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Kana Morimoto

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Kana Morimoto
Born森本佳奈
(1992-07-29) 29 July 1992 (age 32)
Matsusaka, Mie, Japan
Other namesKANA, カナ
NationalityJapanese
Height1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)[1]
Weight52 kg (115 lb; 8 st 3 lb)
DivisionFlyweight
StyleKickboxing
Fighting out ofSetagaya, Tokyo, Japan
TeamK-1 Gym Sangenjaya Silver Wolf[2]
Years active2015-present
Kickboxing record
Total26
Wins22
By knockout11
Losses4
By knockout0
Other information
UniversityKokushikan University[3]
Websitehttps://kana-kick.com/profile/
Last updated on: 3 November 2020

Kana Morimoto (森本佳奈, born 29 July 1992), popularly known as KANA, is a Japanese kickboxer competing as a flyweight with K-1, where she is the current flyweight champion. A professional competitor since 2015, she is the 2019 K-1 Women's Flyweight Grand Prix winner and two-time Krush Women's Flyweight champion.

She is the #9 ranked female kickboxer in the world by Combat Press, as of November 2020,[4] and has been ranked in the top ten since June 2018.[5]

Kickboxing career

Early career

Morimoto made her professional debut against a fellow debutante Koto Hiroaka at Krush 58 on 12 September 2015. She won the fight by a second-round knockout. The knockout was preceded by two knockdowns: the first was a standing knockdown in the first round, while the second resulted from an uppercut in the second round.[6]

Morimoto was scheduled to face the #5 ranked J-Girls mini-flyweight Miyako Mitsuhori at Krush 60 on 14 November 2015.[7] Mitsuhori was more experienced than Morimoto, with 20 professional bouts in her four year career.[8] Morimoto won the fight by a first-round knockout.[9]

Morimoto was scheduled to face the undefeated Jeong Hye Jin at Krush 63 on 5 February 2016.[10] Morimoto scored the first knockdown of the fight in the first round, countering Jin's jab with a right hook and following up with punches. Although she wasn't able to knock her opponent out, Morimoto inflicted enough damage that the ringside doctor had to be called in three seconds into the second round, to check the cut above Jin's left eye. The doctor opted to stop the fight, awarding Morimoto the technical knockout.[11]

Krush

First Krush title reign

Morimoto was scheduled to fight the former J-Girls mini-flyweight champion Momi for the vacant Krush Women's Flyweight title at Krush 65 on 10 April 2016.[12] Morimoto won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 29–28, 29–28 and 29–27. Morimoto scored the only knockdown of the fight in the third round, dropping Momi with a head kick.[13]

Morimoto made her first title defense against the one-time Krush title challenger Aki Gracyer at Krush 67 on 18 July 2016.[14] She won the fight by majority decision. Two of the judges scored the fight 30–28 and 29–28 in her favor, while the third judge scored it 29–28 for Graycer.[15]

Morimoto made her second title defense against Kai Ting Chuang at Krush 69 on 30 September 2016. She won the fight by a third-round knockout, landing a head kick with 31 seconds left in the bout.[16]

Morimoto was scheduled to make her third title defense against Mellony Geugjes at Krush 72 on 15 January 2017. Geugjes won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 28–26, 27–26 and 28–26. Morimoto suffered two knockdowns in the bout: she was knocked down with a left jab in the first round and with a right straight in the third round. It was the first loss of Morimoto's professional career.[17]

Spicer and Machut bouts

Morimoto was scheduled to face the former WBC Muaythai International Super Flyweight champion Grace Spicer at Krush 76 on 28 May 2017. She won the fight by a wide unanimous decision, with scores of 30–26, 30–26 and 30–25.[18]

Morimoto was scheduled to face the incumbent ISKA World Atomweight Full Contact champion Emilie Machut at Krush 79 on 20 August 2017.[19] She won the fight by a first-round knockout, dropping Machut with a right hook with 5 seconds left in the round. During her post-fight interview, Morimoto called for a rematch with Mellony Geugjes.[20]

Second Krush title reign

Morimoto was scheduled to rematch Mellony Geugjes for the Krush Women's Flyweight title at Krush 83 on 9 December 2017. She won the closely contested bout by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–29, 29–28 and 30–28.[21]

Morimoto made her K-1 debut against Polina Petukhova at K-1 World GP 2019: K’FESTA 2 on 21 March 2018. In preparation for the bout, Morimoto trained with the reigning WBA and WBO world champion Naoko Fujioka.[22] She won the fight by a dominant unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the 30–26 in her favor. Morimoto scored the sole knockdown of the fight at the very end of the second round, dropping Petukhova with a head kick.[23]

Morimoto was scheduled to make the first title defense of her second title reign against Kim Townsend at Krush 88 on 17 May 2018.[24] The fight was ruled a draw after the first three rounds were contested, with two of the judges scoring the fight as an even 28–28 draw and the third judge scoring the fight 29–28 for Townsend. Morimoto was awarded the unanimous decision, after an extra round was fought.[25]

Morimoto was scheduled to make her second title defense against Liu Shibei in the main event of Krush 92 on 18 August 2018.[26] She won the fight by a second-round knockout, stopping Shibei with a liver kick midway through the round.[27]

K-1

Morimoto was scheduled to face the two-time IFMA World medalist Josefine Lindgren Knutsson at K-1 World GP 2018: 3rd Super Lightweight Championship Tournament on 3 November 2018.[28] She won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 29–27, 29–27 and 30–28.[29] During the post-fight press conference, Morimoto revealed that she had suffered a bicep tear, in her right arm, during the second round.[30]

Morimoto and Knutsson were scheduled to rematch at K'Festa 2 on 10 March 2019.[31] Knutsson was more successful in the rematch, winning the fight by majority decision, with scores of 30–28, 30–29 and 29–29.[32]

Morimoto was scheduled to face Mahiro K-1 World GP 2019: Japan vs World 5 vs 5 & Special Superfight in Osaka on 24 August 2019.[33] She won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–27, 30–27 and 30–28.[34]

2019 K-1 Women's Flyweight Tournament

Morimoto was scheduled to participate in the 2019 K-1 Women's Flyweight Championship Tournament, held to crown the inaugural women's flyweight champion, on 28 December 2019. She was scheduled to face the reigning ISKA atomweight and Enfusion 52 kg champion Cristina Morales in the tournament semifinals.[35] Morimoto won the fight by a unanimous decision, with scores of 29–27, 30–27 and 29–27. She scored the sole knockdown of the fight in the third round, dropping Morales with a short right hook.[36]

Morimoto fought a rubber match with Josefine Lindgren Knutsson in the tournament finals. Each held a decision win over the other entering the bout, although Morimoto was regarded as the favorite. The fight was ruled a majority draw following the first three rounds, with one of the judges scoring the bout 29–28 for Morimoto. Morimoto was awarded a split decision after an extra round was fought.[37]

K-1 Women's Flyweight champion

Morimoto was scheduled to face Gloria Peritore in a non-title bout at K'Festa 3 on 22 March 2020.[38] She won the fight by a first-round knockout, landing a right hook with 18 seconds left in the round.[39]

Morimoto was scheduled to face Kotomi at K-1 World GP 2020 in Fukuoka on 3 November 2020.[40] Despite coming into the fight as a favorite, Morimoto lost the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 28–29, 29–30 and 29–30.[41]

Morimoto was scheduled to make the first defense of her K-1 Women's Flyweight Championship at K-1 World GP 2022 Japan on 27 February 2022, in an immediate rematch with the Krush Women's Flyweight champion Kotomi.[42] Kotomi later withdrew from the bout and was replaced by Ran, who faced Morimoto in a non-title bout.[43] She won the fight by unanimous decision.[44]

Morimoto faced Souris Manfredi in a non-title bout at K-1: Ring of Venus on 25 June 2022.[45] Morimoto knocked Manfredi down twice in the first round, before winning the fight by a third-round knockout, stopping Manfredi with a head kick at the 2:26 minute mark of the last round.[46]

Morimoto faced the former Enfusion and WAKO champion Aurore Dos Santos in a non-title bout at K-1 World GP 2022 in Osaka on December 3, 2022.[47] She won the fight by first-round technical knockout, as she stopped Dos Santos with a flurry of punches with just five seconds left in the opening frame.[48]

Morimoto made her second K-1 Women's Flyweight title defense against the one-time FEA and WAKO world champion Funda Alkayış at K-1 World GP 2023: K'Festa 6 on March 12, 2023.[49] She won the fight by a second-round technical knockout.[50]

On May 25, 2023, K-1 announced that Morimoto would make her third flyweight championship defense against Amy Pirnie at K-1 World GP 2023 on July 17, 2023.[51] That same day, Pirnie released a statement on her Instagram profile claiming that she was still in negotiations with the promotion at the time the bout was announced and would be withdrawing from them due to the perceived bad treatment.[52] Morimoto was re-scheduled to face McKenna Wade at the same event.[53] She won the fight by a first-round knockout, 58 seconds into the opening round.[54]

Championships and accomplishments

Amateur

  • K-1
    • 2014 K-1 Challenge Women's B Class -50 kg Tournament Winner[55]
    • 2015 K-1 Challenge Women's B Class -50 kg Tournament Winner[56]

Professional

Awards

  • Beyond Kickboxing
    • 2022 Beyond Kick "Female Fighter of the Year"[57]

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing record
22 Wins (11 (T)KOs), 3 Losses
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time Record
2023-07-17 Win England McKenna Wade K-1 World GP 2023 Tokyo, Japan KO (Body kick) 1 0:58 22–3
Defends the K-1 Women's Flyweight Championship.
2023-03-12 Win Turkey Funda Alkayış K-1 World GP 2023: K'Festa 6 Tokyo, Japan TKO (retirement/low kicks) 2 1:31 21–3
Defends the K-1 Women's Flyweight Championship.
2022-12-03 Win France Aurore Dos Santos K-1 World GP 2022 in Osaka Osaka, Japan TKO (Punches) 1 2:55 20–3
2022-06-25 Win France Souris Manfredi K-1: Ring of Venus Tokyo, Japan KO (High kick) 3 1:28 19–3
Defends the K-1 Women's Flyweight Championship.
2022-02-27 Win Japan Ran K-1 World GP 2022 Japan Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 18–3
2020-11-03 Loss Japan Kotomi K-1 World GP 2020 in Fukuoka Fukuoka, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 17–3
2020-03-22 Win Italy Gloria Peritore K'Festa 3 Tokyo, Japan KO (Right hook) 1 2:42 17–2
2019-12-28 Win Sweden Josefine Lindgren Knutsson K-1 World GP 2019 Japan: ～Women's Flyweight Championship Tournament～ Nagoya, Japan Ext. R. Decision (Split) 4 3:00 16–2
Won the K-1 Women's Flyweight Championship.
2019-12-28 Win Spain Cristina Morales K-1 World GP 2019 Japan: ～Women's Flyweight Championship Tournament～ Nagoya, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 15–2
2019-08-24 Win Japan Mahiro K-1 World GP 2019: Japan vs World 5 vs 5 & Special Superfight in Osaka Osaka, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 14–2
2019-03-10 Loss Sweden Josefine Lindgren Knutsson K'Festa 2 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Majority) 3 3:00 13–2
2018-11-03 Win Sweden Josefine Lindgren Knutsson K-1 World GP 2018: 3rd Super Lightweight Championship Tournament Saitama, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 13–1
2018-08-18 Win China Liu Shibei Krush 92 Nagoya, Japan KO (Liver kick) 2 1:38 12–1
Defends the Krush Women's Flyweight title.
2018-05-17 Win Australia Kim Townsend Krush 88 Tokyo, Japan Ext. R. Decision (Unanimous) 4 3:00 11–1
Defends the Krush Women's Flyweight title.
2018-03-21 Win Poland Polina Petukhova K-1 World GP 2018: K'FESTA.1 Saitama, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 10–1
2017-12-09 Win Netherlands Mellony Geugjes Krush 83 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 9–1
Wins the Krush Women's Flyweight title.
2017-08-20 Win France Emilie Machut Krush 79 Tokyo, Japan KO (Right hook) 1 2:55 8–1
2017-05-28 Win England Grace Spicer Krush 76 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 7–1
2017-01-15 Loss Netherlands Mellony Geugjes Krush 72 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 6–1
Loses the Krush Women's Flyweight title.
2016-09-30 Win Taiwan Kill Bee Krush 69 Tokyo, Japan KO (Head kick) 3 2:29 6–0
Defends the Krush Women's Flyweight title.
2016-07-18 Win Japan Aki Gracyer Krush 67 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Majority) 3 3:00 5–0
Defends the Krush Women's Flyweight title.
2016-04-10 Win Japan Momi Krush 65 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 4 3:00 4–0
Wins the Krush Women's Flyweight title.
2016-02-05 Win South Korea Jeong Hye Jin Krush 63 Tokyo, Japan TKO (Doctor stoppage) 2 0:03 3–0
2015-11-14 Win Japan Miyako Mitsuhori Krush 60 Tokyo, Japan KO (Punch) 1 1:09 2–0
2015-09-12 Win Japan Koto Hiraoka Krush 58 Tokyo, Japan KO (Right hook) 2 1:54 1–0
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes
Amateur Kickboxing record
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2015-04-26 Win Japan Mari Suzuki K-1 Amateur 5, B-Class Challenge Tournament Final Tokyo, Japan Decision 2 2:00
2015-02-15 Win Japan Shizuka Kobayashi K-1 Amateur 4, Final Tokyo, Japan Decision
2015-02-15 Win Japan Reiko Asai K-1 Amateur 4, Semi Final Tokyo, Japan Decision
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

References

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  2. ^ "6月キャンペーンのこりわずか！！". k-1gym.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Kana Morimoto". facebook.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Combat Press Kickboxing Rankings: November 2020". combatpress.com. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Combat Press Kickboxing Rankings: June 2018". combatpress.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  6. ^ "【Krush】蹴りまくった卜部がTKO勝ち、K-1王者の弟へ挑戦状". efight.jp. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  7. ^ "ＫＡＮＡ VS 三堀 "SMILE" 美弥子　予定　Krush 60　キックボクシング女子". queensofthering.com. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
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  22. ^ "【K-1】KANA、女子ボクシング五階級制覇王者・藤岡奈穂子直伝"鉄の拳"でKO宣言". efight.jp. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
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  31. ^ "【K-1】3月10日(日)さいたまスーパーアリーナ大会メインは、武尊vsムエタイ現役王者ヨーキッサダー！ ＜日本vs世界・7対7＞トップバッターは武居由樹に決定。全試合順発表". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  32. ^ "【K-1】因縁の一戦はノットソンがKANAを下しリベンジ". efight.jp. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  33. ^ "【K-1】KANAが真優との対戦に本音「緩いなと思いましたし、本当に舐めんなよって感じです」". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  34. ^ "KANAが復活勝利も判定勝ちに「倒さなきゃいけない相手だった」【8・24 K-1大阪】". tokyoheadline.com. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  35. ^ "K-1 WORLD GP 12.28 名古屋ドルフィンズアリーナ：泰斗×松岡翔大、斎藤祐斗×提髪和希、池田幸司×豊田優輝のプレリミナリー3試合決定". boutreview.com. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
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  38. ^ "【K-1】ISKA世界王者ペリトーレが割れた腹筋で計量パス、K-1王者KANAに「十分勝てる」と自信". efight.jp. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
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  51. ^ Strobel, Kevin (25 May 2023). "KANA To Defend Her K-1 Flyweight Title Against ISKA & Lion Fight Champion Amy Pirnie on July 17 – "I'd Like to Knock Her Out and Make the Fight With Anissa Happen by the End of This Year"". beyondkick.com. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
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  54. ^ "KANAがわずか58秒で悶絶KO勝ち「このベルトとともに世界最強を目指す」 アニッサ戦の12月実現をアピール【K-1】". tokyoheadline.com. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  55. ^ "第4回 K-1 CHALLENGE 2015 優勝者". k-1.co.jp. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
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  57. ^ Pico, Borna (8 January 2023). "Beyond Kickboxing's 2022 Female Fighter of the Year: Kana Morimoto". beyondkick.com. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
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