Ayaka Hamasaki

Ayaka Hamasaki (浜崎 朱加, Hamasaki Ayaka, born on (1982-03-31)March 31, 1982) is a Japanese female kickboxer and mixed martial artist. She has fought in MMA promotions Shooto and Jewels in Japan and Invicta FC in the United States. Hamasaki won the first Jewels 115 lb (52 kg) Queen tournament to become the first lightweight champion of the promotion. Hamasaki vacated her title due to injuries on August 31, 2013 (2013-08-31). She is the current Invicta FC 105 lb (48 kg) atomweight champion. Hamasaki is the first Asian to win a North American premier MMA promotion title.
Fight Matrix and MMARising.com list her as the number 1 atomweight fighter in the world. and one of the top 10 pound for pound female fighters in the world.

Hamasaki was born on (1982-03-31)March 31, 1982 in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.

Hamasaki practiced judo for 8 years, achieving 2nd dan. She stopped practicing judo after finishing college and was working in an office. A year and a half later, Hamasaki began training in MMA around 2008, partly for dieting purposes. She was introduced to the Abe Ani Combat Club (AACC) by her friend and AACC member Rina Tomita, and although Hamasaki knew about MMA, she was unaware of women's MMA.

Hamasaki made her MMA debut on October 25, 2009 (2009-10-25) at Shooto Gig Central Vol. 19, defeating Kinuka Sasaki via submission (armbar) in the second round.

Joining Jewels for the first Lightweight Queen tournament, Hamasaki submitted South Korean kickboxer Han Sol Lee with an americana in just 48 seconds in the opening round of the tournament at Jewels 9th Ring on July 31, 2010 (2010-07-31).

At Jewels 11th Ring on December 17, 2010 (2010-12-17), Hamasaki defeated Sakura Nomura after three competitive rounds via unanimous decision in the Lightweight Queen tournament semi-finals. In the same event, Hamasaki defeated South Korean Seo Hee Ham by unanimous decision, surprising commentators by holding her own in the striking exchanges against the experienced Korean kickboxer. Hamasaki won the tournament in the process and became the first Jewels Lightweight (115 lbs) Queen Champion.

Hamasaki was scheduled to face Lisa Ellis in a non-title bout at Jewels 12th Ring on March 11, 2011 (2011-03-11) in Tokyo, Japan. However, Ellis suffered a calf injury and was forced to withdraw from the fight. Hamasaki was then set to face Jessica Aguilar at 12th Ring instead, but the event was cancelled after the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami earlier in the day.

Hamasaki faced Mizuki Inoue in a non-title bout at Jewels 16th Ring on September 11, 2011 (2011-09-11) in Tokyo. She defeated Inoue by unanimous decision.

Hamasaki defended her Jewels title in a rematch against Seo Hee Ham at Jewels 17th Ring on December 17, 2011 (2011-12-17). She won the fight by TKO (corner stoppage) after the first round when Ham could not continue due to injury.

Hamasaki faced Yuka Tsuji in a Jewels title fight at Jewels 19th Ring on May 26, 2012 (2012-05-26) in Osaka, Japan. She won the fight by submission due to a kimura in the first round.

Hamasaki was scheduled to face Jasminka Cive at Invicta FC 2: Baszler vs. McMann on July 28, 2012 (2012-07-28) in Kansas City, Kansas. However, Cive was unable to secure a visa to compete and Hamasaki faced Lacey Schuckman instead. She defeated Schuckman by submission due to an armbar late in the third round.

Hamasaki was expected to face Carla Esparza at Invicta FC 4 in January 2013. However, Hamasaki withdrew from the fight in order to defend her Jewels title. She faced Emi Fujino at Jewels 22nd Ring on December 15, 2012 (2012-12-15) and defeated Fujino by unanimous decision.

Hamasaki agreed to face Carla Esparza for the Invicta FC Strawweight Championship at Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs. Cyborg on July 13, 2013 (2013-07-13), but Esparza withdrew due to a knee injury. Hamasaki was then matched up against Cláudia Gadelha. She was defeated by TKO in the third round.

Hamasaki participated in a submission grappling mini-tournament held at Jewels 10th Ring on October 10, 2010 (2010-10-10), where she won the tournament by defeating Emi Tomimatsu via armbar submission in the second round and Yuko Oya, also by armbar in the first round.

Hamasaki faced Saori Ishioka in a grappling match at Jewels 14th Ring on May 14, 2011 (2011-05-14). She won the match by split decision.

• Invicta Fighting Championships
  • Invicta FC Atomweight Champion (One time; current)
• Deep Jewels
  • Jewels Lightweight Queen tournament winner
  • Jewels Lightweight Queen Champion (former; vacated title)
• Women's MMA Awards
  • 2014 Atomweight of the Year