Naho Sugiyama
# Naho Sugiyama

Naho Sugiyama (杉山 直歩, Sugiyama Naho, born (1978-02-03)February 3, 1978), also known by her nickname Sugirock (スギロック, Sugirokku) or Sugi Rock, is a Japanese female mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. She has competed professionally since 2009. In 2011, she became the first Jewels featherweight champion. Besides Jewels, Sugiyama has also competed in MMA promotions Valkyrie and Invicta Fighting Championships.

As of November 1, 2013 (2013-11-01), Sugiyama is ranked as the number four female atomweight (96-106 lb) fighter in the world according to the Unified Women's Mixed Martial Arts Rankings.

## Background

Sugiyama was born on (1978-02-03)February 3, 1978 in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. A member of Wajutsu Keishukai Akza (和術慧舟會AKZA, wajutsu keishūkai akza), Sugiyama became interested in MMA after watching Caol Uno on TV at the K-1 World Max 2005 Japan Tournament on February 23, 2005 (2005-02-23), so she started training MMA as a hobby.

## Mixed martial arts career

After participating in four amateur bouts for the Smackgirl promotion, Sugiyama made her professional debut on October 24, 2009 (2009-10-24) in a bout where she defeated Madoka Ebihara by unanimous decision at Valkyrie 3. Sugiyama's second fight was on June 19, 2010 (2010-06-19) at Valkyrie 6, in which she defeated Megumi Morioka by TKO. In her last fight with Valkyrie, in an upset, Sugiyama defeated the then-flyweight champion Yasuko Tamada via unanimous decision in a non-title bout at Valkyrie 8.

Debuting in Jewels on May 14, 2011 (2011-05-14), Sugiyama submitted Misaki Takimoto with a rear naked choke in the first round at the combined event Jewels 13th Ring & 14th Ring, where Sugiyama represented Valkyrie as part of a Jewels vs Valkyrie theme.

In her fifth professional fight, Sugiyama faced and defeated Ayumi Saito by unanimous decision at Jewels 16th Ring on September 11, 2011 (2011-09-11) in a close bout that was part of the first round of the Jewels Featherweight Queen Grand Prix.

On December 17, 2011 (2011-12-17), at Jewels 17th Ring, Sugiyama was crowned as the first Jewels Featherweight Queen after winning the Jewels Featherweight Queen GP by defeating Kikuyo Ishikawa via split decision and Misaki Takimoto via technical submission (armbar).

Sugiyama faced Yasuko Tamada in a non-title rematch at Jewels 19th Ring on May 26, 2012 (2012-05-26). Despite being penalized for not making weight, Sugiyama was able to defeat Tamada once again by majority decision, keeping her unbeaten record intact.

Making her debut overseas, Sugiyama faced American fighter Jessica Penne at Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama on October 6, 2012 (2012-10-06) in a title bout to crown the first Invicta FC Atomweight Champion. Penne defeated Sugiyama by submission (triangle choke) in the second round.

On March 30, 2013 (2013-03-30), Sugiyama faced Celine Haga in a non-title bout at Jewels 23rd Ring. She was defeated by unanimous decision.

Sugiyama defended her Jewels title against Seo Hee Ham at Jewels 24th Ring on May 25, 2013 (2013-05-25). She was defeated by unanimous decision.

On November 4, 2013 (2013-11-04), Sugiyama faced Masako Yoshida at Deep Jewels 2. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

## Championships and accomplishments

### Mixed martial arts

* Jewels
   * Featherweight Queen Grand Prix winner (2011)
   * Atomweight Championship (Two times; current)

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :

| 17 matches | 12 wins | 5 losses |
| - | - | - |
| By knockout | 1 | 1 |
| By submission | 2 | 1 |
| By decision | 9 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 12-5 | Mina Kurobe | Decision (unanimous) | Deep Jewels 15 | February 25, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Lost Deep Jewels Atomweight title. |
| Win | 12-4 | Emi Tomimatsu | Decision (unanimous) | Deep Jewels 12 | June 5, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Won Deep Jewels Atomweight title. |
| Win | 11-4 | Mina Kurobe | Decision (unanimous) | Deep Jewels 10 | November 23, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 10-4 | Ayaka Hamasaki | TKO (Punches) | Deep Jewels 5 | August 9, 2014 | 1 | 4:01 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 10-3 | Satomi Takano | Decision (split) | Deep Jewels 3 | February 16, 2014 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 9-3 | Masako Yoshida | Decision (unanimous) | Deep Jewels 2 | November 4, 2013 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 8-3 | Seo Hee Ham | Decision (unanimous) | Jewels 24th Ring | May 25, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Lost Jewels Featherweight title. |
| Loss | 8-2 | Celine Haga | Decision (unanimous) | Jewels 23rd Ring | March 30, 2013 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Non-title bout. |
| Loss | 8-1 | Jessica Penne | Submission (triangle choke) | Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama | October 6, 2012 | 2 | 2:20 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | For Invitca FC Atomweight title. |
| Win | 8-0 | Yasuko Tamada | Decision (majority) | Jewels 19th Ring | May 26, 2012 | 2 | 5:00 | Osaka, Japan | Sugiyama was penalized for not making weight. Non-title bout. |
| Win | 7-0 | Misaki Takimoto | Technical Submission (armbar) | Jewels 17th Ring | December 17, 2011 | 1 | 4:09 | Tokyo, Japan | Jewels Featherweight Queen tournament final. Won Jewels Featherweight title. |
| Win | 6-0 | Kikuyo Ishikawa | Decision (split) | Jewels 17th Ring | December 17, 2011 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Jewels Featherweight Queen tournament semi-final. |
| Win | 5-0 | Ayumi Saito | Decision (unanimous) | Jewels 16th Ring | September 11, 2011 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Jewels Featherweight Queen tournament quarterfinal. |
| Win | 4-0 | Misaki Takimoto | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Jewels 13th Ring & 14th Ring | May 14, 2011 | 1 | 4:06 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 3-0 | Yasuko Tamada | Decision (unanimous) | Valkyrie 8 | November 28, 2010 | 3 | 3:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Non-title bout. |
| Win | 2-0 | Megumi Morioka | TKO (punches) | Valkyrie 6 | June 19, 2010 | 2 | 2:20 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 1-0 | Madoka Ebihara | Decision (unanimous) | Valkyrie 3 | October 24, 2009 | 3 | 3:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
