Shizuka Sugiyama

Background

Sugiyama was born on (1987-02-11)February 11, 1987 in New York City, New York, United States. Sugiyama has an older brother.

She graduated from the sports faculty of the Tokai University. While in the Tokai University, she was first introduced to the Karate-Do Zendokai association and began studying karate at 18 years old. She got her black belt in Karate in three months.

Sugiyama participated in the Japan Open 2007 Vale Tudo Real Fighting Karate-do Championship Series, placing second in the general category for women, being defeated by Saori Ishioka. In 2008, she was the winner of the Japan Open 2008 Vale Tudo Real Fighting Karate-do Championship Series 57 kg. She would repeat this feat in 2009.

Shortly before her professional debut in MMA, she had a grappling match and was defeated by Hitomi Sakamoto.

Mixed martial arts career

She debuted on November 16, 2008 (2008-11-16) at Jewels 1st Ring, defeating Harumi with a rear naked choke submission. She would win her next fight against Shiho by TKO on February 4, 2009 (2009-02-04). At Jewels 3rd Ring on May 16, 2009 (2009-05-16), Sugiyama defeated Norwegian fighter Celine Haga by unanimous decision. In another dominant performance, Sugiyama defeated Mika Harigai by unanimous decision on July 11, 2009 (2009-07-11).

Making her debut with the Shoot boxing promotion, Sugiyama once again faced Hitomi Sakamoto, who had defeated Sugiyama in a grappling match. This time, Sugiyama defeated Sakamoto by decision. Sugiyama's first loss came against German fighter Alexandra Sanchez in the opening round of the 2009 Jewels Rough Stone Grand Prix 60 kg on September 13, 2009 (2009-09-13).

Sugiyama rebounded back with a unanimous decision victory over Yukiko Ozeki at Jewels 6th Ring on December 11, 2009 (2009-12-11). At Jewels 7th Ring on March 19, 2010 (2010-03-19), Miki Morifuji defeated Sugiyama by unanimous decision.

Sugiyama was announced for Jewels 9th Ring in a shoot boxing match against Mongolian Esui, but she suffered a broken collar bone and a dislocated shoulder during training, which forced her to withdraw from the event.

Returning after her injury, Sugiyama faced Esui in a MMA bout at Jewels 11th Ring on December 17, 2010 (2010-12-17). Esui defeated Sugiyama by TKO (corner stoppage) early in the second round.

Sugiyama was scheduled to face Mayumi "Super Benkei" Aoki at Jewels 12th Ring on March 11, 2011 (2011-03-11) in Tokyo, Japan, and planned to travel to Australia for one year to study after the fight. However, the event was cancelled after the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami earlier in the day.

Sugiyama returned to Jewels to face Megumi Yabushita at Jewels 20th Ring on July 21, 2012 (2012-07-21). She defeated Yabushita by split decision.

Sugiyama faced Yurika Tanaka at Jewels 21st Ring on September 22, 2012 (2012-09-22). She defeated Tanaka by TKO in the second round.

Sugiyama was set to face Roxanne Modafferi at Jewels 22nd Ring on December 15, 2012 (2012-12-15). However, Modafferi suffered a neck injury in training and withdrew from the fight on December 13.

Sugiyama next faced Sung Eun Kim at Jewels 23rd Ring on March 30, 2013 (2013-03-30). She won the fight by TKO in the first round.

On July 20, 2013 (2013-07-20), Sugiyama made her Deep debut against Chisa Yonezawa at Deep: Tokyo Impact - Lightweight GP 2013 Semifinal. She defeated Yonezawa by TKO in the first round.

Sugiyama next faced Ji Yun Kim at Deep: Cage Impact 2013 on November 24, 2013 (2013-11-24). The fight ended in a majority draw after two rounds.

Outside mixed martial arts

Sugiyama posed for a photobook published by Kamipro and has also appeared in an Internet TV show called Stickam TV.

Submission grappling

Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest

Championships and accomplishments