Kana Morimoto (森本佳奈, born 29 July 1992), popularly known as KANA, is a

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

kickboxer Kickboxing is a combat sport focused on kicking and punching. The combat takes place in a boxing ring, normally with boxing gloves, mouthguards, shorts, and bare feet to favour the use of kicks. Kickboxing is practiced for self-defense, general ...

competing as a

flyweight Flyweight is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing above 49 kg (108 lb) and up to 51 kg (112 lb). Professional boxing The flyweight division was the last of bo ...

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, and has been ranked in the top ten since June 2018.

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. Morimoto was scheduled to face the #5 ranked J-Girls mini-flyweight Miyako Mitsuhori at Krush 60 on 14 November 2015. Mitsuhori was more experienced than Morimoto, with 20 professional bouts in her four year career. Morimoto won the fight by a first-round knockout. Morimoto was scheduled to face the undefeated Jeong Hye Jin at Krush 63 on 5 February 2016. 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.

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. 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. Morimoto made her first title defense against the one-time Krush title challenger Aki Gracyer at Krush 67 on 18 July 2016. 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. 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. Morimoto was scheduled to make her third title defense against

Mellony Geugjes Mellony Geugjes (born ) is a Dutch female kickboxer and mixed martial artist, based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. She has competed professionally since 2009 and is the current ISKA Featherweight champion which she won by defeating Dilara Yildiz. M ...

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.

Spicer and Machut bouts

Morimoto was scheduled to face the former WBC Muaythai International Super Flyweight champion

Grace Spicer Grace Spicer (born 19 September 1992) is an English kickboxer and Nak Muay. She is the IKF World Flyweight champion, is the WBC Muaythai International and British Super Flyweight champion, and has challenged for the WBC Muaythai World Super F ...

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. Morimoto was scheduled to face the incumbent ISKA World Atomweight Full Contact champion

Emilie Machut Emilie Machut (born 13 January 1997) is a French kickboxer. A professional competitor since 2016, she is the former ISKA World and European Full Contact Atomweight champion. Kickboxing career Machut made her professional debut against Debora Va ...

at Krush 79 on 20 August 2017. 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.

Second Krush title reign

Morimoto was scheduled to rematch

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. 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 is a Japanese professional boxer. She is Japan's first ever five-division world champion, having held the WBA female flyweight title between March 2017 to April 2022. She also previously held the WBC female minimumweight; WBO female junio ...

. 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. Morimoto was scheduled to make the first title defense of her second title reign against

Kim Townsend Kim Townsend is an Australian people, Australian kickboxer, Muay Thai, Nak Muay, and the current ISKA World Flyweight Muay Thai champion. She is the former World Muaythai Council, WMC Oceania and WKN Australia Flyweight champion. Kickboxing car ...

at Krush 88 on 17 May 2018. 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. Morimoto was scheduled to make her second title defense against Liu Shibei in the main event of Krush 92 on 18 August 2018. She won the fight by a second-round knockout, stopping Shibei with a liver kick midway through the round.

K-1

Morimoto was scheduled to face the two-time IFMA World medalist at K-1 World GP 2018: 3rd Super Lightweight Championship Tournament on 3 November 2018. She won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 29–27, 29–27 and 30–28. During the post-fight press conference, Morimoto revealed that she had suffered a bicep tear, in her right arm, during the second round. Morimoto and Knutsson were scheduled to rematch at K'Festa 2 on 10 March 2019. Knutsson was more successful in the rematch, winning the fight by majority decision, with scores of 30–28, 30–29 and 29–29. 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. She won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–27, 30–27 and 30–28.

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 Enfusion is a Dutch kickboxing promotion company based in Alkmaar, Netherlands. It produces events worldwide, which showcase twelve kickboxing weight classes (7 male and 5 female). Enfusion held its first event in 2013 in the Zwembad Sporthal i ...

52kg champion

Cristina Morales Cristina Morales Martin (born 27 July 1993) is a Spanish kickboxer. She is the reigning ISKA Atomweight K1 World Champion, and the former Enfusion 52 kg World Champion. Kickboxing career In March 2019, Morales was scheduled to fight Fanny ...

in the tournament semifinals. 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. Morimoto fought a rubber match with

Josefine Lindgren Knutsson Josefine Lindgren Knutsson (born 16 January 1996) is a Swedish mixed martial artist and former kickboxer. She is the 2019 K-1 flyweight (-52 kg) Grand Prix finalist. Kickboxing career Knutsson faced the ISKA and future Enfusion strawweigh ...

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.

K-1 Women's Flyweight champion

Morimoto was scheduled to face

Gloria Peritore Gloria Peritore (born 29 November 1988) is an Italian kickboxer and mixed martial artist. She is the current ISKA World Flyweight Kickboxing and Oriental Rules champion. As of October 2022, she is ranked as the tenth best pound-for-pound women' ...

in a non-title bout at K'Festa 3 on 22 March 2020. She won the fight by a first-round knockout, landing a right hook with 18 seconds left in the round. Morimoto was scheduled to face Kotomi at K-1 World GP 2020 in Fukuoka on 3 November 2020. 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. 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. Kotomi later withdrew from the bout and was replace by Ran, who faced Morimoto in a non-title bout. She won the fight by unanimous decision. Morimoto faced Souris Manfredi in a non-title bout at K-1: Ring of Venus on 25 June 2022. 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. Morimoto faced the former

and WAKO champion Aurore Dos Santos in a non-title bout at K-1 World GP 2022 in Osaka on December 3, 2022. 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.

Championships and accomplishments

Amateur

* K-1 **2014 K-1 Challenge Women's B Class -50kg Tournament Winner **2015 K-1 Challenge Women's B Class -50kg Tournament Winner

Professional

* K-1 ** 2019 K-1 Women's Flyweight World Grand Prix Winner ** K-1 Flyweight Championship (One time, current) ***One successful title defense *

Krush Krush were a UK dance music group, who had a crossover hit single with " House Arrest" in 1987. Career The group consisted of musicians Mark Gamble, Cassius Campbell and record producers Mark Brydon and Robert Gordon. Ruth Joy was the feature ...

** Krush Women's Flyweight Championship (Two times, former) ***Four successful title defenses (across two reigns) ***Tied for second most wins in Krush title fights (6)

Awards

*Beyond Kickboxing **2022 Beyond Kick "Female Fighter of the Year"

Kickboxing record

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Osaka is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of 2. ...

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

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Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...

, , KO (High kick) , , 3 , , 1:28 , , 19–3 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#cfc" , 2022-02-27, , Win, , align=left, Ran , , K-1 World GP 2022 Japan , ,

Tokyo, Japan Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and List of cities in Japan, largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, ...

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Fukuoka, Japan is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. Fukuoka Prefecture has a population of 5,109,323 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 4,986 Square kilometre, km2 (1,925 sq mi). Fukuoka Prefecture borders S ...

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, , KO (Right hook) , , 1 , , 2:42, , 17–2 , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2019-12-28 , , Win, , align=left,

, , K-1 World GP 2019 Japan: ～Women's Flyweight Championship Tournament～ , ,

Nagoya is the largest city in the Chūbu region, the fourth-most populous city and third most populous urban area in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020. Located on the Pacific coast in central Honshu, it is the capital and the most pop ...

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, , Decision (Majority) , , 3 , , 3:00, , 13–2 , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2018-11-03 , , Win, , align=left,

, , K-1 World GP 2018: 3rd Super Lightweight Championship Tournament , ,

Saitama, Japan is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance. Being in the Greater Tokyo Area and lying 1 ...

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, , Ext. R. Decision (Unanimous) , , 4 , , 3:00, , 11–1 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2018-03-21 , , Win, , align=left, Polina Petukhova , , K-1 World GP 2018: K'FESTA.1 , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00, , 10–1 , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2017-12-09 , , Win, , align=left,

, , Krush 83 , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00, , 9–1 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2017-08-20 , , Win, , align=left,

, , Krush 79 , ,

, , KO (Right hook) , , 1 , , 2:55, , 8–1 , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2017-05-28 , , Win, , align=left,

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, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00, , 7–1 , - , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2017-01-15 , , Loss, , align=left,

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, , KO (Head kick) , , 3 , , 2:29, , 6–0 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2016-07-18, , Win, , align=left, Aki Gracyer , , Krush 67 , ,

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, , TKO (Doctor stoppage) , , 2 , , 0:03 , , 3–0 , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2015-11-14 , , Win, , align=left, Miyako Mitsuhori , , Krush 60 , ,

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, , Decision , , , , , - , colspan=9 , ''Legend'':

References

Japanese kickboxers {{DEFAULTSORT:Morimoto, Kana 1992 births Living people People from Matsusaka, Mie Sportspeople from Mie Prefecture Japanese female kickboxers Kickboxing champions