Kanako Murata
Japanese wrestler and mixed martial artist
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Kanako Murata (村田 夏南子, born August 10, 1993) is a Japanese mixed martial artist and former wrestler, who competes in the Strawweight division. A professional mixed martial artist since 2016, Murata has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Rizin Fighting Federation and Invicta FC where she is a former Invicta FC Strawweight Champion.
Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan
| Kanako Murata | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | August 10, 1993 Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Native name | 村田夏南子 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 156 cm (5 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 115 lb (52 kg; 8 st 3 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Division | Strawweight Flyweight | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Style | Wrestling, Judo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stance | Southpaw | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fighting out of | Dublin, California, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | Combat Sports Academy (2019–present)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trainer | Kazunori Yokota | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | Purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years active | 2016–present (MMA) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By submission | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By decision | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Losses | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By submission | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By decision | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Background
Murata was born and raised in Matsuyama, Japan.[1] The granddaughter of a judo dojo master, Murata started training judo at the age of three.[1] She was a national champion in judo in her high school years.[1] After judo, she transitioned to freestyle wrestling in which she won Junior World Championship in 2011.[1]
Mixed martial arts career
Rizin Fighting Federation
Murata was scheduled to make her professional debut against Natalya Denisova at Rizin 1 on April 17, 2016.[2] She won the fight by unanimous decision.[3]
Murata made her flyweight debut against Maia Kahaunaele-Stevenson at KOTC: Firefight on June 4, 2016. She won the fight by a third-round technical knockout.
Murata remained at flyweight for her next fight with Ilona Wijmans at Shoot Box Girls S-Cup 2016 on July 7, 2016.[4] She won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.[5]
Murata was scheduled to face Kyra Batara in a strawweight bout at Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 1st Round on September 26, 2016. She won the fight by unanimous decision.[6]
Murata was scheduled to face Rin Nakai in a flyweight bout at Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 2nd Round on December 29, 2016.[7] Murata suffered her first professional loss, tapping to a rear-naked choke in the third round.[8]
Murata was scheduled to face Claire Fryer in a strawweight bout at Pancrase 288 on July 2, 2017. She won the fight by unanimous decision.[9]
Murata was scheduled to face Yukari Nabe in a flyweight bout at DEEP 79 Impact on September 16, 2017.[10] She won the fight by unanimous decision.[11]
Murata remained at flyweight for her next fight, against Lanchana Green at Rizin 10 on May 6, 2018. She won the fight by a first-round anaconda choke submission.[12]
Murata was scheduled to face Angela Magana at Rizin 12 on August 12, 2018.[13] She won the fight by a first-round submission.[14]
Murata made her last appearance with Rizin against Saray Orozco at Rizin 15 on April 21, 2019. Murata was originally scheduled to face Shinju Nozawa-Auclair, before Nozawa-Auclair withdrew due to a ligament injury.[15] She won the fight by her second career, and second consecutive, Von Flue choke submission.[16]
Invicta
It was announced on August 30, 2018, that Murata had signed with Invicta FC, and would compete in their strawweight division.[17]
Murata was scheduled to make her promotional debut with Invicta, almost a year after signing with them, against Liana Pirosin at Invicta FC 35: Bennett vs. Rodriguez II on June 7, 2019. She won the fight by a first-round rear-naked choke submission.[18] This fight earned her a "Performance of the Night" award.[19]
Murata was scheduled to fight Emily Ducote for the vacant Invicta FC Strawweight Championship at Invicta FC 38: Murata vs. Ducote on November 1, 2019.[20] She won the fight by split decision.[21]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Murata announced on July 5, 2020, that she had signed with the UFC.[22]
Murata was expected to face Lívia Renata Souza on November 14, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos.[23] However, Souza pulled out in early November due to an undisclosed injury and was replaced by Randa Markos.[24] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[25]
Murata faced Virna Jandiroba on June 19, 2021 at UFC on ESPN 25.[26] She lost the fight via doctor stoppage after round 2 due to a elbow dislocation caused by an armbar applied by Jandiroba.[27]
After a two-year layoff, Murata faced Vanessa Demopoulos on October 7, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 229.[28] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[29] 13 out of 14 media outlets scored the bout as a win for Murata.[30]
On November 7, 2023 it was announced that Murata was no longer with the UFC.[31]
Championships and accomplishments
- Invicta Fighting Championships
- Invicta FC Strawweight Championship (One time, former)
- Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Liana Pirosin[19]
Mixed martial arts record
| 16 matches | 13 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 1 |
| By submission | 4 | 1 |
| By decision | 7 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 13–3 | Ediana Andrade da Silva | Decision (unanimous) | UAE Warriors 61 | July 23, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Loss | 12–3 | Vanessa Demopoulos | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green | October 7, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 12–2 | Virna Jandiroba | TKO (arm injury) | UFC on ESPN: The Korean Zombie vs. Ige | June 19, 2021 | 2 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 12–1 | Randa Markos | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos | November 14, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11–1 | Emily Ducote | Decision (split) | Invicta FC 38 | November 1, 2019 | 5 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | Won the vacant Invicta FC Strawweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–1 | Liana Pirosin | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Invicta FC 35 | June 7, 2019 | 1 | 2:10 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | Return to Strawweight. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 9–1 | Saray Orozco | Submission (Von Flue choke) | Rizin 15 | April 21, 2019 | 2 | 2:12 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Win | 8–1 | Angela Magana | Submission (Von Flue choke) | Rizin 12 | August 12, 2018 | 2 | 3:53 | Nagoya, Japan | Strawweight bout. |
| Win | 7–1 | Lanchana Green | Submission (anaconda choke) | Rizin 10 | May 6, 2018 | 1 | 4:52 | Fukuoka, Japan | |
| Win | 6–1 | Yukari Nabe | Decision (unanimous) | DEEP 79 Impact | September 16, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 5–1 | Claire Fryer | Decision (unanimous) | Pancrase 288 | July 2, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Strawweight bout. |
| Loss | 4–1 | Rin Nakai | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 2nd Round | December 29, 2016 | 3 | 1:16 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 4–0 | Kyra Batara | Decision (unanimous) | Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 1st Round | September 26, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | Strawweight bout. |
| Win | 3–0 | Ilona Wijmans | TKO (punches) | Shoot Box Girls S-Cup 2016 | July 7, 2016 | 1 | 1:17 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 2–0 | Maia Kahaunaele-Stevenson | TKO (punches) | KOTC: Firefight | June 4, 2016 | 3 | 3:43 | San Jacinto, California, United States | Flyweight debut. |
| Win | 1–0 | Natalya Denisova | Decision (unanimous) | Rizin 1 | April 17, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Nagoya, Japan | Strawweight debut. |