Nationality Japanese Fighting out of Japan Height 1.55 m (5 ft 1 in) Name Ikuma Hoshino | Weight 56 kg (123 lb) Residence Japan Division Flyweight | |
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Born Mariko Yamanishi
November 6, 1981 (age 42)
Wakayama Prefecture, Japan ( 1981-11-06 ) Other names Natural grappling girl, Mar★tin, Marting Star | ||
Ikuma Hoshino (星野 育蒔, hoshino ikuma, born on (1981-11-06)November 6, 1981) is a retired Japanese female mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter and judoka. Her real name is Mariko Yamanishi (山西 真理子, yamanishi mariko). Her nicknames are natural grappling girl (天然格闘少女, tennen kakutō shōjo) and Mar★tin (マァ★ティン, maa ★ tein, occasionally transliterated as Marting Star).
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She participated in MMA promotions ReMix, Smackgirl, Shooto and Ax.
Background
Hoshino was born on (1981-11-06)November 6, 1981 in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. She began training in judo while in senior high school and got in the best four in the Kinki senior high school tournament.
Mixed martial arts career
At 19 years old, Hoshino debuted at ReMix Golden Gate 2001 on May 3, 2001 (2001-05-03), defeating four-time national judo champion, 1993 and 1998 silver medallist and three-time World Cup winner, Russian Tatyana Kuvshinova via KO.
Hoshino got another KO victory against Akemi Torisu, whom she defeated on May 24, 2001 (2001-05-24) at Smackgirl: Starting Over.
At Smackgirl: Fighting Chance on June 28, 2001 (2001-06-28), Hoshino defeated Mika Harigai with a guillotine choke submission.
Hoshino got her second victory via guillotine choke against Mari Kaneko on July 26, 2001 (2001-07-26) at Smackgirl: Indeed.
Continuing her undefeated streak, Hoshino defeated Mako Ito by submission (straight armbar) on August 23, 2001 (2001-08-23) at Smackgirl 4: Burning Night.
Hoshino's first and only unanimous decision win came on October 31, 2001 (2001-10-31) at Ax Vol. 1: we do the justice, where she defeated women's MMA pioneer Yuuki Kondo.
On December 26, 2001 (2001-12-26), Hoshino was defeated for the first and only time by then debutant Yuka Tsuji via armbar submission at Ax Vol. 2: we want to shine, a shocking upset at the time, when Hoshino was the most accomplished female Japanese MMA fighter.
Hoshino rebounded with a TKO victory over Yoshiko Onoue on February 28, 2002 (2002-02-28) at Shooto Gig East Vol. 8.
Hoshino submitted Hiromi Oka with a scarf hold armlock on May 4, 2002 (2002-05-04) at Ax Vol. 3.
At Ax Vol. 5, Hoshino won against Tomomi Sunaba when Sunaba illegally kicked Hoshino in the face while she was on the ground, getting disqualified for that action on July 26, 2002 (2002-07-26).
On February 23, 2003 (2003-02-23), Sunaba drew with Dutch fighter Audrey Kruyning at Shooto - 2/23 in Korakuen Hall. After the bout she declared that she wanted to return with her family in Wakayama and to take a rest from professional activities for a while. She has not fought since then.