maesawa in a non-title bout at Deep Jewels 23 and won via a unanimous decision.

On June 2, 2019, Asakura faced Miyuu Yamamoto at Rizin 16. She lost the bout via unanimous decision.

On August 18, 2019, Kanna faced future Invicta FC Atomweight Champion Alesha Zappitella at RIZIN 18 and won a split unanimous decision.

On December 29, 2019, Kanna faced Jamie Hinshaw at Bellator 237/Bellator Japan and won via a third round armbar.

On August 9, 2020, she faced Mizuki Furuse at Rizin 22 and won via TKO by pounding.

On December 31, 2020, Kanna faced Ai Shimizu at Rizin 26, winning the bout via unanimous decision.

Second title shot Asakura faced Ayaka Hamasaki in a rematch for the Rizin Super Atomweight Championship at Rizin 27 on March 21, 2021. She lost a close bout via split decision.

Asakura faced the reigning Jewels atomweight and DEEP Microweight champion Saori Oshima at Rizin 31 - Yokohama on October 24, 2021. She lost the bout via split decision.

Asakura faced the Shooto Super Atomweight champion Satomi Takano on April 17, 2022, at Rizin 35. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Super Atomweight Grand Prix 2022 Asakura faced Si Woo Park in the quarterfinal bout of the Rizin Super Atomweight Grand Prix at Rizin 37 - Saitama on July 31, 2022. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Asakura faced the Mei Yamaguchi at Rizin Landmark 5 on April 29, 2023, winning the fight by unanimous decision.

Asakura faced Rizin Super Atomweight Champion Seika Izawa in a non-title bout at Rizin 48 on September 29, 2024. She lost the fight by unanimous decision. Asakura left her gloves in the ring following the bout signaling her retirement from mixed martial arts competition.

Personal life

After her bout at Rizin 11, Asakura was seen hugging kickboxing superstar Tenshin Nasukawa, fuelling further speculation that they may be in a relationship. They later confirmed that they were dating. They broke up at the end of 2019 after photos of Tenshin being physical with Rizin ring girl, Hakase Mai, leaked online.

She also has a Youtube channel with 100K subscribers and 15 million views.

Championships and accomplishments Rizin Fighting Federation Rizin Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix Winner Tied (with Yuki Motoya) for most bouts in Rizin FF promotional history (17) MMA Sucka 2017 Best Non-UFC Breakout Star

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Seika Izawa Decision (unanimous) Rizin 48

Saitama, Japan Win

Mei Yamaguchi Decision (unanimous) Rizin Landmark 5

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Si Woo Park Decision (unanimous) Rizin 37

Saitama, Japan Win

Satomi Takano Decision (unanimous) Rizin 35

Chōfu, Japan Loss

Saori Oshima Decision (split) Rizin 31

Yokohama, Japan Loss

Ayaka Hamasaki Decision (split) Rizin 27

Nagoya, Japan Win

Ai Shimizu Decision (unanimous) Rizin 26

Saitama, Japan Win

Mizuki Furuse TKO (punches) Rizin 22

Yokohama, Japan Win

Jayme Hinshaw Submission (kimura) Bellator 237

Saitama, Japan Win

Alesha Zappitella Decision (split) Rizin 18

Nagoya, Japan Loss

Miyuu Yamamoto Decision (unanimous) Rizin 16

Kobe, Japan Win

Tomo Maesawa Decision (unanimous) Deep Jewels 23

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Ayaka Hamasaki Submission (armbar) Rizin 14

Saitama, Japan Win

Rena Kubota Decision (unanimous) Rizin 11

Saitama, Japan Win

Melissa Sophia Karagianis Decision (unanimous) Rizin 10

Fukuoka, Japan Win

Rena Kubota Technical Submission (rear-naked choke)

Win

Maria de Oliveira Neta Submission (armbar)

Win

Sylwia Juśkiewicz Decision (unanimous) Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: Opening Round - Part 2

Fukuoka, Japan Win

Saori Ishioka Decision (unanimous) Deep Jewels 17

Tokyo, Japan Win

Aleksandra Toncheva Plamenova Decision (unanimous) Rizin 2017 in Yokohama: Sakura

Yokohama, Japan Win

Natsuki Shimomakise Submission (rear-naked choke) Deep Jewels 15

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Alyssa Garcia Decision (unanimous) Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 2nd Round

Saitama, Japan Win

Yoon Ha Hong Decision (unanimous) Deep Jewels 13

Tokyo, Japan Win

Mikiko Hiyama Submission (rear naked choke) Shooto: Professional Shooto 7/17

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Syuri Kondo Decision (unanimous) Pancrase 277

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yasuko Tamada Decision (unanimous) Vale Tudo Japan: VTJ 7th

Tokyo, Japan Win

Miyuki Furusawa Submission (rear naked choke) Vale Tudo Japan: VTJ in Osaka

Tokyo, Japan Win

Naomi Okaki Decision (unanimous) Vale Tudo Japan: VTJ 6th

Ōta, Tokyo, Japan

Amateur mixed martial arts record Win

Mikiko Hiyama Submission (Rear naked choke) Shooto / STF - Hardball

Nagano, Japan