Tenshi Matsumoto

is a Japanese kickboxer, currently competing in the RISE promotion where he is the reigning Flyweight (-51.5 kg) Champion.

As of June 2025, he was the #8 ranked -53 kg kickboxer in the world by Beyond Kickboxing.

Kickboxing career Matsumoto faced the undefeated Yuga Hoshi in the semifinals of the 2021 Standup "King of the Rookie" tournament, held at Stand up Kickboxing vol.5 on October 24, 2021. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–27, 30—28 and 29–27. Matsumoto knocked his opponent down with a high kick in the second round, which took place shortly after a break due to an accidental clash of heads, which proved essential on two of the judges' scorecards. Matsumoto next faced the once-defeated Hyuga Umemoto in the tournament finals at Stand Up Kickboxing vol.7 on December 26, 2021. He lost the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges' awarding Hyuga a 28—26 scorecard. Matsumoto was twice knocked down: with a left straight to a right hook combination in the second round and a flurry of strikes near the end of the third round.

During an in-ring presentation held by the promotion of January 29, 2023, it was announced that Matsumoto would be one of four participants of the 2023 RISE "New Warriors" Warriors tournament, alongside Kuryu, Ryujin Nasukawa and Momu Tsukamoto, with Matsumoto stating during his in-ring presentation: "I don't think many people think I'll win this tournament, but I will definitely overcome the odds". Aside from the title, the winner would also be awarded 1 million yen in prize money. Tsukamoto faced Kuryu in the semifinals of the one-day tournament at RISE 166 "RISE 20th Memorial event", held on February 23, 2023. He won the fight by unanimous decision and advanced to the finals, where he faced Momu Tsukamoto. Matsumoto knocked his opponent down twice in the first 46 seconds of the final round, which resulted in an automatic technical knockout victory under the RISE tournament rules.

Matsumoto faced Futa Dangan at RISE 170 on July 30, 2023. He won the fight by a first-round knockout, flooring Dangan with a left cross 46 seconds into the fight. In his post-fight speech, Matsumoto stated: "...Tamaru has already been scheduled to fight, so I'd like to fight the number one ranked fighter Riku Kazushima". The promotion acquiesced and booked a fight between the pair, with the vacant RISE Flyweight (-51.5 kg) title on the line, for RISE 172 on October 29, 2023. Kazushima won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 49–48, 49—48 and 50–48.

Matsumoto, at the time the top-ranked RISE flyweight, faced the fourth-ranked Ryujin Nasukawa at RISE ELDORADO 2024 on March 17, 2024. He lost the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–28, 30—28 and 29–28.

Matsumoto faced JIN at RISE 181 on August 31, 2024. He won the fight by a first-round knockout. Matsumoto followed this victory up with a unanimous decision triumph over Reiya at RISE 184 on December 15, 2024, with three scorecards of 30–28 in his favor.

Matsumoto faced Riku Kazushima at RISE 186 on February 23, 2025, in a rematch of their RISE 172 bout. Kazushima once again won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–27, 30—26 and 28–27. Matsumoto was knocked down twice in the opening round.

Titles and accomplishments Kickboxing Professional RISE 2023 RISE New Warriors -51.5 kg Tournament Winner 2026 RISE Flyweight (-51.5 kg) Champion

Amateur 2018 Dageki Kakutougi Japan Cup -45 kg Runner-up 2019 TOP RUN -45 kg Champion 2019 Dageki Kakutougi Japan Cup -50 kg Runner-up 2019 RISE NOVA All Japan Championship Junior -50 kg Champion 2021 Dageki Kakutougi Japan Cup -55 kg Runner-up

Karate

2014 IBKO All Japan Championship Elementary School Winner 2016 IBKO Hokuriko Championship Elementary School Winner 2015 Seidokaikan All Japan Junior Championship -35 kg Winner 2015 Shiknyokushin All Japan Championship -35 kg Winner 2015 JKF All Japan Junior Elementary School Winner 2016 Shin Karate Japan Cup Elementary School -37 kg Runner-up 2x IBKO All Japan Championship Middle School Winner (2016, 2017) 2017 Shinkyokushin All Japan Championship Middle School 1st Year Lightweight Winner 2x Shin Karate All Japan K-4 Grand Prix Lightweight Champion (2016, 2017) 2017 WKO Nihonkai Cup Middle School First Year -50 kg Champion 2017 IKO Kitashinetsu Championship Middle School 1st Year Lightweight Winner 2018 Shin Karate K-3 Kyoto Tournament Middle School -45 kg Winner 2018 JKJO All Tokai Championship Middle School -50 kg Winner 2x Shin Karate All Japan K-3 Grand Prix Middle School Runner-up (2018, 2019)

Fight record

Amateur record 2021-03-20 Loss Rui Okubo Amateur Dageki Kakutougi Japan Cup 2021, Final Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2 2:00 2021-03-20 Win Ryoya Ito Amateur Dageki Kakutougi Japan Cup 2021, Semi Final Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 1 3:00 2021-03-20 Win Kohei Inomata Amateur Dageki Kakutougi Japan Cup 2021, Quarter Final Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 1 3:00 2021-03-07 Win Ryu Matsunaga Stand up Amateur in Tokyo vol.3 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2 2020-12-06 Win Hiroyuki Muroya Stand up Amateur in Kyoto vol.1 Kyoto, Japan KO 2020-11-23 Win Tsukasa Osafune NEXT LEVEL Kansai 68 Sakai, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2 1:30 2020-09-20 Win Tatsuto Kawatsuka NEXT LEVEL Chushikoku 38 Kurashiki, Japan TKO 1 2019-12-08 Win Jo Aizawa KAMINARIMON - All Japan Championship Tournament Final Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2019-12-08 Win Yuto Nomura KAMINARIMON - All Japan Championship Tournament Semi Final Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2019-12-08 Win Kiyoto Ohno KAMINARIMON - All Japan Championship Tournament Quarter Final Tokyo, Japan KO 1 2019-10-27 Loss Ryunosuke Saito Amateur Dageki Kakutougi Japan Cup 2019, Final Tokyo, Japan Ext.R Decision 2 1:30 2019-10-27 Win Shunsuke Amateur Dageki Kakutougi Japan Cup 2019, Semi Final Tokyo, Japan 2019-09-29 Win Towa Toyoda NEXT LEVEL Chushikoku 34 Kurashiki, Japan TKO 1 2019-08-04 Win Kiyoto Ohno KAMINARIMON Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2 2:00 2019-08-04 Win Hiroaki Obara KAMINARIMON Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2 2:00 2019-06-23 Win Hiroto Hayashi NJKF 2019 west 3rd Osaka, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 2:00 2019-04-29 Win Daiki Kobayashi NEXT LEVEL Kansai 55, Final Sakai, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2 2:00 2019-04-29 Win Toki Harada NEXT LEVEL Kansai 55, Semi Final Sakai, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2 2:00 2018-12-09 Win Shinnosuke Kotani NEXT LEVEL Kansai 52 Sakai, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2 2:00 2018-12-09 Win Atsuya Kinosada NEXT LEVEL Kansai 52 Sakai, Japan Decision (Majority) 2 2:00 2018-10-21 Loss Ryunosuke Saito Amateur Dageki Kakutougi Japan Cup 2018, Final Tokyo, Japan Ext.R Decision 2 1:30 2018-10-21 Win Hiroaki Obara Amateur Dageki Kakutougi Japan Cup 2018, Semi Final Tokyo, Japan Legend: