Yoko Takahashi (fighter)

is a Japanese female mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter and kickboxer and former boxer and professional wrestler. Takahashi is a former Smackgirl open weight champion. She is considered Japan's first female mixed martial artist.

Background

Takahashi was born on in Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan.

Professional wrestling career

Takahashi debuted as a professional wrestler with All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW) promotion in 1994 and kept participating until the end of 1996, when she decided not to continue with professional wrestling due to a hernia in her back. She became a part-time referee for promotion Yoshimoto Pro-Wrestling Jd', where she met her long-time partner Megumi Yabushita. They both left Jd' in 2002.

Mixed martial arts career

Takahashi debuted in MMA on at AJW event held at Korakuen Hall, in a fight that consisted of a single round with unlimited time, defeating German pro-wrestler Thundercrackk from Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi at 10 minutes and 14 seconds, after Takahashi landed a kick to the face that made Thundercrackk give up.

At Nippon Budokan on at the event , Takahashi suffered her first loss, being defeated by Russian judoka Irina Rodina with a submission at 6 minutes and 6 seconds of the single no time limit round.

At the event ''The U-Japan Super Fighting '96 vol. 1'' held on at the Ariake Coliseum, Takahashi was defeated by American women's MMA pioneer Becky Levi via TKO (corner stoppage, towel thrown in, punches) at 2 minutes and 13 seconds of the unlimited time bout.

Takahashi was defeated by karateka Miwako Ishihara via unanimous decision after two rounds at Daido Juku's event on at the Korakuen Hall.

At the event on Takahashi defeated Yuko Mukai via unanimous decision after 3 rounds.

On at the event ''Central Martial Arts Association: Octagon Challenge'' held at the Nagoya Congress Center, Takahashi lost against pro-wrestler Rieko Amano (known by the ring name Carlos Amano) after Takahashi illegally kicked Amano in the face and was disqualified at 17 minutes and 25 seconds.

Takahashi next fought and defeated partner Megumi Yabushita at 16 minutes with 7 seconds of an unlimited time match with a heel hold submission on at Jd' event ''Yokohama Super Break'' held at the Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium.

At Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling (LLPW) event ''Ultimate Challenge '98 L-1'' on , Takahashi won by TKO (referee stoppage) against kickboxer Aya Mitsui at 1 minute and 54 seconds of the first round.

Takahashi next fought Mari Kaneko, whom Takahashi defeated via submission (achilles lock) at ''Club Fight Round 1'' on .

Ten days later, on Takahashi defeated European Karate Champion Dutch Silviana Furunefield via armbar submission at LLPW event ''L-1 2000 The Strongest Lady''.

At the inaugural Smackgirl event, ''Smackgirl: Episode 0'', held on at Korakuen Hall, Takahashi knocked out Dutch kickboxer Sandra de Langeais at 1 minute and 27 seconds of the first round.

On at ''ReMix Golden Gate 2001'', Takahashi was defeated by the previous tournament winner, Dutch Marloes Coenen, via submission (armbar) in the first round.

At ''Club Fight vol. 4'' on , Takahashi fought against Miwako Ishihara once again in a bout that ended in a tie after ten minutes.

Takahashi got another victory when she defeated Mika Harigai by Achilles lock submission in the first round at ''Smackgirl: Pioneering Spirit'' on .

On at ''Zero-One: True Century Creation '02'', Takahashi drew with Yuuki Kubota after three rounds.

Takahashi was defeated by Dutch fighter Irma Verhoeff via TKO in the first round on at ''Free Fight Explosion 2'', held in Beverwijk, Netherlands.

On at ''Zero-One: Impossible to Escape'' Takahashi defeated Aya Koyama by submission (guillotine choke) in the first round. Along with a tag match a day before, this was Takahashi only MMA fight with the team .

After almost two years without MMA fights, at ''It's Showtime - Amsterdam Arena'' held on in Amsterdam, Takahashi faced once again Irma Verhoeff, who defeated Takahashi, this time by decision. This was Takahashi's first time representing her own team, formed in partnership with adult video maker Soft on Demand (SOD), SOD Women's MMA Dojo.

At ''Smackgirl 2004: Holy Land Triumphal Return'' on Takahashi defeated masked pro-wrestler Yuiga by TKO after the referee stopped the fight when Yuiga was knocked down with punches for the second time in the last minute of the first round.

On at ''Smackgirl 2004: Yuuki Kondo Retirement Celebration'' Takahashi defeated pro-wrestler Kaoru Ito with a kimura submission in the first round.

At ''Smackgirl 2004: World ReMix'' on , during the first round of the tournament to determine Smackgirl's first open weight champion, Takahashi had a rematch with Marloes Coenen, who once again defeated Takahashi, this time by TKO (referee stoppage, punches and knees) in the first round.

Takahashi rebounded with a submission victory over American fighter Emma Bush (at the time Emma Nielsen) with a leg armbar in the first round at ''Smackgirl: Korea 2005'' on .

Debuting in Shooto, Takahashi defeated Mika Hayashi by TKO after knocking Hayashi down for the third time in the first round, winning in 47 seconds at ''G-Shooto plus 05'' on .

On at ''G-Shooto Japan 04'' Takahashi had a third match against Marloes Coenen, who once again defeated Takahashi, submitting her with an armbar in 39 seconds.

At Deep's event ''CMA festival: Japan vs. South Korea total war'' held on , Takahashi defeated South Korean kickboxer Yong Joo Lee with a heel hook