Miku Matsumoto

, born June 26, 1981, is a female Japanese mixed martial artist. She retired as the DEEP Women's Lightweight (106-Pound) Champion in 2010.

Growing up, Matsumoto studied piano and penmanship and was not interested in sports. She began training in MMA as a part-time job to kill time and save money after studying overseas but went on to become one of the most successful female mixed martial artists in the world.

On February 28, 2010 at DEEP: 46th Impact, Matsumoto confirmed weeks of speculation by announcing that she would be retiring from mixed martial arts. She officially retired following an exhibition match with Megumi Fujii at DEEP: 47th Impact on April 17, 2010. but avenged the loss in a rematch one month later on August 26.

Matsumoto became the number one contender in DEEP after back-to-back wins over Seo Hee Ham and Misaki Takimoto in their third meeting.

She captured the DEEP Women's Lightweight Championship by defeating Hisae Watanabe at DEEP: 31st Impact on August 5, 2007.

On June 28, 2009, Matsumoto avenged the final unavenged loss on her record by defeating Lisa Ellis, who had previously defeated Matsumoto in September 2006 by submitting her with an armlock in the third round. Matsumoto counts the rematch with Ellis as the most influential fight of her career.

Retirement On February 28, 2010, Matsumoto announced her retirement from mixed martial arts in front of a shocked audience at DEEP: 46th Impact in Tokyo, Japan. and does not plan to remain involved with MMA training or coaching in the near future.

Matsumoto engaged in a five-minute exhibition match with friend and fellow fighter Megumi Fujii at DEEP: 47th Impact on April 17, 2010. A retirement ceremony was held for Matsumoto following the match.

At the time of her retirement, Matsumoto was the #3-ranked pound-for-pound female MMA fighter in the world by MMARising.com and the #2-ranked female flyweight according to the Unified Women's MMA Rankings.

Mixed martial arts record Win

Tomomi Sunaba Decision (unanimous) Deep: 44 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Lisa Ellis Submission (armbar) Deep: Toyama Impact

Toyama, Japan Defended Deep Women's Lightweight Title Win

Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc TKO (knees to the body) Deep: 41 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Win

Hikaru Shinohara Submission (armbar) Deep: Protect Impact 2008

Tokyo, Japan Win

Misaki Takimoto TKO (kicks to the body) Deep: 37 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Defended Deep Women's Lightweight Title Win

Waenthong Sakrungreong Technical Submission (armbar) Deep: Protect Impact 2007

Osaka, Japan Win

Yukiko Seki Submission (kimura) Deep: clubDeep Kanazawa

Ishikawa, Japan Win

Masako Yoshida Submission (armbar) Deep: clubDeep Sendai

Miyagi, Japan Win

Hisae Watanabe Decision (majority) Deep: 31 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Won Deep Women's Lightweight Title Win

Misaki Takimoto Submission (armbar) Deep: Oyaji Deep

Tokyo, Japan Win

Seo Hee Ham Submission (triangle choke) Deep: clubDeep Toyama: Barbarian Festival 6

Toyama, Japan Win

Seri Saito Submission (armbar) Deep: clubDeep Toyama: Barbarian Festival 5

Toyama, Japan Loss

Lisa Ellis Submission (scarf hold armlock) Smackgirl - Women Hold Their Ground

Tokyo, Japan Win

Carina Damm Decision (unanimous) MARS 4 - New Deal

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Carina Damm Technical Submission (armbar) MARS - MARS Attack 1

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yayoi Okubo Submission (armbar) Deep: clubDeep Toyama: Barbarian Festival 4

Toyama, Japan Win

Yuki Furudate Submission (rear naked choke) Deep: 23 Impact

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Misaki Takimoto Submission (armbar) G-Shooto: G-Shooto 03

Tokyo, Japan Win

Kazumi Kaneko TKO (punches) Deep: clubDeep Toyama: Barbarian Festival 3

Toyama, Japan Win

Akiko Inoue Decision (unanimous) G-Shooto: Plus03

Tokyo, Japan Win

Ikuma Shibata Submission (armbar) W-FACE

Tokyo, Japan Win

Hikaru Shinohara Submission (armbar) Deep: clubDeep Toyama: Barbarian Festival 2

Toyama, Japan Win

Izumi Noguchi Decision (unanimous) G-Shooto: G-Shooto 02

Tokyo, Japan Win

Yoko Hattori Submission (armbar) HEAT 1

Aichi, Japan Win

Chihiro Takahashi Submission (armbar) G-Shooto: G-Shooto 01

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Misaki Takimoto Submission (armbar) Deep: clubDeep Toyama: Barbarian Festival 1

Toyama, Japan Win

Eri Ishiyama Decision (unanimous) Cage Force - Cross Section 2

Tokyo, Japan Championships DEEP Women's Lightweight Champion