The History of The Atomweight (105lb's) Division (2001-2017)
The History of The Atomweight Division
The Legend Years (Satoko Shinashi, Hisae Watanabe, and Miku Matsumoto)
The Atomweight Division today still stands as the most underappreciated division in all of MMA. With Atomweights gaining more and more deserved recognition(Happened in 2012 which I will get to later in the article), I figured this would be an AMAZING time to celebrate the HISTORY of the most underrated and one of my all-time favorite divisions in the history of MMA.
Satoko Shinashi (35-3) - A feared grappler, she'd take her foes down submitting them easily. She was dominant. She'd have a win streak that would rival Legend and feared grappler herself, Megumi Fujii. This win streak extended all the way to (21-0) (Undefeated - 2001-2006). That's CRAZY to think about especially in a time when the sport was dominated by men in which today we're starting to see an equal field more and more as time goes on.
She'd have her first fight/MMA Debut in a Japanese Regional against Aya Koyama on (12/26/01) in which she'd win by Juji-Gatame/Armbar.
She'd suffer a loss against rival and Atomweight Legend, Hisae Watanabe by TKO in the First Round (8/4/06) Mind you, Shinashi defeated her prior to Watanabe's Redemption win. She would later earn 9 more wins, and then suffer her second defeat against Mai Ichii.
Afterwards, she'd earn 7 more wins suffering her most recent lost against Ye Ji Lee.
To this day, she stands an insane record of (35-3) with an insane 26 Submissions and 3 KO/TKO. She hasn't fought many notable opponents except Hisae Watanbe, but dang is that a long history and dominant streak.
You can catch Satoko Shinashi's First Fight with The Hardest Hitting Atomweight EVER (Hisae Watanabe)
(Right Click - Open Tab) (Credit to rubadub79 for The Upload)
- Satoko Shinashi
Miku Matsumoto (23-4) - Like Satoko Shinashi before her, Matsumoto was a grappling monster herself. Throughout her whole career, she'd hold notable wins against Rodrigo Damm's Sister, Carina Damm, Hamderlei Seo Hee Ham, Hisae Watanabe, and Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc. She'd fight anywhere from 115 down to 105lb's, and was dominant at both weight divisions. Her first fight/MMA Debut was (9/4/04) against Eri Ishiyama in which she won by Unanimous Decision.
Before she retired in 2009, she had an insane 14 Submissions and 3 KO/TKO's.
You can catch her submit an opponent Here
(Right Click - Open Tab) (Credit to 777Bliver777 for The Upload)
- Miku Matsumoto (Credit to MMA Core for The Upload)
Hisae Watabe (20-6) - Now we come to my all-time favorite Atomweight, and with very good reasoning. She's the hardest hitting Atomweight, EVER. PERIOD. Hisae Watanabe was known for SAVAGE hands that would make todays Atomweights look back and say "Wow, she hits HARD!"
It's no joke. She'd straight knock you out COLD. I'll prove this at the end of the Legends Arc of this article.
While Satoko Shinashi and Miku Matsumoto were feared grapplers, Hisae Watanabe was the complete opposite. She was an inSANEly feared KO Artist. She KO'd and stretchered out Satoko Shinashi, and out-cold KO of Mariko Fujimoto!
She holds an inSANE KO/TKO Record of 12 KO's, and for a Atomweight, that's crazy to think someone her size would KO people out-cold, but it's true. Just because they're small, doesn't mean they pack a punch. If one hits directly on the jaw that snaps your head back and you don't see it (Atomweights are FAST), then you're going to sleep and call the ring your bed.
She last fought on (6/19/16) for VTJ (Vale Tudo Japan) in a Draw against Jung Eun Park. Her MMA Debut was on (4/7/02) against Maiko Okada for longtime WMMA Promotion (Long before Invicta FC) Smackgirl in a losing effort by disqualification.
As of today, her record stands at a very impressive (20-6) with 12 KO/TKO's. Make no mistake about it, she's the hardest hitting Atomweight EVER. Long before Jinh Yu frey's Career Defining KO of Darla Harris.
Here is her Career Defining KO of Mariko Fujimoto (Credit to Diarios del Versus for The Upload)
(Right Click - Open Tab)
Also, here's a Highlight Video a fan made of her showcasing her BRUTAL hands! Her KO of Legend Satoko Shinashi is at (1:49)
(Credit to CombatSportsDiscussion for The Upload)
- Hisae Watanabe (Credit to Tapology for The Upload)
The Mainstream Invicta
Invicta 1 - Invicta FC would be the first all WMMA Promotion in the states (Not Hook-n-Shoot, but they're worth mentioning for having some of if not first WMMA fights, EVER.) that would see Atomweight Stars, and when a major promotion would be behind them at all times. This card featured Cassoe Roddish/Meghan Wright, Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc/Amy Davis, and FotN back-n-forth bloody Jessica Penne/Lisa Ellis. Keep your eye close on Penne because I'll mention her later.
Invicta 3 - For Atomweights, this was a historic point in that we'd have our first Invicta FC Atomweight Champion (Jessica Penne who defeated the #1 Atomweight at the time in Naho Sugiyama), and the debut of Michelle Waterson. Jessica Penne would dominate SugiRock, and would take the gold via Round 2 with a Triangle Choke.
Invicta 3 Continued - This would also mark the debut of who would later be our next Atomweight Champion for Invicta FC. I'm talking none other than the always entertaining Michelle Waterson. She would win a good fight by Split Decision, and her opponent was Lacey Schuckman. Before her run in Invicta, she held a notable victory in Atomweight MMA Vet Masako Yoshida.
Invicta 5 - This would be the first time EVER in Atomweight history that Atomweights would headline a PPV (Pay Per View), and it was a highly anticipated fight between Top 5 Atomweights at the time in Michelle Waterson and #1 Jessica Penne. Good back in forth fight where Waterson was dominating the ground game in Rounds 1 & 2, Penne took Round 3, and then Wateson would hit a nice Juji-Gatame/Armbar in Round 4 to crown our new Invicta FC Atomweight Champion.
Invicta 8 - This would mark the debut of Jinh Yu Frey dropping Jodie Esquibel (now Strawweight) with a Head Kick in Round 1, but Frey would go onto lose a close decision. This would also be headlined yet again by Atomweights with Michelle Waterson defending her title against Yasuko Tamada. She would win by Round 3 TKO.
Invicta 9 - Would mark the debut of Amber Brown in which she'd defeat Liz McCarthy by Split Decision.
Invicta 10 - Featured Jinh Yu Frey defeating scrappy grappler Cassie Robb with a Round 1 Guillotine. This fight would also be headlined yet again by Atomweights in which Michelle Waterson would defend her title against upcoming Herica Tiburcio. In which the back-n-forth fight from both having top control throughout the fight, but Waterson would wind up losing to Tiburcio in Round 3 by a Guillotine Choke.
This was huge at the time because Waterson was receiving huge media attention around this time. She'd later go onto be signed by The UFC fighting in their Strawweight Division.
Invicta 13 - This would mark the Invicta 105 Debut for Ayaka Hamasaki. After she fought Galdeha at 115, she couldn't get the much much bigger Galdelha to fight off her back. Galdelha's Hip Base was excellent and would have Hamasaki fighting off her back.
Ayaka Hamasaki Vs. Herica Tiburcio. It would be a back-n-forth fight, but the judges rightfully gave the nod to Ayaka taking gold from Tiburcio in the process. It's important to note that both are still Top 5 Atomweights.
The fight would also feauture at the time Top 10 Atomweight Amber Brown and she was surging into the rankings very quickly at the time.
She'd fight surging prospect Catherine Costigan in which Amber Brown would win via Round 1 RNC (Rear-Naked Choke).
Invicta 16 - Atomweights would yet AGAIN headline a major MMA Promotion in the main event being Ayaka Hamasaki taking on at the time Top 5 Amber Brown.
Fresh off of her victory over the very very very young Shino VanHoose, she'd be awarded a title shot against Hamasaki in a good back-n-forth fight where Hamasaki would win Via Round 3 Juji-Gatame/Armbar.
It's also very important to note just how tight the Atomweight Division WAS (and still is) at the time when Jinh Yu Frey would face Former Atomweight Champ Herica Tiburcio in which a back-n-forth fight was awarded to Jinh Yu Frey which she dropped Tiburcio at the very end of early rounds. This was seen if Frey won, she'd be the next contender for Hamasaki.
Invicta 19 - Fresh off her last title defense against the always dangerous and scrappy grappler Amber Brown, she'd be making her next defense against the always scary hard hitting Jinh Yu Frey.
The fight was amazing from the get-go to its' controversial stoppage. Frey would get Hamasaki to defend off her back, and in Round 2 before the stoppage, Hamasaki showed power in her hands buckling Frey's Knees nearly dropping her. The fight would be stopped by Doctor Stoppage for a cut on Frey made the doctor's decision to stop it. Was it right? Heck no, go watch B.J Penn Vs. Diego Sanchez then come back and tell me the fight wasn't stopped on controversy.
This card also featured current Top Atomweight Julia Jones in which she'd defeat Stephanie Skinner with a Round 1 RNC (Rear-Naked Choke).
That concludes the Mainstream Atomweights Division, and as I stated earlier about talking about Penne and the drawing power of Atomweights? Yeah? Well, both Penne and Waterson were singed to The UFC's Strawweight Divisions because of their Atomweight fights in Invicta FC.
Invicta has always been a good platform for fighters to move onto The UFC, and that's what happened when they signed them. Invicta was growing and only grows from here.
Also to mention, Atomweights would Headline/Main Event 5 events with good success as they will continue to do so after Invicta 22.
- Current Atomweight Champion, Ayaka Hamasaki (With DEEP JEWELS) Credit to Tapology for The Upload)
- Former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion, Michelle Waterson (Credit to MMA Weekly for The Upload)
- Former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion, Jessica Penne (Credit to photographer who took this photo)
- Amber Brown (Credit to Tapology for The Upload)
- Jinh Yu Frey's Career Defining Victory KO'ing in brutal fashion, Darla Harris (Credit to Press Release/SCS for Photo)
- Former Invicta Atomweight Champion, Herica Tiburcio (Credit to whoever uploaded it)
The Atomweight Division of Today
- Bi Nguyen (Credit to photographer who took this)
Bi Nguyen (5-1 Amateur) (3-0 Pro) - We're seeing an explosion of Atomweight Prospects coming out of todays division, and here is one of the most vocal out of them all with inspiring goals. In stating this, she doesn't care for herself, but rather than the Atomweight Division itself. She's very knowledgeable of her division knowing where the Top Atomweights fight at.
This is none other than Bi Nguyen. She's signed to KOTC (King of the Cage), and is a highly talked about prospect not just because of the fans, but marketing herself as the ONLY (that I know of) Atomweight in wanting a division in The UFC.
Wow, that's a very bold statement to make, and she has a point in stating "They need a star", and she'd like to be that star. Thing is, she doesn't state just herself, but she doesn't care who it is to accomplish her goal. She wants an Atomweight Division in The UFC, and nothing selfish about it.
Atomweights like this make the division itself entertainign wanting you to know more of the division, and she does a great job with that.
Her next fight is a rematch with another highly talked about prospect in Andy Nguyen for KOTC on (5/6/17). It's a must see fight! The first was amazing, and I'm a fan of everyone really. They're human beings and should be treated as such from fans, so good luck to both!
The thing about King of The Cage is that they're streaming for FREE their Atomweight and Strawweight Bouts, and if this article doesn't give you a reason to watch it, I don't know what to tell you,ahahah!
You can catch her first fight with KOTC Atomweight Champion Andy Nguyen here
(Right Click - Open Tab) (Credit to User For The Upload)
- Kyra Batara (Credit to Photographer that took this)
Kyra Batara (5-4) - Kyra Batara signed to Combate (and their biggest star), is another highly talked prospect in that she trains and rolls with The Great Eddie Bravo. She doesn't mind calling out other rising Atomweights in which she had once gone back-n-forth with Paulina Granados on Twitter. Speaking of Paulina Granados is another highly talked prospect.
Batara is known for her inSANE wrestling in which she'll literally lift you up and slam you, very entertaining. It makes me mad that Fight Pass has dropped Combate, and by stating this, they drop talent for worldwide viewers to miss.
Watch Kyra Batara put on a SICK wrestling display on Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsVHjyIgtlM
(Right Click - Open Tab) (Credit to Combat and chicks for The Upload)
- Silvania Monteiro (Credit to Sherdog for The Upload)
Silvania Montero (7-2) - is another of many surging Atomweight Prospects in that she's very well rounded, but she has shown in her last fight at Aspera FC 50, that she has KO Power in that she dropped her opponent with one Left Hook and proceeded to win by Stoppage Ground-n-Pound Via TKO.
She's the opposite of Bi Nguyen and Kyra Batara in that she isn't very vocal. She is very well-rounded and is sure to be a Top 10 Atomweight this year if she keeps racking wins.
You can catch her recent KO win here
(Right Click - Open Tab if you can't see it)
Other prospects include - Thaty Bergamaschi, Kanna Asakura, Hard Hitting Rena Kubota, and Paulina Granados.
You can look up many of these fighters Via Tapology, and look up there fights on Google :). There's a lot of prospects in this ever growing division since Invicta allowed Atomweights to Headline their cards, and I hope you all enjoyed it and that I introduced fans to a division that's the most overlooked in the history of MMA!
I caught onto Atomweights when Invicta picked them up, and used Google to find older fighters such as Hisae Watanabe and Satoko Shinashi.
Conclusion
To conclude this 15 hour article, I want to mention that since Invicta has allowed Atomweights to headline their cards with good success, it showcases they have drawing power, and if things like that keep up and have more entertaining fighters like Hamasaki, Frey, and Tiburcio many more, then we could see them get into the biggest media mainstream of them all where every fan will know them, The UFC.
A lot will judge them for their size too, but that's the beauty of it all and MMA in general. I wear glasses, but I don't when I wrestle. The same can be said for Atomweights. They can be small, but they can also showcase their mean side inside the cage. Hamasaki in my honest opinion is a Top 10 P4P Fighter (Pound 4 Pound), and some train and roll with a lot bigger foes in their gym.
In stating everything in this article, they have a rich very under the radar history, and they can headline major MMA Promotions such as Invicta and have PROVED in this article they can shut haters up abut their size with very entertaining fights. True fact, it's rare to see an Atomweight Bout where not many strikes are thrown. Their Striking output is CRAZY.
I hope you all enjoyed it because while I wrote for WMMA, I happen to be a huge MMA fan in general. The reason this article means a lot to me is that Atomweight Division is the most underrated division in the history of MMA with entertainment spanning all the way back to 2001. It means a lot because I like to give the spotlight to divisions that don't get much respect.
I hope I help fans give support to a new weight class, and that fighters earn fans based off this article because fighters are humnas too, and should be treated as so. The sport is often sterotyped by people like Meryl Streep who knows nothing of MMA or the fighters in general. So I hope this helps fighters earn much deserved attention and fans :)!
This article has 2,650+ words, and took me 15+ hours to do, and I hope I can contribute in helping evolve the Atomweight Division to the main stream because it certainly deserves it :)!
Thanks for reading and stay safe and have a wonderful day :)!
Written by,
FriendlyMMANerd
Good job! I love the atomweight division too!
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