Quick Facts
Biography
Seo Hee Ham or Seohee Ham (Korean: 함서희 ham seo-hi [ham sʰʌhi]; born (1987-03-08)March 8, 1987, written Ham Seo-Hee in Korean order), is a female South Korean mixed martial artist and kickboxer.
In Japan, she is occasionally nicknamed Arale-chan, in reference to her similar looks outside of the ring to the character from the manga and anime series Dr. Slump, and also Hamderlei Silva because of the similarities between her fighting style and Wanderlei Silva's style.
Ham has participated in MMA promotions Deep, Smackgirl, ROAD FC and Jewels. On May 25, 2013 (2013-05-25), she became the second Jewels featherweight queen champion.
Ham is currently ranked as the #2 female atomweight (96-106 lb) fighter in the world according to the Unified Women's Mixed Martial Arts Rankings.
Early life and education
Ham was born on (1987-03-08)March 8, 1987 in South Korea. She started training in kickboxing in 2004.
With few female fighters to train with in South Korea, Ham regularly trains with male fighters, such as fellow gym member Dong Hyun Kim.
Mixed martial arts career
Japan
Ham debuted against Japanese MMA veteran Hisae Watanabe on February 16, 2007 (2007-02-16) at Deep 28 Impact, upsetting the favorite Watanabe by winning via unanimous decision. Ham was defeated by Miku Matsumoto via triangle choke submission on May 13, 2007 (2007-05-13) at clubDeep Toyama: Barbarian Festival 6.
Ham rebounded back from her first loss with a unanimous decision victory over Ayumi Saito on September 6, 2007 (2007-09-06) at Smackgirl 2007: Queens' Hottest Summer. On December 26, 2007 (2007-12-26) at Smackgirl 7th anniversary: Starting Over, Ham challenged Smackgirl Lightweight Champion Yuka Tsuji for her title, losing by unanimous decision in a match that Tsuji completely dominated.
On February 14, 2008 (2008-02-14), Ham participated in the Smackgirl World ReMix Tournament 2008 Opening Round, where she defeated Saori Ishioka by unanimous decision. In the tournament semi-finals on April 25, 2008 (2008-04-25), Abe Ani Combat Club star Megumi Fujii handed Ham her third professional defeat by submitting her with an armbar in the Smackgirl World ReMix Tournament 2008 Second Round.
After a year without fights in MMA, Ham made her debut with MMA promotion Jewels and earned another victory on September 13, 2009 (2009-09-13) by defeating Misaki Takimoto by unanimous decision at Jewels 5th Ring.
Ham next participated at Jewels 9th Ring in the first round of the inaugural Jewels Lightweight Queen Tournament, held to crown the first Jewels Lightweight Champion, where she defeated Mai Ichii by unanimous decision on July 31, 2010 (2010-07-31).
Ham was slated to compete at Jewels 10th Ring, but since she decided to participate in two kickboxing matches with conflicting dates, Jewels released her. Jewels later announced that she would still participate in the semi-finals of the Lightweight Queen Tournament at Jewels 11th Ring.
Ham faced Mika Nagano in the semi-finals and defeated Nagano by split decision. In the tournament final later that night, Ham was defeated by Ayaka Hamasaki via unanimous decision.
Ham rematched Saori Ishioka on February 25, 2011 (2011-02-25) at DEEP: 52 Impact in Tokyo, Japan. She once again defeated Ishioka by unanimous decision.
On March 6, 2011 (2011-03-06), Ham faced Anna Saito in a mixed martial arts rules match at Gladiator 15: GI 2. Ham defeated Saito by unanimous decision.
Ham faced Mei Yamaguchi in a Jewels vs. Valkyrie match at Jewels 15th Ring on July 9, 2011 (2011-07-09). She defeated Yamaguchi by unanimous decision.
Ham challenged Jewels champion Ayaka Hamasaki in a rematch at Jewels 17th Ring on December 17, 2011 (2011-12-17). She was defeated by TKO (corner stoppage) after the first round when she could not continue due to injury.
On April 21, 2013 (2013-04-21), Ham faced pro wrestler Ryo Mizunami at Gladiator: Dream, Power and Hope. She defeated Mizunami by submission due to an armbar early in the first round.
Ham dropped down in weight to challenge Naho Sugiyama for the Jewels Atomweight queen title at Jewels 24th Ring on May 25, 2013 (2013-05-25). She defeated Sugiyama by unanimous decision to become the new Jewels Atomweight queen champion.
Following Jewels' closure, Ham's title was renamed the Deep Jewels Atomweight championship. She defended the title against Sadae Numata at Deep Jewels 2 on November 4, 2013 (2013-11-04). Ham won the fight by unanimous decision.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
In early November 2014 Seo Hee Ham signed a four-fight contract with Ultimate Fighting Championship to join UFC's Strawweight division. She made her debut against Joanne Calderwood at The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale on December 12, 2014. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Ham was expected to face Bec Rawlings on May 10, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 65. However, Ham pulled out of the bout on April 10 and was replaced by Lisa Ellis.
After nearly a year away from the company, Ham returned to face Cortney Casey on November 28, 2015 at UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Masvidal. She won the fight via unanimous decision. The win also earned Ham her first Fight of the Night bonus award. She is set to fight Danielle Taylor at UFC Fight Night 101 on Nov. 26, 2016.
Kickboxing career
Ham had her first professional kickboxing match at CMA Festival 2: Ikuhisa Minowa Debut 10 Anniversary Tournament on July 23, 2007 (2007-07-23), where she defeated former Smackgirl Open Weight Champion Megumi Yabushita by unanimous decision. On November 3, 2009 (2009-11-03), Ham defeated Ayano Oishi in a K-1 rules match by unanimous decision at Japan-South Korea friendship international martial arts tournament Gladiator Okayama tournament.
At Jewels 7th Ring on March 19, 2010 (2010-03-19), Ham had an exhibition match against Shoot boxing rising star Rena Kubota.
Ham earned another unanimous decision victory over Japanese fighter Miyu Matsui on April 25, 2010 (2010-04-25) at Gladiator 6, winning the CMA KPW Lightweight Championship.
On February 27, 2011 (2011-02-27), Ham faced Megumi Yabushita for a second time at Gladiator 14: KOK Samurai Series. Ham won the fight by TKO in the second round.
On August 19, 2011 (2011-08-19), Ham entered the 2011 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup tournament. She defeated Emi Fujino and Mina in the opening rounds, but lost to Erika Kamimura via unanimous decision in the tournament final.
Ham faced Erika Kamimura in a rematch at Rise 88 on June 2, 2012 (2012-06-02). She was defeated by unanimous decision.
Ham entered the 2012 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup on August 25, 2012 (2012-08-25). She defeated Lisa Ellis to advance to the semi-final round, but lost to Rena Kubota via unanimous decision.
Championships and accomplishments
- CMA/KPW Women's Champion
- CMA/KPW Women's Lightweight Champion (One time)
- Two successful title defenses
- Jewels
- Jewels Atomweight Queen Champion (one time; final)
- Deep Jewels
- Deep Jewels Atomweight Champion (one time)
- Two successful title defenses
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (One time)
Other activities
Ham defeated pro-wrestler Stalker Ichikawa by left high kick KO at Gladiator 10 on October 3, 2010 (2010-10-03). She defeated pro-wrestler Antonio Koinoki by KO at Gladiator 11 on October 9, 2010 (2010-10-09).
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 25 matches | 17 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 1 |
| By submission | 2 | 2 |
| By decision | 14 | 5 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 17-8 | Mina Kurobe | TKO (punches) | Road FC 39 - Ham vs Kurobe | 000000002017-06-10-0000June 10, 2017 | 3 | 4:13 | Seoul, South Korea | Won the Road FC Atomweight Championship. |
| Loss | 16–8 | Danielle Taylor | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Brunson | 000000002016-11-27-0000November 27, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Melbourne, Australia | |
| Loss | 16–7 | Bec Rawlings | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Mir | 000000002016-03-20-0000March 20, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Brisbane, Australia | |
| Win | 16–6 | Cortney Casey | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Masvidal | 000000002015-11-28-0000November 28, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Seoul, South Korea | Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 15–6 | Joanne Calderwood | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale | 000000002014-12-12-0000December 12, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Return to Strawweight. |
| Win | 15–5 | Saori Ishioka | Submission (armbar) | Deep Jewels 6 | 000000002014-11-03-0000November 3, 2014 | 2 | 2:43 | Tokyo, Japan | Defended the Deep Jewels Atomweight (106 lbs) Championship |
| Win | 14–5 | Alyona Rassohyna | Decision (unanimous) | Road FC 018 | 000000002014-08-30-0000August 30, 2014 | 2 | 5:00 | Seoul, South Korea | |
| Win | 13–5 | Shino VanHoose | Decision (unanimous) | Road FC Korea 003: Korea vs. Brazil | 000000002014-04-06-0000April 6, 2014 | 2 | 5:00 | Seoul, South Korea | |
| Win | 12–5 | Sadae Numata | Decision (unanimous) | Deep Jewels 2 | 000000002013-11-04-0000November 4, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Defended the Deep Jewels Atomweight (106 lbs) Championship |
| Win | 11–5 | Naho Sugiyama | Decision (unanimous) | Jewels 24th Ring | 000000002013-05-25-0000May 25, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | 105 lbs debut. Won the Jewels Atomweight (106 lbs) Queen Championship |
| Win | 10–5 | Ryo Mizunami | Submission (armbar) | Gladiator: Dream, Power and Hope | 000000002013-04-21-0000April 21, 2013 | 1 | 1:05 | Sapporo, Japan | Defended the CMA/KPW Women's Lightweight Championship. |
| Loss | 9–5 | Ayaka Hamasaki | TKO (corner stoppage) | Jewels 17th Ring | 000000002011-12-17-0000December 17, 2011 | 1 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | For the Jewels Lightweight (115 lbs) Queen Championship. |
| Win | 9–4 | Mei Yamaguchi | Decision (unanimous) | Jewels 15th Ring | 000000002011-07-09-0000July 9, 2011 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 8–4 | Anna Saito | Decision (unanimous) | Gladiator 15: GI 2 | 000000002011-03-06-0000March 6, 2011 | 2 | 5:00 | Kawasaki, Japan | Defended the CMA/KPW Women's Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–4 | Saori Ishioka | Decision (unanimous) | Deep: 52 Impact | 000000002011-02-25-0000February 25, 2011 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 6–4 | Ayaka Hamasaki | Decision (unanimous) | Jewels 11th Ring | 000000002010-12-17-0000December 17, 2010 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Jewels Lightweight (115 lbs) Queen Tournament Final. |
| Win | 6–3 | Mika Nagano | Decision (split) | Jewels 11th Ring | 000000002010-12-17-0000December 17, 2010 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Jewels Lightweight (115 lbs) Queen Tournament Second Round. |
| Win | 5–3 | Mai Ichii | Decision (unanimous) | Jewels 9th Ring | 000000002010-07-31-0000July 31, 2010 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Jewels Lightweight (115 lbs) Queen Tournament Opening Round. |
| Win | 4–3 | Misaki Takimoto | Decision (unanimous) | Jewels 5th Ring | 000000002009-09-13-0000September 13, 2009 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 3–3 | Megumi Fujii | Submission (armbar) | Smackgirl - World ReMix Tournament 2008 Second Round | 000000002008-04-25-0000April 25, 2008 | 1 | 3:39 | Tokyo, Japan | Lightweight tournament semi-final. |
| Win | 3–2 | Saori Ishioka | Decision (unanimous) | Smackgirl - World ReMix Tournament 2008 Opening Round | 000000002008-02-14-0000February 14, 2008 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Lightweight tournament quarterfinal. |
| Loss | 2–2 | Yuka Tsuji | Decision (unanimous) | Smackgirl 7th Anniversary: Starting Over | 000000002007-12-26-0000December 26, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | For the Smackgirl Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 2–1 | Ayumi Saito | Decision (unanimous) | Smackgirl 2007: Queens' Hottest Summer | 000000002007-09-06-0000September 6, 2007 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 1–1 | Miku Matsumoto | Submission (triangle choke) | Deep: clubDeep Toyama: Barbarian Festival 6 | 000000002007-05-13-0000May 13, 2007 | 2 | 3:44 | Toyama, Japan | |
| Win | 1–0 | Hisae Watanabe | Decision (unanimous) | Deep: 28 Impact | 000000002007-02-16-0000February 16, 2007 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan |
Kickboxing record
| 11 fights, 8 wins, 3 losses | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 8-3-0 | Kira Yuki | Decision (unanimous) | DEEP JEWELS 4 | 000000002014-05-18-0000May 18, 2014 | 3 | 3:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Kickboxing rules |
| Loss | 7-3-0 | Rena Kubota | Decision (unanimous) | 2012 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup | 000000002012-08-25-0000August 25, 2012 | 3+1 | 2:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Shoot boxing rules. 2012 Girls S-Cup semi-final |
| Win | 7-2-0 | Lisa Ellis | Decision (unanimous) | 2012 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup | 000000002012-08-25-0000August 25, 2012 | 3 | 2:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Shoot boxing rules. 2012 Girls S-Cup quarterfinal |
| Loss | 6-2-0 | Erika Kamimura | Decision (unanimous) | Rise 88 | 000000002012-06-02-0000June 2, 2012 | 3 | 3:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Kickboxing rules |
| Loss | 6-1-0 | Erika Kamimura | Decision (unanimous) | 2011 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup | 000000002011-08-19-0000August 19, 2011 | 3 | 2:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Shoot boxing rules. 2011 Girls S-Cup final |
| Win | 6-0-0 | Mina | Decision (majority) | 2011 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup | 000000002011-08-19-0000August 19, 2011 | 3 | 2:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Shoot boxing rules. 2011 Girls S-Cup semi-final |
| Win | 5-0-0 | Emi Fujino | Decision (majority) | 2011 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup | 000000002011-08-19-0000August 19, 2011 | 3 | 2:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Shoot boxing rules. 2011 Girls S-Cup quarterfinal |
| Win | 4-0-0 | Megumi Yabushita | TKO (punches) | Gladiator 14: KOK Samurai Series | 000000002011-02-27-0000February 27, 2011 | 2 | 0:55 | Tokyo, Japan | Kickboxing rules |
| Win | 3-0-0 | Miyu Matsui | Decision (unanimous) | Gladiator 6 | 000000002010-04-25-0000April 25, 2010 | 3 | 3:00 | Kobe, Japan | Won CMA KPW Lightweight Championship |
| Win | 2-0-0 | Ayano Oishi | Decision (unanimous) | Japan-South Korea friendship international martial arts tournament Gladiator Okayama tournament | 000000002009-11-03-0000November 3, 2009 | 3 | 3:00 | Okayama, Japan | K-1 rules |
| Win | 1-0-0 | Megumi Yabushita | Decision (unanimous) | CMA Festival 2: Ikuhisa Minowa debut 10 anniversary tournament | 000000002007-07-23-0000July 23, 2007 | 3 | 2:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Kickboxing rules |
Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest