Sumiko Inaba

Last updated
Sumiko Inaba
Born (1991-02-06) February 6, 1991 (age 33)
Pukalani, Hawaii, U.S.
Other namesLady Samurai
Height5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Weight125 lb (57 kg; 8 st 13 lb)
Division Flyweight
Reach64.0 in (163 cm)
Fighting out ofHawaii, U.S.
TeamFly Pen Boxing
Maui
Years active2020–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total9
Wins8
By knockout4
By submission1
By decision3
Losses1
By decision1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Sumiko Inaba (born February 6, 1991) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Women's Flyweight division of the Bellator MMA.

Contents

Background

After graduating King Kekaulike High School, Inaba studied nursing before she discovered mixed martial arts while attending boxing classes to get into shape.

She has a daughter, Kiyarah-Lei, who was born around 2009. [1] [2]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

She went 6-1 as an amateur, including four TKOs and one submission. After the pandemic put her career in the travel industry on hiatus, she put her full-time efforts into training. She decided to go professional in 2020 and landed an endorsement with Hilo-based Waiakea Water Company. [3] [4]

Bellator MMA

After a successful amateur career, Inaba signed with Bellator MMA. [5]

She made her professional MMA debut against Jessica Ruiz on November 5, 2020, at Bellator 251. [6]

In her sophomore performance, Inaba faced Kristina Katsikis on May 21, 2021, at Bellator 259. [7] She won the bout via third-round TKO. [8]

Inaba faced Randi Field on October 16, 2021, at Bellator 268. She won the bout via arm-triangle choke in the second round. [9] [10]

Inaba faced Whittany Pyles on April 23, 2022, at Bellator 279. [11] At the weigh-ins, Pyles missed weight for her bout, weighing in at 127.4 pounds, 1.4 pounds over the flyweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Pyles was fined a percentage of her purse, which went to Inaba. [12] Inaba knocked out her opponent with a left hook in the first round. [13]

Inaba faced Nadine Mandiau on October 1, 2022, at Bellator 286. [14] She won the bout after grinding out a unanimous decision. [15]

Inaba faced Veta Arteaga on April 22, 2023, at Bellator 295. [16] She won the bout via unanimous decision. [17]

Inaba faced Denise Kielholtz on November 17, 2023, at Bellator 301. [18] In a bout contested mostly on the feet, Kielholtz maintained the advantage and won the bout via unanimous decision. [19]

Inaba was scheduled to Kaytlin Neil on April 4, 2024 at PFL 1. [20] However, a week before the event it was announced that Inaba had pulled out. [21]

Inaba faced Mackenzie Stiller on September 7, 2024 at Bellator Champions Series 4. She won the fight via TKO in the second round. [22]

PFL

Inaba made her debut with the Professional Fighters League on June 13, 2024 as she faced Saray Orozco at PFL 4. She won the bout via split decision. [23]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
9 matches8 wins1 loss
By knockout40
By submission10
By decision31
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Win8–1Mackenzie StillerTKO (punches) Bellator Champions Series 4 September 7, 202424:25 San Diego, California, United States
Win7–1Saray OrozcoDecision (split) PFL 4 (2024) June 13, 202435:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Loss6–1 Denise Kielholtz Decision (unanimous) Bellator 301 November 17, 202335:00 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win6–0Veta ArteagaDecision (unanimous) Bellator 295 April 22, 202335:00 Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Win5–0Nadine MandiauDecision (unanimous) Bellator 286 October 1, 202235:00 Long Beach, California, United States
Win4–0Whittany PylesKO (punches) Bellator 279 April 23, 202211:22 Honolulu, Hawaii, United StatesCatchweight (127.4 lb) bout; Pyles missed weight.
Win3–0Randi FieldSubmission (arm-triangle choke) Bellator 268 October 16, 202122:02 Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Win2–0Kristina KatsikisTKO (punches) Bellator 259 May 21, 202133:35 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win1–0Jessica RuizTKO (elbows) Bellator 251 November 5, 202014:59 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Win6–1Kelsey GilmoreTKO (punches)Cowboy Fight Series 2June 29, 201930:57 Sterling, Virginia, United StatesWon the vacant CFS Flyweight Championship.
Win5–1Nadine MandiauTKO (punches)Tuff-N-Uff: Fight Night HendersonOctober 5, 201811:05 Henderson, Nevada, United StatesWon the TUFF Strawweight Championship.
Win4–1Tenika WaldroupSubmission (armbar)Tuff-N-Uff: Pack The MackJune 30, 201822:03 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesWon the TUFF Flyweight Championship.
Win3–1Brianne JhunDecision (unanimous)War on the Valley Isle 6November 11, 201733:00 Wailuku, Hawaii, United StatesWon the SBC Flyweight Championship.
Win2–1Des VidaTKO (punches)War on the Valley Isle 5November 12, 201622:31 Wailuku, Hawaii, United States
Loss1–1Kendra Elizabeth LinnDecision (majority)Maui FC 6March 26, 201633:00 Maui, Hawaii, United States
Win1–0Katherine AntoniakTKO (punches)War on the Valley Isle 3November 8, 201421:49 Kahului, Hawaii, United States

[24]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Major motivation: Inaba fights with daughter in mind". mauinews.com. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  2. ↑ "Sumiko Inaba: The Lady Samurai | MauiTimes.News". mauitimes.news. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  3. ↑ "Two wins in two fights, Inaba hungry for more". mauinews.com. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  4. ↑ "Coming off victorious pro debut, Inaba ready to keep on fighting". mauinews.com. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  5. ↑ "Report: Bellator MMA Signs Sumiko Inaba | Fightful News". www.fightful.com. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  6. ↑ "Sumiko Inaba out to shows she's an MMA fighter in pro debut at Bellator 251 | MMAWeekly.com". 2020-11-05. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  7. ↑ McDonagh, Joe (2021-05-10). "Bellator 259 Adds Hawaiian Sensation Sumiko Inaba vs. Kristina Katsikis". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  8. ↑ "Maui's Sumiko Inaba scores TKO victory over Kristina Katsikis at Bellator 259". KHON2. 2021-05-21. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  9. ↑ "Sumiko Inaba elated after Bellator 268 submission win: 'That was great'". MMA Junkie. 2021-10-17. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  10. ↑ "Sumiko Inaba elated after Bellator 268 submission win: 'That was great'". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  11. ↑ Anderson, Jay (2022-04-06). "Sumiko Inaba Puts Undefeated Record on the Line at Bellator 279". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  12. ↑ "Bellator 279 weigh-in results: Title bout competitors on point, but one prelim fighter misses her mark". MMA Junkie. 2022-04-22. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  13. ↑ Newswire, MMA Fighting (2022-04-23). "Bellator 279 Results: Cyborg vs. Blencowe 2". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  14. ↑ King, Nolan (2022-08-24). "Rising prospect Sumiko Inaba set to return at Bellator 286". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
  15. ↑ Samano, Simon (2022-10-02). "Bellator 286 results: Sumiko Inaba pushed by Nadine Mandiau, grinds out unanimous decision win". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  16. ↑ Heck, Mike (2023-02-15). "Bellator returns to Hawaii with doubleheader, Raufeon Stots vs. Patchy Mix and Liz Carmouche vs. DeAnna Bennett title fights". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  17. ↑ "Bellator 295 'Stots vs. Mix' Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring". Sherdog. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  18. ↑ "Bellator 301 set for Chicago: 2 title fights, including Sergio Pettis vs. Patchy Mix, grand prix semifinal, grudge rematch". MMA Junkie. 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  19. ↑ "Maui's Sumiko Inaba suffers first career loss at Bellator 301". KHON2. 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  20. ↑ Cruz, Guilherme (2024-03-11). "PFL announces full line-ups for first 3 season events, 8 ex-Bellator champions debut". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  21. ↑ "Cappelozza removed from PFL card on April 4". ESPN.com. 2024-03-26. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  22. ↑ "Bellator Champions Series: San Diego live results". MMA Junkie. 2024-09-08. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  23. ↑ "Maui's Sumiko Inaba wins Professional Fighters League debut via split decision". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  24. ↑ "Sumiko Inaba". Sherdog. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
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