Mika Nagano
# Mika Nagano

Mika Nagano (長野 美香, Nagano Mika, born (1983-12-29)December 29, 1983) is a Japanese female mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. She fought as a lightweight in the Deep and Jewels promotions before her retirement in 2014. Nagano has also wrestled in Ice Ribbon and World Wonder Ring Stardom. Her nickname is Future Princess.

Nagano won the 2009 Jewels Rough Stone Grand Prix at 54 kg.

## Early life

Nagano was born on (1983-12-29)December 29, 1983 in Gifu, Gifu, Japan. She started wrestling in the fourth grade of elementary school and continued wrestling in middle school and high school, becoming second place in all of Japan at the high school level.

While studying at Chukyo Women's University, she was an amateur wrestling champion and finished fourth in the 55 kg division of the 2002 Japan Queen's Cup; the same tournament where future Olympic medalist Saori Yoshida finished first.

In 2004, she was ranked fourth in the 51 kg class, but left the university after three years before graduating and stopping wrestling.

Nagano moved to Tokyo in 2005, where she joined a modeling agency of independent wrestling and started talent activities. She was eventually charmed by MMA when she visited S-KEEP.

## Mixed martial arts career

Nagano debuted in MMA in an exhibition match against Megumi Yabushita at Smackgirl: F 2006 on May 3, 2006 (2006-05-03). She made her professional debut against Megumi Fujii and lost via submission (triangle choke) at Smackgirl: Starting Over at Korakuen Hall on December 26, 2007 (2007-12-26).

After winning her next fight by split decision and losing her third by decision, she went on to win her following three fights by submission (armbar). In the process, she won the 2009 Rough Stone Grand Prix 54 kg & under tournament after defeating Yoko Kagoshima in the tournament final.

Following a unanimous decision win and going on a five-fight winning streak (defeating Rina Tomita twice), Nagano was upset at Jewels 8th Ring on May 23, 2010 (2010-05-23) by Norwegian fighter Celine Haga, who was an underdog after losing her first four professional fights. Haga dominated the whole fight, earning a unanimous decision win. The loss was so devastating that Nagano was in tears even before the fight ended.

Nagano managed to avenge this loss in the Jewels Lightweight (115 lb) Queen Tournament Opening Round by defeating Haga with an armbar submission at Jewels 9th Ring on July 31, 2010 (2010-07-31). She faced Seo Hee Ham in the tournament semi-finals on December 17, 2010 (2010-12-17) at Jewels 11th Ring and was defeated by split decision after two rounds.

Nagano was scheduled to face Emi Murata at Jewels 12th Ring on March 11, 2011 (2011-03-11) in Tokyo, Japan, but the event was cancelled after the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami earlier in the day.

She then faced Murata at Jewels 14th Ring on May 14, 2011 (2011-05-14) and defeated Murata by submission in the first round.

Nagano rematched Megumi Fujii at Jewels 15th Ring on July 9, 2011 (2011-07-09). She was defeated by unanimous decision.

Nagano faced Mei Yamaguchi at Jewels 17th Ring on December 17, 2011 (2011-12-17). She was defeated by split decision.

Nagano then faced Emi Fujino at Jewels 18th Ring on March 3, 2012 (2012-03-03). She lost the fight by unanimous decision.

On May 26, 2012 (2012-05-26), Nagano faced Anna Saito at Jewels 19th Ring in Osaka, Japan. She won the fight by submission due to an armbar in the first round.

Nagano's next fight took place on September 22, 2012 (2012-09-22) when she faced Tomo Maesawa at Jewels 21st Ring. She defeated Maesawa by technical submission due to an armbar in the second round.

On October 27, 2012 (2012-10-27), Nagano competed outside Japan for the first time when she faced Alexandra Chambers at Brace For War 17 in Australia. She was defeated by TKO early in the first round.

Nagano faced Rina Tomita for a third time at Jewels 22nd Ring on December 15, 2012 (2012-12-15). The fight was Tomita's retirement match. Nagano defeated Tomita by submission due to an armbar in the first round.

Nagano next faced Emi Tomimatsu at Jewels 23rd Ring on March 30, 2013 (2013-03-30). She won the fight by unanimous decision.

On May 25, 2013 (2013-05-25), Nagano faced Takumi Umehara at Jewels 24th Ring. She defeated Umehara by submission due to a rear-naked choke in the first round.

Nagano next faced Akiko Naito in Naito's retirement fight at Deep Jewels 1 on August 31, 2013 (2013-08-31). She defeated Naito by submission due to an armbar in the first round.

In a rematch at Deep Jewels 2 on November 4, 2013 (2013-11-04), Nagano faced Emi Tomimatsu in the opening round of the Deep Jewels lightweight title tournament. She was defeated by unanimous decision. On December 28, 2013, Nagano announced that she was retiring from MMA the following February. However, on February 6, Nagano announced she was pregnant and would have to pull out of her exhibition match with Saori Ishioka. Nagano's retirement ceremony took place on February 16 at Deep Jewels 3.

## Professional wrestling career

Nagano made her professional wrestling debut on August 23, 2009 (2009-08-23) with wrestling promotion Ice Ribbon. After competing in Ice Ribbon for a few months, it appeared that she was no longer with the promotion as of February 2010 (2010-02); apparently focusing more on her MMA career after being pushed as a top star in Jewels. In January 2011, Nagano returned to professional wrestling, competing for the new World Wonder Ring Stardom promotion. She worked the promotion's first ever show on January 23, 2011, during which she defeated Eri Susa. However, after only a handful of appearances, which included her losing to Yoko Bito in a World of Stardom Championship tournament semifinal match on July 24, 2011, Nagano once again went inactive to concentrate on her career with Jewels. On April 2, 2013, Stardom announced that Nagano would be returning to take part in the promotion's big Ryōgoku Kokugikan event on April 29. In her return match at Ryōgoku Cinderella, Nagano teamed with Nanae Takahashi and Tsukasa Fujimoto in a six-woman tag team match, where they defeated Hiroyo Matsumoto, Kaori Yoneyama and Syuri.

## Outside mixed martial arts

Nagano has posed in bikini and semi-nude photo shoots in Japanese magazine Friday.

## Personal life

Nagano was married in December 2013 and announced her pregnancy on February 6, 2014.

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :

| 32 matches | 18 wins | 13 losses |
| - | - | - |
| By knockout | 0 | 1 |
| By submission | 15 | 1 |
| By decision | 3 | 11 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 18–13–1 | Arisa Matsuda | Decision (unanimous) | Deep Jewels 39 | November 23, 2022 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 18–12–1 | Tomoko Inoue | Submission (armbar) | Deep Jewels 38 | September 11, 2022 | 1 | 4:19 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 17–12–1 | Kate Oyama | Submission (guillotine choke) | Deep Jewels 37 | May 8, 2022 | 2 | 0:57 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 16–12–1 | Miki Motono | Decision (unanimous) | Deep Jewels 24 | June 9, 2019 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 16–11–1 | Miyuu Yamamoto | Decision (unanimous) | Rizin 14 | December 31, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Draw | 16–10–1 | Tanja Hoffmann | Draw (majority) | Deep Jewels 22 | December 1, 2018 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 16–10 | Izumi Noguchi | Submission (armbar) | Deep Jewels 21 | September 16, 2018 | 1 | 4:02 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 15–10 | Bayarmaa Munkhgerel | Decision (unanimous) | MGL-1 Fighting Champion | September 24, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia | |
| Win | 15–9 | Sachiko Fujimori | Technical Submission (armbar) | Deep Jewels 13 | August 27, 2016 | 3 | 2:34 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 14–9 | Emi Tomimatsu | Decision (unanimous) | Deep Jewels 2 | November 4, 2013 | 2 | 5:00 | Kabukicho, Tokyo, Japan | Deep Jewels lightweight GP semi-final |
| Win | 14–8 | Akiko Naito | Submission (armbar) | Deep Jewels 1 | August 31, 2013 | 1 | 2:24 | Kabukicho, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 13–8 | Takumi Umehara | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Jewels 24th Ring | May 25, 2013 | 1 | 1:42 | Kabukicho, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 12–8 | Emi Tomimatsu | Decision (unanimous) | Jewels 23rd Ring | March 30, 2013 | 2 | 5:00 | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 11–8 | Rina Tomita | Submission (armbar) | Jewels 22nd Ring | December 15, 2012 | 1 | 2:12 | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 10–8 | Alexandra Chambers | TKO (knee and punches) | Brace For War 17: Brace Girls | October 27, 2012 | 1 | 0:42 | Southport, Queensland, Australia | |
| Win | 10–7 | Tomo Maesawa | Technical Submission (armbar) | Jewels 21st Ring | September 22, 2012 | 2 | 3:37 | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 9–7 | Anna Saito | Submission (armbar) | Jewels 19th Ring | May 26, 2012 | 1 | 1:50 | Taisho-ku, Osaka, Japan | |
| Loss | 8–7 | Emi Fujino | Decision (unanimous) | Jewels 18th Ring | March 3, 2012 | 2 | 5:00 | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 8–6 | Mei Yamaguchi | Decision (split) | Jewels 17th Ring | December 17, 2011 | 2 | 5:00 | Kabukicho, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 8–5 | Megumi Fujii | Decision (unanimous) | Jewels 15th Ring | July 9, 2011 | 2 | 5:00 | Kabukicho, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 8–4 | Emi Murata | Submission (armbar) | Jewels 13th Ring & 14th Ring | May 14, 2011 | 1 | 1:40 | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 7–4 | Seo Hee Ham | Decision (split) | Jewels 11th Ring | December 17, 2010 | 2 | 5:00 | Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan | Jewels Lightweight (115 lbs) Queen Tournament Second Round |
| Win | 7–3 | Celine Haga | Submission (armbar) | Jewels 9th Ring | July 31, 2010 | 1 | 2:52 | Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan | Jewels Lightweight (115 lbs) Queen Tournament Opening Round |
| Loss | 6–3 | Celine Haga | Decision (unanimous) | Jewels 8th Ring | May 23, 2010 | 2 | 5:00 | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 6–2 | Mai Ichii | Decision (unanimous) | Jewels 7th Ring | March 19, 2010 | 2 | 5:00 | Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 5–2 | Yoko Kagoshima | Submission (armbar) | Jewels 6th Ring | December 11, 2009 | 2 | 3:56 | Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan | 2009 Rough Stone Grand Prix 54 kg final |
| Win | 4–2 | Rina Tomita | Technical Submission (armbar) | Jewels 5th Ring | September 13, 2009 | 1 | 2:25 | Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan | 2009 Rough Stone Grand Prix 54 kg 1st round |
| Win | 3–2 | Rina Tomita | Submission (armbar) | Jewels 4th Ring | July 11, 2009 | 2 | 0:35 | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 2–2 | Misaki Ozawa | Submission (armbar) | Jewels 3rd Ring | May 16, 2009 | 1 | 2:09 | Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 1–2 | Saori Ishioka | Decision (unanimous) | Jewels 1st Ring | November 16, 2008 | 2 | 5:00 | Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 1–1 | Asami Kodera | Decision (split) | Smackgirl: World ReMix 2008 Second Round | April 25, 2008 | 2 | 5:00 | Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 0–1 | Megumi Fujii | Submission (triangle choke) | Smackgirl: Starting Over | December 26, 2007 | 1 | 1:20 | Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan | |
