Izawa Retains RIZIN Atomweight Title in Dramatic Submission Victory Over Kubota
Seika Izawa’s second-round guillotine choke submission of Rena Kubota at the Saitama Super Arena extends her professional record to 18-0 and places her four wins away from a historic tie with Megumi Fujii’s unbeaten streak.
Seika Izawa retained her RIZIN atomweight championship by defeating challenger Rena Kubota via second-round guillotine choke submission at the Saitama Super Arena on 31 December 2025. The bout, a central feature of the annual New Year’s Eve MMA spectacle in Japan, concluded a highly anticipated clash between the undefeated champion and the seasoned veteran striker.
The contest began with significant turbulence for the champion. Within the first 55 seconds, Kubota landed a precise left hook that dropped Izawa to the canvas, sending the crowd of over 22,000 into a rare eruption. Izawa, who had previously declined a glove touch with Kubota following a pre-fight shove at the weigh-in, found herself in immediate danger as Kubota followed up with ground strikes.
However, Izawa utilised tactical resilience to survive the opening exchange. She secured a temporary arm grab submission to neutralise Kubota’s attack, a move that preserved her position and shifted the momentum. Izawa’s ability to adjust immediately to the threat allowed her to transition into a dominant position, ultimately forcing Kubota to tap out to a guillotine choke in the second round.
The victory marks Izawa’s seventh successful title defence, maintaining her pristine 18-0 professional record. At 28 years old, Izawa is widely regarded as the premier women’s fighter outside the UFC, with many observers considering her the best in the world regardless of promotion. Her dominance in the atomweight division, which features competitors below 115 pounds, is evidenced by nine submission victories and eight wins decided by groundwork.
With this win, Izawa is now four victories away from tying the legendary record of 22 consecutive unbeaten appearances held by MMA pioneer Megumi Fujii. Izawa, who has competed in the sport for four years, stated that her primary motivation remains unchanged: to be better and to be the best. The result reinforces her status as the gold standard in women’s MMA below 115 pounds.
