Tag: Sumiko Inaba

Bellator books Sumiko Inaba vs. Keri Taylor-Melendez for San Diego

Homegrown Bellator women’s flyweights will collide in San Diego.

Two homegrown Bellator women’s flyweight contenders have been matched for a fall showdown.

[autotag]Sumiko Inaba[/autotag] and [autotag]Keri Taylor-Melendez[/autotag] will collide at a Bellator Champions Series event Sept. 7 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, a promotion official recently informed MMA Junkie.

Maui’s Inaba (7-1) was signed to Bellator before her professional debut. She won her first six fights but then lost to Denise Kielholtz by unanimous decision in November. In June, she bounced back under the PFL banner with a split decision win over Saray Orozco.

Taylor-Melendez (6-0) debuted in MMA in 2016 after a successful kickboxing career. She’s only competed six times in the nearly eight years since, but the results have always been the same for her fights: a Melendez win. Her most recent fight in November was her first in three years. She defeated Sabriye Sengul by submission.

With the addition, the Bellator Champions Series: San Diego lineup includes:

  • Champion Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Alexander Shabliy
  • Marcos Breno vs. Raufeon Stots
  • Levan Chokheli vs. Lorenz Larkin
  • Aaron Jeffery vs. Douglas Lima
  • Sumiko Inaba vs. Keri Taylor-Melendez

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator Champions Series: San Diego.

2024 PFL 4 winner Sumiko Inaba: ‘Maui’s been through a lot and I feel like we all won in that fight’

Maui native Sumiko Inaba was happy to put on for her island at 2024 PFL 4.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Sumiko Inaba[/autotag] was happy to put on for her island at 2024 PFL 4.

Inaba (7-1) defeated Saray Orozco by split decision in a flyweight bout this past Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena.

The 33-year-old Maui-based fighter rebounded from her first-career loss to Denise Kielholtz at Bellator 301.

“It feels so good,” Inaba told MMA Junkie and other reporters after the fight at Mohegan Sun Arena. “After that last one, like, coming in here and just getting that win especially for back home. Maui’s been through a lot and I feel like we all won in that fight. … (PFL) is different from Bellator, but getting the switch up and just a whole new change and coming home with a win it feels so good.”

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Inaba is not part of this year’s tournament, but looks forward to throwing down with the flyweight talent pool next season.

“Just getting my feet wet with this one and watching the tournament play out this year, it’s amazing,” Inaba said. “There’s so many tough girls and just watching tonight play out I think it’s going to be awesome. I’m ready for the next tournament. If anything happens I’m ready to jump right back in. I’m good right now.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2024, Week 4.

Sumiko Inaba def. Saray Orozco at 2024 PFL 4: Best photos

Check out these photos from Sumiko Inaba vs. Saray Orozco at 2024 PFL 4 in Uncasville, Conn.

Check out these photos from [autotag]Sumiko Inaba[/autotag]’s win over Saray Orozco at 2024 PFL 4 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. (Photos by Cooper Neill, PFL MMA)

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Sept. 11-17)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Sept. 11-17.

Sumiko Inaba content with slow build to title after Bellator 295 win: ‘I love the pace that I’m going at’

“I want to just keep moving up the rankings and taking on tougher opponents and proving myself as a martial artist,” Sumiko Inaba said.

HONOLULU – [autotag]Sumiko Inaba[/autotag] is happy to eventually climb her way to a title shot after Bellator 295.

The undefeated Hawaii native picked up arguably her biggest win yet when she defeated Veta Arteaga by unanimous decision at Saturday’s Bellator 295 event at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena.

As she climbs up the flyweight ranks, Inaba (6-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) was happy to prove she belongs with a win over top-10 Arteaga.

“That was huge to get over that,” Inaba told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “Especially here in Hawaii, you know. I feel the energy of my crowd, and I’m excited. I’m excited for what’s to come. I want to just keep moving up the rankings and taking on tougher opponents and proving myself as a martial artist.”

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With lima-Lei Macfarlane defeating Kana Watanabe, Bellator president Scott Coker wants to see her next in line for champion Liz Carmouche. As for Inaba, she’s not worried about the pecking order.

“I love the pace that I’m going at,” Inaba said. “Whatever Bellator has for me. They’ve only ever been amazing to me and all the opportunities that I get. I got to fight twice in my home. I can’t be more than grateful for that.

“I know they have a great plan set out for me, and I just take it one fight at a time. Just make my way up that ladder, and one day I’ll fight for that title definitely.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 295.

Bellator 295 post-event facts: Patchy Mix’s knee knockout caps off epic grand prix run

Patchy Mix is firmly in the Bellator record books after a perfect knee made him $1 million richer at Bellator 295.

Bellator 295 took place Saturday at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu and marked the second night of the promotion’s weekend doubleheader in Hawaii.

The final fight of a loaded week proved to be the most memorable, because [autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag] (18-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) scored one of the greatest knockout highlights in company history when he flattened [autotag]Raufeon Stots[/autotag] (19-2 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) with a picture-perfect knee to the jaw knockout just 80 seconds into their main event. The nasty finish not only won him the interim bantamweight title, but he is the last man standing in the bantamweight grand prix, winning $1 million after completing the eight-man field.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from Bellator 295.

Bellator 295 pre-event facts: Ilima-Lei Macfarlane adds to records in Hawaii

Check out the numbers behind Bellator 295, where Hawaii’s own Ilima-Lei Macfarlane adds to her historic resume in Honolulu.

Bellator returns to Hawaii this weekend with two events in two nights, the second of which goes down Saturday at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu and airs on Showtime following prelims streaming on MMA Junkie.

Bellator 295 marks the second half of the doubleheader, and the event is headlined by the conclusion of the promotion’s bantamweight grand prix. Reigning interim titleholder [autotag]Raufeon Stots[/autotag] (19-1 MMA, 7-0 BMMA) is set to take on [autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag] (17-1 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) in the finals of the eight-man tournament, with the winner getting a $1 million prize.

For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about Bellator 295.

Bellator 295’s Sumiko Inaba sets sights on women’s flyweight title

It’s a big fight week for Bellator’s women’s flyweight division, and Sumiko Inaba is going to be paying plenty of attention.

HONOLULU – It’s a big fight week for Bellator’s women’s flyweight division, and [autotag]Sumiko Inaba[/autotag] is going to be paying plenty of attention.

Inaba (5-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) has a big fight on her hands against Veta Arteaga (7-4 MMA, 6-4 BMMA) on Saturday’s preliminary card at Bellator 295, which takes place Saturday at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

If Inaba, a 2-1 favorite at the betting window, gets past Arteaga, it will put her at 6-0. And while a title shot just six fights into her pro career might seem crazy, it should be noted former and inaugural women’s flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane was 6-0 when she got her title shot and beat Emily Ducote to win Bellator’s inaugural 125-pound women’s title.

Coincidentally, Macfarlane fights Saturday, as well, in front of her home fans on Oahu. Inaba lives on Maui. By the time Bellator 295 rolls around Saturday, the results from Bellator 294 will be known – including women’s flyweight champion Liz Carmouche against Deanna Bennett the night before at Bellator 294.

“I’m ready,” Inaba said Tuesday at an open workout session for fans and the media at Royal Hawaiian Center in Honolulu. “I knew what I had in front of me. This is just in the right direction for what I want. I didn’t take this lightly. She’s already fought for the belt. I know she has that experience, and I have to take that into consideration. But I’m prepared. I’m coming on Saturday.

“This is my home. I’m comfortable here. I need to take that as positive energy. Take all the, all the manna that I get from my crowd and and just use it in the ring. I take it all as positive confidence.”

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Macfarlane said Tuesday she is planning to call for a title shot if she wins Saturday. And if champ Carmouche wins Friday, Macfarlane will be calling for a fight against her – which would mean a teammate-vs.-teammate bout.

But Inaba can see a path to the title that basically becomes an Hawaii vs. Hawaii fight between her and Macfarlane – and one that almost certainly would take place back in Honolulu.

“That would be amazing,” Inaba told MMA Junkie. “I don’t ever look past what I have in front of me always. But that’s my goal. That’s my dream. And I work hard every day to make that happen. I’m hoping that I get three fights this year. That’s what I want. Manifest that.

“I train every day for the champ. That’s what I do. And I take her as hard of a fight as it is for the champ. I have to get past her first to make my way up there. So I train every day as if that’s what I want to be is to one day be the champ.”

That means Inaba will have her eye on Bellator 295 and beyond …

“I’m excited. I’m glad there’s a lot of other flyweight fights. It’s fun to see that – see what I’m up against and how they perform in front of my home crowd, as well. My eyes are wide open. I’m taking everything in all those fights and it’s just more motivation for me watching those.”

Check out Inaba’s full open workout video in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 295.

Sumiko Inaba hopes to break into flyweight rankings after Bellator 286 win

Sumiko Inaba moved to 5-0 as a professional with Bellator this past Saturday.

LONG BEACH, Calif. – [autotag]Sumiko Inaba[/autotag] is looking to compete with the upper echelon of the division after Bellator 286.

Inaba (5-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) remained unbeaten when she grinded out a unanimous decision against Nadine Mandiau on Saturday at Long Beach Arena. It took Inaba only 65 seconds to beat Mandiau (2-6 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) by TKO when they were amateurs back in October 2018, but this time Mandiau gave her a tough outing.

“I knew she was going to come with the fight,” Inaba told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “I don’t complain – more experience in the ring, just getting me more comfortable for higher-ranked opponents, and it was great. …

“Completely new, different ring, bigger crowd, more to the fight week and all the emotions that come with it. So, I took it as a completely new fight. She was a great new opponent, as well. She came with a lot more skill and a lot more fight, and she gave it to me.”

Despite moving to 5-0 as a professional, Inaba finds herself even more motivated, and her next goal is to land a spot in the Bellator women’s flyweight rankings.

“This camp just put a fire underneath my butt to train harder,” Inaba said. “Hopefully get into the rankings and work my way up.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 286.

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Bellator 286 post-event facts: Patricio ‘Pitbull’ adds to legacy with 12th title-fight win

Patricio Freire added to his records for most wins and title-fight victories in Bellator history with a dominant defense at Bellator 286.

The final stretch of Bellator’s 2022 schedule kicked off Saturday with Bellator 286, which took place at Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, Calif., and featured a 13-fight lineup.

The main event saw the most decorated fighter in company history further enhance his legacy when [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (34-5 MMA, 22-5 BMMA) cruised to a lopsided unanimous decision over [autotag]Adam Borics[/autotag] (18-2 MMA, 9-2 BMMA) to defend his featherweight title for the first time in what’s his third title reign in the division.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from Bellator 286.