Yuka Tsuji Explained

Yuka Tsuji
Other Names:Vale Tudo Queen
Birth Date:December 11, 1974
Birth Place:Osaka, Japan
Nationality:Japanese
Weight:115lb
Weight Class:Featherweight (52.2 kg – 56.7 kg) (Valkyrie)
Lightweight (under 52 kg) (Smackgirl)
Fighting Out Of:Osaka, Japan
Team:Angura
Mma Kowin:2
Mma Subwin:16
Mma Decwin:6
Mma Subloss:3
Sherdog:6983

[1] is a Japanese female mixed martial artist whose nickname is Vale Tudo Queen.

Tsuji was a prolific female mixed martial artist in the 2000s. Tsuji is a former Smackgirl tournament winner, Smackgirl Lightweight Champion and Valkyrie Featherweight Champion. MMA ranking system portal Fight Matrix ranked Tsuji as the #1 pound-for-pound Female Mixed Martial artist in the world in the years 2002, 2004 and 2005.[2] Between 2002 and her retirement from MMA in 2012, she had frequently placed in the Top 5 of women's MMA fighters in flyweight and strawweight classes.[3]

Early life

Tsuji was born on 11 December 1974 in Hirakata, Osaka, Japan. She graduated from the prestigious Chukyo Women's University; a university notable for its wrestling family. During her time there, Tsuji placed third in Women's Freestyle Wrestling (51 kg) in the 1997 Asian Championship.[4] [5]

Mixed martial arts career

Tsuji spent the majority of her career competing in the now-defunct Smackgirl promotion. She debuted with defunct promotion Ax on in the event Ax - Vol. 2: We Want To Shine with a victory by submission (armbar) over the previously undefeated Ikuma Hoshino, who at the time was the most accomplished female Japanese MMA fighter.[6] This would be Hoshino's only loss in her MMA career.

Tsuji debuted in Smackgirl at Smackgirl - Royal Smack 2002 on, defeating Hiromi Oka by submission due to a rear naked choke. Including her debut, Tsuji would go on a winning streak of 8 consecutive victories; in the process winning the Smackgirl Japan 2002 Cup Middleweight Tournament on . In her ninth professional bout, she faced Brazilian fighter Ana Michelle Tavares. Tavares defeated Tsuji with a triangle armbar submission in Tsuji's debut for the Deep promotion at Deep - 11th Impact on . In this match, Tsuji injured her left shoulder. This was Tsuji's first defeat in MMA. She avenged this loss years later.

After her first loss, Tsuji won her next four fights and then faced Hisae Watanabe at Smackgirl - Road to Dynamic!! for the first Smackgirl Lightweight Championship on . Tsuji won the title after defeating Watanabe by armbar at 3:51 of the first round. She would go on to successfully defend the title five times until the demise of the Smackgirl promotion.[7]

On, Tsuji would get the chance to face Tavares again. At the event Smackgirl - Queens' Hottest Summer, Tsuji was able to avenge her only loss at the time by defeating Tavares via KO at 4:47 of the first round. After defending her title for the last time against South Korean Seo Hee Ham, Tsuji debuted in Valkyrie at the promotion's inaugural event Valkyrie 1 on, where she defeated Mei Yamaguchi by decision.[8] Tsuji became the first Valkyrie Featherweight Champion on by defeating American fighter Kate Martinez.[9] [10]

Her 14-fight winning streak came to an end on when she rematched Mei Yamaguchi, who this time was able to defeat Tsuji with a rear-naked choke in only 76 seconds.[11] This was just the second time that Tsuji was defeated and the first time that she was defeated by a fellow Japanese fighter.[12] This is considered one of the biggest upsets in the history of women's mixed martial arts.[13]

Having recovered from surgery on her knee and shoulder, Tsuji returned to MMA in a Jewels vs. Valkyrie bout against Saori Ishioka at Jewels 15th Ring on in Tokyo, Japan.[14] [15] She defeated Ishioka by unanimous decision.[16] [17]

Tsuji faced Ayaka Hamasaki in a Jewels lightweight title fight at Jewels 19th Ring on in Osaka, Japan.[18] She was defeated by submission due to a kimura in the first round.[19]

On, Tsuji faced Hyo Kyung Song at Deep Osaka Impact 2012.[20] [21] She defeated Song by technical submission due to an armbar in the first round.[22]

Mixed martial arts record

|-| Win| align=center| 24-3| Hyo Kyung Song| Technical Submission (armbar)| Deep: Osaka Impact 2012| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:27| Osaka, Japan| |-| Loss| align=center| 23-3| Ayaka Hamasaki| Submission (kimura)| Jewels 19th Ring| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:41| Osaka, Japan| For Jewels Lightweight (115 lbs) Queen Championship|-| Win| align=center| 23-2| Saori Ishioka| Decision (unanimous)| Jewels 15th Ring| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Loss| align=center| 22-2| Mei Yamaguchi| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Valkyrie 04| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:16| Tokyo, Japan| Lost Valkyrie Featherweight Championship|-| Win| align=center| 22-1| Kate Martinez| Submission (armbar)| Valkyrie 02| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:20| Tokyo, Japan| Won inaugural Valkyrie Featherweight Championship[23] |-| Win| align=center| 21-1| Mei Yamaguchi| Decision (unanimous)| Valkyrie 01| | align=center| 3| align=center| 3:00| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 20-1| Seo Hee Ham| Decision (unanimous)| Smackgirl - Starting Over| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Tokyo, Japan| Defended Smackgirl Lightweight Championship[24] |-| Win| align=center| 19-1| Ana Michelle Tavares| TKO (punches)| Smackgirl - Queens' Hottest Summer| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:47| Tokyo, Japan| Non-title bout[25] |-| Win| align=center| 18-1| Thricia Poovey| TKO (punches)| Smackgirl - The Dance of the Taisho Romance| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:10| Osaka, Japan| Defended Smackgirl Lightweight Championship[26] |-| Win| align=center| 17-1| Tomomi Sunaba| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Smackgirl - Top Girl Battle| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:19| Tokyo, Japan| Defended Smackgirl Lightweight Championship in a "Winner Take All" match (Tsuji received both fight purses).[26] |-| Win| align=center| 16-1| Cami Hostetler| Submission (armbar)| Smackgirl - Queen's Triumphant Return| | align=center| 2| align=center| 4:19| Osaka, Japan| Defended Smackgirl Lightweight Championship[27] |-| Win| align=center| 15-1| Miyuki Ariga| Submission (heel hook)| MARS| | align=center| 2| align=center| 1:44| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 14-1| Maiko Ohkada| Submission (armbar)| Smackgirl - Dynamic!!| | align=center| 2| align=center| 2:10| Tokyo, Japan| Defended Smackgirl Lightweight Championship|-| Win| align=center| 13-1| Hisae Watanabe| Submission (armbar)| Smackgirl - Road to Dynamic!!| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:51| Tokyo, Japan| Won Smackgirl Lightweight Championship[28] |-| Win| align=center| 12-1| Erica Montoya| Submission (armbar)| Smackgirl - Holy Land Triumphal Return| | align=center| 3| align=center| 4:00| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 11-1| Chiaki Kawabita| Submission (armbar)| Smackgirl - Go West| | align=center| 2| align=center| 1:19| Osaka, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 10-1| Mayumi Hashiba| Submission (kneebar)| Smackgirl - F8| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:20| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 9-1| Kaliopi Yeitsuidou| Decision (unanimous)| Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2003| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Kobe, Japan| |-| Loss| align=center| 8-1| Ana Michelle Tavares| Submission (triangle armbar)| Deep - 11th Impact| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:55| Osaka, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 8-0| Tomomi Sunaba| Technical Submission (armbar)| Smackgirl - Third Season 2| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:37| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 7-0| Mari Kaneko| Decision (unanimous)| Smackgirl - Japan Cup 2002 Grand Final| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Tokyo, Japan| Became 2002 Japan Cup Middleweight Tournament Champion|-| Win| align=center| 6-0| Yumiko Sugimoto| Submission (armbar)| Smackgirl - Japan Cup 2002 Episode 2| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:13| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 5-0| Eri Takahashi| Submission (armbar)| Smackgirl - Japan Cup 2002 Opening Round| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:01| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 4-0| Noriko Tsunoda| Submission (armbar)| Smackgirl - Dynamic| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:12| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 3-0| Izumi Noguchi| Decision (split)| AX - Vol. 3| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 2-0| Hiromi Oka| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Smackgirl - Royal Smack 2002| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:43| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 1-0| Ikuma Hoshino| Submission (armbar)| AX - Vol. 2: We Want To Shine| | align=center| 3| align=center| 3:37| Tokyo, Japan|

Championships and accomplishments

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Profile at Angura.net . Angura.net . 2009-05-01 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080719175621/http://www.angura.net/fighting%20girls%20hp%20data/jyoshi_profile.html . July 19, 2008 .
  2. http://www.fightmatrix.com/fightmatrix-awards/ MMA Awards
  3. Web site: Fighter Profile.
  4. Web site: Female MMA - Yuka Tsuji. 2009-09-14. Female MMA. 2010-08-29.
  5. Web site: Introducing the Ladies 8.20.09: 10 Female MMA Stars You Need To Know. Kuczkowski, Scott. 2009-08-20. 411mania.com. USA. 2010-08-29.
  6. Web site: Japanese Defunct MMA Event List. 2010-06-22. Skill MMA. 2010-08-29.
  7. Web site: Women's MMA Division, Part Two. Sargent, Robert. 2009-10-03. MMARising.com. 2010-08-29.
  8. Web site: Tsuji Decisions Hajime at Valkyrie Premiere; Modafferi Victorious. Loiseleur, Tony. 2008-11-08. Sherdog. USA. 2010-08-29.
  9. Web site: Sherdog.com. Fight Finder - Yuka "Vale Tudo Queen" Tsuji's Mixed Martial Arts Statistics. Sherdog.com. 2009-05-01.
  10. Web site: Valkyrie: Valkyrie 2 Results. Sargent, Robert. 2009-04-25. MMARising.com. 2010-08-29.
  11. Web site: Yamaguchi Stuns Tsuji at Valkyrie 4. Breen, Jordan. 2010-02-11. Sherdog. USA. 2010-08-28.
  12. Web site: VALKYRIE 04 - 02/11/2010: V Hajime Shocked Yuka Tsuji Capturing the Valkyrie Title!. Hirata, Shu. 2010-02-17. ADCC News. 2010-08-29.
  13. Web site: Greatest Common Multiple "Valkyrie 4" Results. Sargent, Robert. 2010-02-11. MMARising.com. 2010-08-29.
  14. Web site: Yuka Tsuji To Face Saori Ishioka At Jewels: "15th Ring". Sargent, Robert. 2011-06-01. News. MMARising.com. Canada. 2011-06-01.
  15. Web site: 15th RING：石岡沙織vs辻結花、決定！. 2011-06-02. Jewels official blog. Japan. ja. 2011-06-02.
  16. Web site: http://gbring.com/sokuho/result/result2011_07/0709_jewels.htm . ja:【ジュエルス】2大女王強し！辻結花が石岡沙織を、藤井惠が長野美香を撃退. 2011-07-09. Results. God Bless the Ring. Japan. ja. 2011-07-11.
  17. Web site: Jewels: "15th Ring" Live Play-By-Play & Results. Sargent, Robert. 2011-07-09. Articles. MMARising.com. Canada. 2011-07-11.
  18. Web site: Ayaka Hamasaki vs Yuka Tsuji Set For Jewels: "19th Ring". Sargent, Robert. 2012-03-03. News. MMARising.com. Canada. 2012-03-03.
  19. Web site: Ayaka Hamasaki, Naho Sugiyama Win At Jewels: "19th Ring". Sargent, Robert. 2012-05-26. Articles. MMARising.com. Canada. 2012-05-26.
  20. Web site: Yuka Tsuji Faces Hyo Kyung Song At DEEP: Osaka Impact 2012. Sargent, Robert. 2012-08-29. News. MMARising.com. Canada. 2012-08-29.
  21. Web site: 【DEEP】9・29辻結花の再起戦は美女韓国人ファイターが相手. 2012-08-29. News. God Bless the Ring. Japan. ja. 2012-08-29.
  22. Web site: Yuka Tsuji Secures Quick Win At DEEP: Osaka Impact 2012. Sargent, Robert. 2012-09-30. Articles. MMARising.com. Canada. 2012-10-01.
  23. Web site: Sherdog.com. Fight Finder - GCM Valkyrie 2 Mixed Martial Arts Statistics. Sherdog.com. 2009-04-25. 2009-05-01.
  24. Web site: Sherdog.com. Tsuji Defends Smackgirl Lightweight Title. Sherdog.com. 2007-12-26. 2009-05-01.
  25. Web site: Sherdog.com. Smackgirl Titles Contested in September. Sherdog.com. 2007-06-30. 2009-05-01.
  26. Web site: Sherdog.com. Koubousen Companion: News and Notes From Japan. Sherdog.com. 2007-03-14. 2009-05-01.
  27. Web site: Smack Girl 04/22/2006. Boutreviewusa.com. 2009-04-22. 2009-05-01.
  28. Web site: Sherdog.com. Nippon Joho: The Lightweight Wars. Sherdog.com. 2005-06-09. 2009-05-01.
  29. https://www.iat.uni-leipzig.de/datenbanken/dbfoeldeak/daten.php?spid=655B7C0D2A0F4DDFBB054BE32E926BD5 Profile at FILA Wrestling Database
  30. Web site: Yuki Tsuji's profile on Smackgirl.com . 2006-10-24 . 2007-10-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071031030437/http://www.smackgirl.com/result_tsuji.htm . 2007-10-31.

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