Yuka Tsuji
Born (1974-12-11) December 11, 1974
Osaka, Japan
Other namesVale Tudo Queen
NationalityJapanese
Height1.56 m (5 ft 1+1⁄2 in)[1]
Weight115 lb (52 kg; 8.2 st)
DivisionFeatherweight (52.2 kg – 56.7 kg) (Valkyrie)
Lightweight (under 52 kg) (Smackgirl)
Fighting out ofOsaka, Japan
TeamAngura[2]
Mixed martial arts record
Total27
Wins24
By knockout2
By submission16
By decision6
Losses3
By submission3
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Women's freestyle wrestling
Representing  Japan
Asian Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1997 Taipei -51kg

Yuka Tsuji (辻結花, Tsuji Yuka, born (1974-12-11)December 11, 1974)[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.[3] 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.[4]

Early life

Tsuji was born on December 11, 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.[5][6][7]

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 December 26, 2001 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.[8] This would be Hoshino's only loss in her MMA career.

Tsuji debuted in Smackgirl at Smackgirl - Royal Smack 2002 on April 7, 2002, 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 June 28, 2005. 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 July 13, 2003. 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 June 28, 2005. 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 September 6, 2007, 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 November 8, 2008, where she defeated Mei Yamaguchi by decision.[9] Tsuji became the first Valkyrie Featherweight Champion on April 25, 2009 by defeating American fighter Kate Martinez.[2][10]

Her 14-fight winning streak came to an end on February 11, 2010 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 July 9, 2011 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 May 26, 2012 in Osaka, Japan.[18] She was defeated by submission due to a kimura in the first round.[19]

On September 29, 2012, 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

Professional record breakdown
27 matches 24 wins 3 losses
By knockout 2 0
By submission 16 3
By decision 6 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 24-3 Hyo Kyung Song Technical Submission (armbar) Deep: Osaka Impact 2012 September 29, 2012 1 1:27 Osaka, Japan
Loss 23-3 Ayaka Hamasaki Submission (kimura) Jewels 19th Ring May 26, 2012 1 3:41 Osaka, Japan For Jewels Lightweight (115 lbs) Queen Championship
Win 23-2 Saori Ishioka Decision (unanimous) Jewels 15th Ring July 9, 2011 2 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 22-2 Mei Yamaguchi Submission (rear-naked choke) Valkyrie 04 February 11, 2010 1 1:16 Tokyo, Japan Lost Valkyrie Featherweight Championship[13]
Win 22-1 Kate Martinez Submission (armbar) Valkyrie 02 April 25, 2009 1 4:20 Tokyo, Japan Won inaugural Valkyrie Featherweight Championship[23]
Win 21-1 Mei Yamaguchi Decision (unanimous) Valkyrie 01 November 8, 2008 3 3:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 20-1 Seo Hee Ham Decision (unanimous) Smackgirl - Starting Over December 26, 2007 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan Defended Smackgirl Lightweight Championship[24]
Win 19-1 Ana Michelle Tavares TKO (punches) Smackgirl - Queens' Hottest Summer September 6, 2007 1 4:47 Tokyo, Japan Non-title bout[25]
Win 18-1 Thricia Poovey TKO (punches) Smackgirl - The Dance of the Taisho Romance April 28, 2007 1 4:10 Osaka, Japan Defended Smackgirl Lightweight Championship[26]
Win 17-1 Tomomi Sunaba Submission (rear-naked choke) Smackgirl - Top Girl Battle June 30, 2006 1 4:19 Tokyo, Japan Defended Smackgirl Lightweight Championship in a "Winner Take All" match (Tsuji received both fight purses).[26]
Win 16-1 Cami Hostetler Submission (armbar) Smackgirl - Queen's Triumphant Return April 22, 2006 2 4:19 Osaka, Japan Defended Smackgirl Lightweight Championship[27]
Win 15-1 Miyuki Ariga Submission (heel hook) MARS February 4, 2006 2 1:44 Tokyo, Japan
Win 14-1 Maiko Ohkada Submission (armbar) Smackgirl - Dynamic!! August 17, 2005 2 2:10 Tokyo, Japan Defended Smackgirl Lightweight Championship[28]
Win 13-1 Hisae Watanabe Submission (armbar) Smackgirl - Road to Dynamic!! June 28, 2005 1 3:51 Tokyo, Japan Won Smackgirl Lightweight Championship[29]
Win 12-1 Erica Montoya Submission (armbar) Smackgirl - Holy Land Triumphal Return August 5, 2004 3 4:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 11-1 Chiaki Kawabita Submission (armbar) Smackgirl - Go West June 9, 2004 2 1:19 Osaka, Japan
Win 10-1 Mayumi Hashiba Submission (kneebar) Smackgirl - F8 May 16, 2004 1 2:20 Tokyo, Japan
Win 9-1 Kaliopi Yeitsuidou Decision (unanimous) Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2003 December 31, 2003 3 5:00 Kobe, Japan
Loss 8-1 Ana Michelle Tavares Submission (triangle armbar) Deep - 11th Impact July 13, 2003 1 3:55 Osaka, Japan
Win 8-0 Tomomi Sunaba Technical Submission (armbar) Smackgirl - Third Season 2 April 2, 2003 1 4:37 Tokyo, Japan
Win 7-0 Mari Kaneko Decision (unanimous) Smackgirl - Japan Cup 2002 Grand Final December 29, 2002 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan Became 2002 Japan Cup Middleweight Tournament Champion[28]
Win 6-0 Yumiko Sugimoto Submission (armbar) Smackgirl - Japan Cup 2002 Episode 2 November 9, 2002 1 4:13 Tokyo, Japan
Win 5-0 Eri Takahashi Submission (armbar) Smackgirl - Japan Cup 2002 Opening Round October 5, 2002 1 2:01 Tokyo, Japan
Win 4-0 Noriko Tsunoda Submission (armbar) Smackgirl - Dynamic September 1, 2002 1 1:12 Tokyo, Japan
Win 3-0 Izumi Noguchi Decision (split) AX - Vol. 3 May 4, 2002 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 2-0 Hiromi Oka Submission (rear-naked choke) Smackgirl - Royal Smack 2002 April 7, 2002 1 3:43 Tokyo, Japan
Win 1-0 Ikuma Hoshino Submission (armbar) AX - Vol. 2: We Want To Shine December 26, 2001 3 3:37 Tokyo, Japan

Championships and accomplishments

  • Bronze in Women's Freestyle Wrestling at 51 kg in the 1997 Asian Championship.[30]
  • 2002 JAPAN CUP middleweight tournament champion[28]
  • Inaugural Smackgirl Lightweight Champion (2005)[28]
  • Inaugural Valkyrie Featherweight Champion (2009)[23]
  • Fight Matrix
    • 2002 #1 Female Fighter of the Year[3]
    • 2004 #1 Female Fighter of the Year[3]
    • 2005 #1 Female Fighter of the Year[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Profile at Angura.net". Angura.net. Archived from the original on July 19, 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
  2. 1 2 Sherdog.com. "Fight Finder - Yuka "Vale Tudo Queen" Tsuji's Mixed Martial Arts Statistics". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
  3. 1 2 3 4 MMA Awards. Fight Matrix. Retrieved on 26 January 2016.
  4. ↑ "Fighter Profile".
  5. ↑ "Female MMA - Yuka Tsuji". Female MMA. 2009-09-14. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  6. ↑ Kuczkowski, Scott (2009-08-20). "Introducing the Ladies 8.20.09: 10 Female MMA Stars You Need To Know". USA: 411mania.com. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  7. 1 2 Sargent, Robert (2009-10-03). "Women's MMA Division, Part Two". MMARising.com. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  8. ↑ "Japanese Defunct MMA Event List". Skill MMA. 2010-06-22. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  9. ↑ Loiseleur, Tony (2008-11-08). "Tsuji Decisions Hajime at Valkyrie Premiere; Modafferi Victorious". USA: Sherdog. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  10. ↑ Sargent, Robert (2009-04-25). "Valkyrie: Valkyrie 2 Results". MMARising.com. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  11. ↑ Breen, Jordan (2010-02-11). "Yamaguchi Stuns Tsuji at Valkyrie 4". USA: Sherdog. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
  12. ↑ Hirata, Shu (2010-02-17). "VALKYRIE 04 - 02/11/2010: V Hajime Shocked Yuka Tsuji Capturing the Valkyrie Title!". ADCC News. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  13. 1 2 Sargent, Robert (2010-02-11). "Greatest Common Multiple "Valkyrie 4" Results". MMARising.com. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  14. ↑ Sargent, Robert (2011-06-01). "Yuka Tsuji To Face Saori Ishioka At Jewels: "15th Ring"". News. Canada: MMARising.com. Retrieved 2011-06-01.
  15. ↑ "15th RING：石岡沙織vs辻結花、決定！" (in Japanese). Japan: Jewels official blog. 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  16. ↑ 【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. Results (in Japanese). Japan: God Bless the Ring. 2011-07-09. Retrieved 2011-07-11.
  17. ↑ Sargent, Robert (2011-07-09). "Jewels: "15th Ring" Live Play-By-Play & Results". Articles. Canada: MMARising.com. Retrieved 2011-07-11.
  18. ↑ Sargent, Robert (2012-03-03). "Ayaka Hamasaki vs Yuka Tsuji Set For Jewels: "19th Ring"". News. Canada: MMARising.com. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  19. ↑ Sargent, Robert (2012-05-26). "Ayaka Hamasaki, Naho Sugiyama Win At Jewels: "19th Ring"". Articles. Canada: MMARising.com. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  20. ↑ Sargent, Robert (2012-08-29). "Yuka Tsuji Faces Hyo Kyung Song At DEEP: Osaka Impact 2012". News. Canada: MMARising.com. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  21. ↑ "【DEEP】9・29辻結花の再起戦は美女韓国人ファイターが相手". News (in Japanese). Japan: God Bless the Ring. 2012-08-29. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  22. ↑ Sargent, Robert (2012-09-30). "Yuka Tsuji Secures Quick Win At DEEP: Osaka Impact 2012". Articles. Canada: MMARising.com. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
  23. 1 2 Sherdog.com (2009-04-25). "Fight Finder - GCM Valkyrie 2 Mixed Martial Arts Statistics". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
  24. ↑ Sherdog.com (2007-12-26). "Tsuji Defends Smackgirl Lightweight Title". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
  25. ↑ Sherdog.com (2007-06-30). "Smackgirl Titles Contested in September". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
  26. 1 2 Sherdog.com (2007-03-14). "Koubousen Companion: News and Notes From Japan". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
  27. ↑ "Smack Girl 04/22/2006". Boutreviewusa.com. 2009-04-22. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
  28. 1 2 3 4 "Yuki Tsuji's profile on Smackgirl.com". 2006-10-24. Archived from the original on 2007-10-31. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
  29. ↑ Sherdog.com (2005-06-09). "Nippon Joho: The Lightweight Wars". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
  30. ↑ Profile at FILA Wrestling Database
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