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Mari Kaneko (金子 真理, kaneko mari, born on (1972-06-24)June 24, 1972) is a Japanese female karateka and mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. Kaneko has competed for MMA promotions Ax, Smackgirl, Deep and Jewels.
Background
Kaneko was born on (1972-06-24)June 24, 1972 in Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
Martial arts training
In 1999, Kaneko won the All-Japan Amateur Shooto Championships in the women's flyweight and also the bantamweight divisions of East Japan. In 2000, she conquered the Central Japan Amateur Shooto Championships in the featherweight division.
In 1999 Kaneko was the runner-up in the Real Fighting Karate-do Championships, repeating this feat in 2000.
From 2001 to 2003 she won the Real Fighting Karate-do Championships and was the runner up in 2004.
In 2009 and 2010 Kaneko was the runner up of the All-Japan Real Fighting Karate Championships -52 kg, being defeated in the final both times by Saori Ishioka.
Mixed martial arts career
Kaneko made her MMA debut on November 12, 2000 (2000-11-12) at Club Fight Round 1 where she was defeated by Japanese women's MMA pioneer Yoko Takahashi via submission (achilles lock).
At Smackgirl: Episode 0 on December 17, 2000 (2000-12-17), Kaneko defeated Miwako Ishihara in 36 seconds with an armbar submission.
Kaneko got her second submission loss against Ikuma Hoshino, who defeated Kaneko with a guillotine choke on July 26, 2001 (2001-07-26) at Smackgirl: Indeed.
At Smackgirl: Burning Night on August 23, 2001 (2001-08-23) Kaneko defeated Mika Harigai with an armbar submission in the first round.
On December 26, 2001 (2001-12-26), Kaneko was knocked out with knees in the first round by at the time debutant Izumi Noguchi at Ax Vol. 2: we want to shine.
Kaneko rebounded with an armbar submission victory over Naoko Torashima at Smackgirl: God Bless You on March 2, 2002 (2002-03-02).
Kaneko was defeated again by a MMA debutant when she faced Tomomi Sunaba, who won by split decision on May 6, 2002 (2002-05-06) at Smackgirl: Golden Gate 2002.
On August 4, 2002 (2002-08-04) at Smackgirl: Summer Gate 2002 Kaneko defeated kickboxer Hisae Watanabe by armbar submission in the second round.
Kaneko got another win on October 5, 2002 (2002-10-05) at Smackgirl: Japan Cup 2002 Opening Round, where she defeated Aya Koyama by unanimous decision during the first round of the middleweight tournament.
At Smackgirl: Japan Cup 2002 Episode 2 on November 9, 2002 (2002-11-09) during the semi-finals of the middleweight tournament, Kaneko was able to avenge her previous defeat at the hands of Tomomi Sunaba, defeating Sunaba this time by unanimous decision and advancing to the final.
On December 29, 2002 (2002-12-29) at Smackgirl: Japan Cup 2002 Grand Final, Kaneko faced MMA star Yuka Tsuji, who defeated Kaneko by unanimous decision in the final of the middleweight tournament.
At the event Arkadia held in Hakuba, Nagano, Kaneko defeated Keiko Matsukawa via armbar submission in the first round on March 29, 2003 (2003-03-29).
In a rematch of their 2001, Kaneko and Izumi Noguchi fought at the event Smackgirl: Third Season V on July 6, 2003 (2003-07-06), with Noguchi winning the bout by unanimous decision.
On May 7, 2004 (2004-05-07), Kaneko participated in the event Golden Muscle Women's MMA: Strongest Queen Tournament (黄金筋肉 女子総合格闘技 最強女王決定トーナメント, ōgon kinniku joshi sōgō kakutōgi saikyōjoō kettei tōnamento) where she defeated Asami Kodera via submission (rear naked choke) in the first round of the tournament, actress, pro-wrestler and race queen Mizuho Ishikawa via submission (armbar) in the semi-finals before finally losing the final against Hisae Watanabe, whom Kaneko had defeated in 2002, via unanimous decision.
At Deep 18th Impact on February 12, 2005 (2005-02-12), Kaneko tied with Satoko Shinashi, the second women at the time to get a draw against the then unbeaten Shinashi.
Kaneko and Satoko Shinashi had an immediate rematch at Deep 19th Impact on July 8, 2005 (2005-07-08) in which Shinashi defeated Kaneko by unanimous decision. This was also Kaneko retirement match from MMA.
After returning to karate competitions, Kaneko also returned to MMA on December 11, 2009 (2009-12-11) at Jewels 6th ring, defeating Abe Ani Combat Club member Rina Tomita by unanimous decision after dominating the fight despite her four-year absence.
MMA tag matches
Kaneko participated in three MMA tag matches in a one-day tournament at Smackgirl: Strongest Tag Tournament 2002 on July 6, 2002 (2002-07-06) in which she was partnered with Miwako Ishihara and both defeated Yoko Takahashi and Hisae Watanebe in the first round, Aya Koyama and Hikaru Shinohara in the semi-finals, and Naoko Torashima and Kazue Terui in the final to win the tournament.
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 19 matches | 10 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 0 | 1 |
| By submission | 7 | 2 |
| By decision | 3 | 5 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 10-8-1 | Rina Tomita | Decision (3-0) | Jewels 6th Ring | December 11, 2009 | 2 | 5:00 | Kabukicho, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 9-8-1 | Satoko Shinashi | Decision (0-3) | Deep: 19th Impact | July 8, 2005 | 2 | 5:00 | Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 9-7-1 | Satoko Shinashi | Draw | Deep: 18th Impact | February 12, 2005 | 2 | 5:00 | Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 9-7-0 | Hisae Watanabe | Decision (0-3) | Golden Muscle Women's MMA: Strongest Queen Tournament | May 7, 2004 | 2 | 3:00 | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | Tournament final |
| Win | 9-6-0 | Mizuho Ishikawa | Submission (armbar) | Golden Muscle Women's MMA: Strongest Queen Tournament | May 7, 2004 | 1 | 0:47 | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | Tournament semi-finals |
| Win | 8-6-0 | Asami Kodera | Submission (rear naked choke) | Golden Muscle Women's MMA: Strongest Queen Tournament | May 7, 2004 | 1 | 1:17 | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | Tournament first round |
| Loss | 7-6-0 | Izumi Noguchi | Decision (0-3) | Smackgirl: Third Season V | July 6, 2003 | 3 | 5:00 | Minato, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 7-5-0 | Keiko Matsukawa | Submission (armbar) | Arkadia | March 29, 2003 | 1 | 2:21 | Hakuba, Nagano Prefecture, Japan | |
| Loss | 6-5-0 | Yuka Tsuji | Decision (0-3) | Smackgirl: Japan Cup 2002 Grand Final | December 29, 2002 | 3 | 5:00 | Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan | Middleweight tournament final |
| Win | 6-4-0 | Tomomi Sunaba | Decision (3-0) | Smackgirl: Japan Cup 2002 Episode 2 | November 9, 2002 | 3 | 5:00 | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | Middleweight tournament semi-finals |
| Win | 5-4-0 | Aya Koyama | Decision (3-0) | Smackgirl: Japan Cup 2002 Opening Round | October 5, 2002 | 3 | 5:00 | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | Middleweight tournament first round |
| Win | 4-4-0 | Hisae Watanabe | Submission (armbar) | Smackgirl: Summer Gate 2002 | August 4, 2002 | 2 | 3:54 | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 3-4-0 | Tomomi Sunaba | Decision (1-2) | Smackgirl: Golden Gate 2002 | May 6, 2002 | 3 | 5:00 | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 3-3-0 | Naoko Torashima | Submission (armbar) | Smackgirl: God Bless You | March 2, 2002 | 1 | 2:15 | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 2-3-0 | Izumi Noguchi | KO (knees) | Ax Vol. 2: we want to shine | December 26, 2001 | 1 | 1:25 | Minato, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 2-2-0 | Mika Harigai | Submission (armbar) | Smackgirl: Burning Night | August 23, 2001 | 1 | 4:05 | Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 1-2-0 | Ikuma Hoshino | Submission (guillotine choke) | Smackgirl: Indeed, | July 26, 2001 | 3 | 1:50 | Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 1-1-0 | Miwako Ishihara | Submission (armbar) | Smackgirl: Episode 0 | December 17, 2000 | 1 | 0:36 | Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 0-1-0 | Yoko Takahashi | Submission (achilles lock) | Club Fight Round 1 | November 12, 2000 | 1 | 4:01 | Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan |
Championships and accomplishments
Karate
- All-Japan RF Karate Championships 1999 runner-up
- All-Japan RF Karate Championships 2000 runner-up
- All-Japan RF Karate Championships 2001 winner
- All-Japan RF Karate Championships 2002 winner
- All-Japan RF Karate Championships -50 kg 2003 winner
- All-Japan RF Karate Championships -50 kg 2004 runner-up
- All-Japan RF Karate Championships -52 kg 2009 runner-up
- All-Japan RF Karate Championships -52 kg 2010 runner-up
Mixed martial arts
- All-Japan Amateur Shooto Championships women's flyweight 1999 winner
- Smackgirl Japan Cup 2002 middleweight runner-up
- Strongest Queen Tournament 2004 runner-up