JEWELS Forms Alliance With Shoot Boxing

by Chris Nelson on Apr 15, 2009 11:45 AM EDT Comment 11 comments

After months in hibernation, JEWELS - the female-only Japanese MMA promotion which rose from the ashes of Smackgirl - has announced some details on their upcoming "3rd Ring" show, scheduled for May 16th at Korakuen Hall. The big development is the addition of Shoot Boxing rules matches to the lineup; for the uninitiated, shoot boxing is a mutated form of kickboxing which uses K-1 rules but allows standing submissions. The style was developed in the mid-80s by Caesar Takeshi and has enjoyed a resurgence in Japan over the last few years, with MMA fighters like Chris Horodecki and Luiz Azeredo participating in Shoot Boxing's 2008 "S-Cup" tournament.

It was announced after a Shoot Boxing show at Korakuen last week that JEWELS and Shoot Boxing have formed an alliance which will allow them to share fighters and grow both sports. JEWELS' top star and former Smackgirl submission ace Megumi Fujii already competed in a Shoot Boxing match last September. (She dropped a majority decision, but has said she enjoyed the experience and hopes to do it again.)

JEWELS fighter Saori Ishioka (7-3) will fight in a Shoot Boxing rules match at the May event, and though her opponent was not announced, she stated she would like to face kickboxing high school student REINA (Lena), who fought last month in K-1's first ever women's bout.

Meanwhile, the oversized HIROKO (Yuko Yamanaka) voiced a concern which may sound familiar to American fans of WMMA: "I'm sad... I'm too big, can't find opponent!"

Here's how the third JEWELS card looks right now, with thanks to Japan-MMA:

ShootBoxing Fights
Misato Tomita vs. TBA
Saori Ishioka vs. TBA

MMA Rules Fights
Openweight: Yuko "HIROKO" Yamanaka (6-1) vs. TBA (Foreign Fighter)
48kg: Misaki Takimoto (9-10-4) vs. Yukiko Seki (4-14)
Openweight: HARUMI (0-10) vs. Chihiro Oikawa (0-1)

Also announced as participants:

- Mika Nagano (1-2)
- Mayumi “Super Benkei” Aoki (3-6)
- Shizuka Sugiyama (2-0)
- Shinsaki Ozawa (0-2)
- SHIHO (1-1)

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Comments

Ugh!

It might be good for the bottom line, but I am not a fan of the shoot boxing concept.

Women’s MMA in Japan blows. The have completely gutted the ground game with their restrictions on striking. It’s like watching old RINGS matches.

by Steve4192 on Apr 15, 2009 11:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m down with Shoot Boxing on its own, but yeah, I wish they’d keep their chocolate out of my peanut butter. Still, this is probably a good financial look for JEWELS since SB seems like it’s really picking up steam and could provide good revenue. Honestly, they could form a partnership with New Japan and all start wearing lucha masks as long as I get to see these girls fight.

by Chris Nelson on Apr 15, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shoot boxing would be the most balling ever if they allowed standing elbows.

by ilostmydog on Apr 15, 2009 12:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

One more reason I prefer Valkyrie.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Apr 15, 2009 12:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I prefer Valkyrie to JEWELS, but even Valkyrie has the same fundamental problem. Once the fight hits the ground, it is essentially a grappling match. Aside from the occasional body shot, ground & pound does not exist.

I wish there was a Japanese promoter out there with the stones to let them fight. Barring that, I’d like to see a North American promoter with the guts to start running chick fights in105/115/125 pound divisions and bring over the likes of Mega Megu, Watanabe, Shinashi, Matsumoto, etc.

by Steve4192 on Apr 15, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs