Hitomi Akano Explained

Hitomi Akano
Other Names:Girlfight Monster
Birth Date:27 July 1974
Birth Place:Osaka, Japan
Height:5 ft 4 in
Weight:135 lb
Reach:61 in[1]
Style:Judo
Fighting Out Of:Tokyo, Japan
Team:Abe Ani Combat Club
Mma Win:18
Mma Subwin:14
Mma Decwin:4
Mma Loss:10
Mma Koloss:1
Mma Subloss:1
Mma Decloss:8
Sherdog:11994

is a retired Japanese female mixed martial artist.[2] She announced her formal retirement from MMA on August 1, 2013.[3] [4]

Akano used a song she penned herself called "Between the Sky" as her entrance music.[5] She is a former Smackgirl Middleweight Champion at 128 pounds.

Mixed martial arts career

Akano made her mixed martial arts debut on November 26, 2004 against veteran Megumi Yabushita. Akano went into the fight with a broken foot, unwilling to pull out of the fight beforehand. She was defeated by Unanimous Decision.

On August 17, 2005, Akano submitted Takayo Hashi at 1:19 of the first round at Smackgirl – Dynamic !!

Akano faced Tara LaRosa at MFC – USA vs. Russia 3 on June 3, 2006. She lost the fight by Unanimous Decision.[6]

She faced Molly Helsel at Smackgirl – Women Hold Their Ground on September 15, 2006. She won the fight by armbar submission in the second round and became the second Smackgirl Middleweight (128-Pound) Champion.[7]

On April 14, 2007, Akano faced Amanda Buckner at BodogFight – Clash of the Nations. She was defeated by Unanimous Decision.[8]

Akano battled Takayo Hashi for the second time at Smackgirl – Queen's Hottest Summer on September 6, 2007. She was defeated by Unanimous Decision and lost the Smackgirl Middleweight Championship.[9]

Akano fought Vanessa Porto at FFF 3 – War of the Roses on November 3, 2007. She lost the fight by Split Decision.[10]

Akano rematched Megumi Yabushita in the opening round of the 2008 Smackgirl World ReMix Grand Prix. She defeated Yabushita with a heel hook in the second round.[11]

Akano advanced to the finals of the ReMix tournament by submitting Hiroko Yamanaka on April 25, 2008,[12] but Smackgirl closed its doors soon after and was later renamed Jewels.[13]

On November 16, 2008, Akano submitted Mika Harigai with an armbar in just 38 seconds at Jewels 1st Ring.[14]

Akano faced Cris Cyborg at on April 11, 2009. Cyborg came in six pounds overweight for the fight. Akano originally rejected the fight due to Cyborg failing to make weight but later accepted the fight.[15] She lost the fight by TKO due to strikes in the third round.[16]

Following the Strikeforce bout, Akano returned to Japan and faced Miki Morifuji at Jewels 4th Ring. She defeated Morifuji by armbar in the second round.[17]

Akano faced Hiroko Yamanaka for the second time at Jewels 7th Ring on March 19, 2010. She lost the fight by Split Decision.[18]

Akano was part of the one-night Strikeforce 135-pound women's tournament on August 13, 2010 at .[19] A random drawing was held on the day of the weigh-ins to determine first-round matchups[20] and Akano faced Carina Damm in the opening round of the tournament.[21]

Akano submitted Damm with a triangle armbar in the second round to advance to the tournament final. She faced Miesha Tate and was defeated by Unanimous Decision.[22]

Akano was scheduled to face Roxanne Modafferi at World Victory Road Presents: Soul of Fight on December 30, 2010,[23] but the fight was cancelled after Modafferi suffered a stomach illness and was unable to compete.[24] [25]

Akano faced Chisa Yonezawa at Pancrase Impressive Tour 2 on March 13, 2011 in Osaka, Japan.[26] She defeated Yonezawa by armbar submission in just 40 seconds.[27]

Akano then faced Roxanne Modafferi in a bout rescheduled for Jewels 15th Ring on July 9, 2011.[28] She defeated Modafferi by Unanimous Decision.[29]

Akano faced Olympian Sara McMann at ProElite 3 on January 21, 2012.[30] She was defeated by unanimous decision.[31]

Akano faced Alexis Davis at Invicta Fighting Championships 2 on July 28, 2012.[32] She was defeated by submission due to a rear-naked choke in the second round.[33]

It was announced on August 2, that Akano has retired from the sport of MMA.[34]

Mixed martial arts record

|-| Loss| align=center | 18–10| Alexis Davis| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Invicta FC 2: Baszler vs. McMann| | align=center | 2| align=center | 3:41| Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.||-| Loss| align=center | 18–9| Sara McMann| Decision (unanimous)| ProElite 3: Grove vs. Minowa| | align=center | 3| align=center | 5:00| Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.||-| Win| align=center | 18–8| Roxanne Modafferi| Decision (unanimous)| Jewels 15th Ring| | align=center | 2| align=center | 5:00| Tokyo, Japan||-| Win| align=center | 17–8| Chisa Yonezawa| Submission (armbar)| Pancrase: Impressive Tour 2| | align=center | 1| align=center | 0:40| Osaka, Japan||-| Loss| align=center | 16–8| Miesha Tate| Decision (unanimous)| Strikeforce Challengers: Riggs vs. Taylor| | align=center | 3| align=center | 3:00| Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.| Final of Women's 135 lb tournament|-| Win| align=center | 16–7| Carina Damm| Submission (triangle armbar)| Strikeforce Challengers: Riggs vs. Taylor| | align=center | 2| align=center | 1:48| Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.| Semi-final of Women's 135 lb tournament|-| Loss| align=center | 15–7| Hiroko Yamanaka| Decision (split)| Jewels 7th Ring| | align=center | 2| align=center | 5:00| Tokyo, Japan||-| Win| align=center | 15–6| Miki Morifuji| Technical submission (straight armbar)| Jewels 4th Ring| | align=center | 2| align=center | 4:17| Tokyo, Japan||-| Loss| align=center | 14–6| Cris Cyborg| TKO (punches)| | | align=center | 3| align=center | 0:35| San Jose, California, U.S.| Catchweight bout due to Cyborg missing weight|-| Win| align=center | 14–5| Mika Harigai| Submission (armbar)| Jewels 1st Ring| | align=center | 1| align=center | 0:38| Tokyo, Japan||-| Win| align=center | 13–5| Hiroko Yamanaka| Submission (armbar)| Smackgirl: World Remix Tournament Semifinal| | align=center | 2| align=center | 3:10| Tokyo, Japan||-| Win| align=center | 12–5| Megumi Yabushita| Submission (heel hook)| Smackgirl: World ReMix Tournament Opening| | align=center | 2| align=center | 4:16| Tokyo, Japan||-| Loss| align=center | 11–5| Vanessa Porto| Decision (split)| FFF 3: War of the Roses| | align=center | 5| align=center | 3:00| Ontario, California, U.S.||-| Loss| align=center | 11–4| Takayo Hashi| Decision (unanimous)| Smackgirl: Queen's Hottest Summer| | align=center | 3| align=center | 5:00| Tokyo, Japan| Lost Smackgirl Middleweight Championship|-| Win| align=center | 11–3| Liz Posener| Submission (armbar)| Smackgirl: The Queen Said The USA Is Strongest| | align=center | 2| align=center | 0:52| Tokyo, Japan||-| Loss| align=center | 10–3| Amanda Buckner| Decision (unanimous)| BodogFight: Clash of the Nations| | align=center | 3| align=center | 5:00| Saint Petersburg, Russia||-| Win| align=center | 10–2| Keiko Tamai| Submission (armbar)| MARS: BodogFight| | align=center | 2| align=center | 4:48| Tokyo, Japan||-| Win| align=center | 9–2| Molly Helsel| Submission (armbar)| Smackgirl: Women Hold Their Ground| | align=center | 2| align=center | 1:32| Tokyo, Japan| Won Smackgirl Middleweight Championship|-| Win| align=center | 8–2| Emma Bush| Decision (unanimous)| Smackgirl: Top Girl Battle| | align=center | 2| align=center | 5:00| Tokyo, Japan||-| Loss| align=center | 7–2| Tara LaRosa| Decision (unanimous)| M-1 Mixfight: USA vs Russia 3| | align=center | 3| align=center | 5:00| Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.||-| Win| align=center | 7–1| Debi Purcell| Decision (unanimous)| Smackgirl: Advent of Goddess| | align=center | 2| align=center | 5:00| Tokyo, Japan||-| Win| align=center | 6–1| Keiko Tamai| Submission (armbar)| G-Shooto: G-Shooto 03| | align=center | 1| align=center | 1:27| Tokyo, Japan||-| Win| align=center | 5–1| Asako Saioka| Decision (unanimous)| Smackgirl: Shimokita Experiment League| | align=center | 2| align=center | 5:00| Tokyo, Japan||-| Win| align=center | 4–1| Takayo Hashi| Submission (armbar)| Smackgirl: Dynamic !!| | align=center | 1| align=center | 1:19| Tokyo, Japan||-| Win| align=center | 3–1| Kinuka Sasaki| Submission (armbar)| Smackgirl: The Next Cinderella 2005 Second Stage| | align=center | 1| align=center | 3:58| Tokyo, Japan||-| Win| align=center | 2–1| Seri Saito| Submission (armbar)| Smackgirl: The Next Cinderella 2005 First Stage| | align=center | 2| align=center | 1:25| Tokyo, Japan||-| Win| align=center | 1–1| Mika Harigai| Submission (armbar)| Smackgirl: Refresh 2005| | align=center | 1| align=center | 2:29| Tokyo, Japan||-| Loss| align=center | 0–1| Megumi Yabushita| Decision (unanimous)| G-Shooto: G-Shooto 01| | align=center | 2| align=center | 5:00| Tokyo, Japan|

Championships

See also

List of female mixed martial artists

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hitomi Akano Awakening Profile . awakeningfighters.com . 2014-02-20.
  2. Web site: DEEP and CMA join forces for second annual festival . Breen . Jordan . 2007-07-25 . ESPN . 2008-12-04 . 2012-10-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121025111952/http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/mma/news/story?id=2949002 . live .
  3. Web site: 20130731 . Hitomi Akano's official blog . Japanese . 2013-08-01 . 2013-08-02.
  4. Web site: Hitomi Akano Announces Retirement After Nine-Year Career . MMARising.com . 2013-08-02 . 2013-08-02.
  5. Web site: Interview with Hitomi Akano . Bout Review USA . 2008-12-04 . 2008-12-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081226160906/http://www.boutreviewusa.com/Interviews/17akano.html . dead .
  6. Web site: MFC: Hometown Boy Doesn’t Disappoint . 2010-02-13 . Sherdog.com . 2006-06-04.
  7. Web site: Koubousen Companion: News And Notes From Japan . 2010-02-12 . Sherdog.com . 2006-09-26.
  8. Web site: Minute-by-Minute: bodogFIGHT . Sherdog.com . 2007-04-16 . 2010-03-19.
  9. Web site: Tsuji Avenges Defeat as Typhoon Bears Down on Japan . Sherdog.com . 2007-09-06 . 2010-03-19.
  10. Web site: Porto Out-Points Akano in Fatal Femmes . 2010-02-12 . Sherdog.com . 2007-11-04.
  11. Web site: 'Mega Megu' Victorious At Smackgirl . Sherdog.com . 2008-02-14 . 2010-03-19.
  12. Web site: Fujii-Tavares, Akano-Marquez Set For Smackgirl Finals . Sherdog.com . 2008-04-25 . 2010-03-19.
  13. Web site: Smackgirl Postponed, Financial Problems Possible . Sherdog.com . 2008-07-10 . 2010-03-19.
  14. Web site: Ishioka, 'Mega Megu' Prevail at Jewels Debut . Sherdog.com . 2008-11-16 . 2010-03-19.
  15. Web site: DETAILS OF THE CYBORG VS AKANO CONTROVERSY . 2010-02-06 . MMAWeekly.com . 2009-04-20 .
  16. Web site: Diaz Dominates . 2010-02-10 . Sherdog.com . 2009-04-12.
  17. Web site: Fujii Moves to 18-0 at 'Fourth Ring' . Sherdog.com . 2009-07-11 . 2010-03-19.
  18. Web site: Jewels: "Seventh Ring" Results . MMARising.com . 2010-03-19.
  19. Web site: Lineup Set For Strikeforce Women's Tournament . MMARising.com . 2010-07-10.
  20. Web site: Update: Strikeforce Still Planning Random Draw . MMARising.com . 2010-07-21.
  21. Web site: Damm-Akano, Tate-Kujala Set For Strikeforce . MMARising.com . 2010-08-12.
  22. Web site: Miesha Tate Wins Strikeforce Women's Tournament . MMARising.com . 2010-08-13.
  23. Web site: Blanco-Park, Kanehara-Maeda Booked for 'Soul of Fight' . Sherdog.com . 2010-12-17 . 2010-12-28.
  24. Web site: Sengoku Results & Live Play-By-Play . Sherdog.com . 2010-12-30.
  25. Web site: Fujii, Nakai Victorious At SRC; Akano vs Modafferi Scrapped . MMARising.com . 2010-12-30.
  26. Web site: Hitomi Akano vs Chisa Yonezawa Set For March Pancrase . MMARising.com . 2011-02-08 . 2011-02-20.
  27. Web site: Hitomi Akano Picks Up Quick Submission Win At Pancrase . MMARising.com . 2011-03-14 . 2011-03-18.
  28. Web site: Three Big Fights Announced For Jewels: "15th Ring" Card . MMARising.com . 2011-06-06 . 2011-07-11.
  29. Web site: Jewels: "15th Ring" Live Play-By-Play & Results . MMARising.com . 2011-07-09 . 2011-07-11.
  30. Web site: Hitomi Akano vs Sara McMann Targeted For ProElite 3 . MMARising.com . 2011-12-03 . 2011-12-03.
  31. Web site: Sara McMann Dominates Hitomi Akano In ProElite 3 Co-Main . MMARising.com . 2012-01-21 . 2012-01-21.
  32. Web site: Alexis Davis Faces Hitomi Akano In Invicta FC 2 Co-Feature . MMARising.com . 2012-05-29 . 2012-05-29.
  33. Web site: Invicta FC 2 Results: McMann, Davis & Carmouche Victorious . MMARising.com . 2012-07-29 . 2012-07-30.
  34. Web site: Hitomi Akano Retires . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140110200350/http://www.asianmma.com/?p=7149 . 2014-01-10 .
  35. Web site: Hitomi Akano Awakening Profile . Awakeningfighters.com . 2016-02-10.