Kana Morimoto

Kana Morimoto (born 29 July 1992), popularly known as KANA, is a Japanese kickboxer competing as a flyweight with K-1, where she is the current flyweight champion. She is the former two time Krush flyweight champion and the winner of the 2019 Flyweight Grand Prix.[4]

Kana Morimoto
Born森本佳奈
(1992-07-29) 29 July 1992
Matsusaka, Mie, Japan
Other namesKANA, カナ
NationalityJapanese
Height1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)[1]
Weight52 kg (115 lb; 8 st 3 lb)
DivisionFlyweight
StyleKickboxing
Fighting out ofTokyo, Japan
TeamK-1 Gym Sangenjaya Silver Wolf[2]
Years active2015-present
Kickboxing record
Total20
Wins17
By knockout7
Losses3
Other information
UniversityKokushikan University[3]
last updated on: November 3, 2020

She is the #9 ranked female kickboxer in the world by Combat Press, as of November 2020,[5] and has been ranked in the top ten since June 2018.[6]

Kickboxing career

Krush flyweight title reign

Kana Morimoto made her kickboxing debut with K-1, during Krush 58, against Hiroaka Koto.[7] She won the fight by a second round KO. She finished her next two fights against Mitsuhori Miyako[8] and Jeong Hye Jin as well.

During Krush 65 she won a unanimous decision against Momi, after an extra round, to become the Krush K-1 champion.[9] In her first title defense she won a unanimous decision against Aki Gracyer, and in her second title defense she scored a third round knockout over Kill Bee.

Kana's first professional loss came against Mellony Geugjes during Krush 72.[10]

She bounced back with a unanimous decision win over Grace Spicer during Krush 76,[11] and a knockout win over Emilie Machut during Krush 79.[12] After these two wins, she fought a rematch against Mellony Geugjes during Krush 83. She won the fight by a unanimous decision.[13]

She fought Polina Petukhova during K-1's flagship event, K'Festa 1.[14]

Her first title defense in her second reign came against Kim Townsend during Krush 88.[15] Kana won a unanimous decision. Her second defense came against Liu Shibei during Krush 92. Kana won the fight by a liver kick KO in the second round.[16]

Moving back to K-1, she won a unanimous decision against Josefine Lindgren Knutsson.[17] In her next fight Kana fought a rematch against Josefine Lindgren Knutsson. She suffered her second professional loss, losing a majority decision.[18] She rebounded with a win over Mahiro.

K-1 flyweight title reign

She then entered the K-1 Flyweight Grand Prix. In the semi finals she won a unanimous decision over the reigning Enfusion champion Cristina Morales.[19] In the finals she fought a rubber match against Josefine Lindgren Knutsson and won a split decision.[20][21]

During K'Festa 3 she faced Gloria Peritore.[22] Morimoto won the fight by a first round knockout.[23]

Morimoto fought Kotomi during the 2020 K-1 WGP Japan.[24] Morimoto lost the fight by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-29, 30-29).[25]

Championships and accomplishments
  • K-1
    • 2019 K-1 Flyweight Grand Prix Winner
    • K-1 Flyweight Championship
    • K-1 Krush Flyweight Championship (Two times)
      • Four successful title defenses (across two reigns)

Kickboxing record
Kickboxing record
17 wins (7 KOs), 3 losses
DateResultOpponentEventLocationMethodRoundTime
2020-11-03Loss KotomiK-1 World GP 2020 in FukuokaFukuoka, JapanDecision (Unanimous)33:00
22 Mar 2020Win Gloria PeritoreK'Festa 3Tokyo, JapanKnockout (Punch)12:42
28 Dec 2019Win Josefine Lindgren KnutssonK-1 World GP 2019 Japan: ～Women's Flyweight Championship Tournament～Nagoya, JapanDecision (Split)33:00
K1 Flyweight Grand Prix Final.
28 Dec 2019Win Cristina MoralesK-1 World GP 2019 Japan: ～Women's Flyweight Championship Tournament～Nagoya, JapanDecision (Unanimous)33:00
K1 Flyweight Grand Prix Semi Finals.
24 Aug 2019Win MahiroK-1 World GP 2019: Japan vs World 5 vs 5 & Special Superfight in OsakaOsaka, JapanDecision (Unanimous)33:00
10 Mar 2019Loss Josefine Lindgren KnutssonK'Festa 2Tokyo, JapanDecision (Majority)33:00
3 Nov 2018Win Josefine Lindgren KnutssonK-1 World GP 2018: 3rd Super Lightweight Championship TournamentSaitama, JapanDecision (Unanimous)33:00
18 Aug 2018Win Liu ShibeiKrush 92Nagoya, JapanKO (Liver kick)23:00
Defends the Krush Flyweight title.
17 May 2018Win Kim TownsendKrush 88Tokyo, JapanDecision (Extra Round)43:00
Defends the Krush Flyweight title.
21 Mar 2018Win Polina PetukhovaK-1 World GP 2019: K’FESTA 2Saitama, JapanDecision (Unanimous)33:00
9 Dec 2017Win Mellony GeugjesKrush 83Tokyo, JapanDecision (Unanimous)33:00
Wins the Krush Flyweight title.
20 Aug 2017Win Emilie MachutKrush 79Tokyo, JapanKO (Punch)12:55
28 May 2017Win Grace SpicerKrush 76Tokyo, JapanDecision (Unanimous)33:00
15 Jan 2017Loss Mellony GeugjesKrush 72Tokyo, JapanDecision (Unanimous)33:00
Loses the Krush Flyweight title.
30 Sep 2016Win Kill BeeKrush 69Tokyo, JapanKO (Punch)32:29
Defends the Krush Flyweight title.
18 Jul 2016Win Aki GracyerKrush 67Tokyo, JapanDecision (Unanimous)33:00
Defends the Krush Flyweight title.
10 Apr 2016Win MomiKrush 65Tokyo, JapanDecision (Extra Round)43:00
Wins the Krush Flyweight title.
5 Feb 2016Win Jeong Hye JinKrush 63Tokyo, JapanTKO (Punches)20:20
14 Nov 2015Win Mitsuhori MiyakoKrush 60Tokyo, JapanKO (Punch)11:09
12 Sep 2015Win Hiroaka KotoKrush 58Tokyo, JapanKO (Punch)21:54

Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

List of female kickboxers

References
  1. "Kana Morimoto". tapology.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  2. "6月キャンペーンのこりわずか！！". k-1gym.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  3. "Kana Morimoto". facebook.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  4. "KANA /カナ/Kana". k1.co.jp. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  5. "Combat Press Kickboxing Rankings: November 2020". combatpress.com. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  6. "Combat Press Kickboxing Rankings: June 2018". combatpress.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  7. "2015年9月12日（土）Krush.58". k-1.co.jp. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  8. "【OFFICIAL】KANA vs 三堀"SMILE"美弥子 Krush.60/Krush女子-50kg契約/2分3R". youtube.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  9. "KANA/カナ/Kana". k-1.co.jp. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  10. "Mellony Geugjes verdedigt Krush titel in Japan". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  11. "KRUSH.76 Results: Anpo Wins Vacant Title, KANA Dominates Spicer". combatpress.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  12. "Krush.79 Results: Noiri, Yamato, and KANA Score Big Knockout Victories". combatpress.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  13. "Krush 83 Results: KANA Tops Geugjes, Regains Women's 50-Kilogram Title". combatpress.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  14. "第7試合/KANA vs ポリナ・ペトゥホーヴァ　スーパーファイト/K-1女子-50kg契約　　Kana vs Polina Petukhova". k-1vr.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  15. "Krush.88 Videos and Results: KANA Retains, Shinohara Scores Knockout". combatpress.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  16. "Krush.92 Results: KANA Defends, Noiri and Yamato Score Impressive Knockouts". combatpress.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  17. "COMPLETED KICKBOXING BOUT Kana Morimoto vs. Josefine Lindgren Knutsson I". tapology.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  18. "【OFFICIAL】KANA vs Josefine Knutsson K'FESTA.2／K-1 WOMAN -51kg FIGHT／3min.×3R・Ex.1R". youtube.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  19. "Kana Korimoto Defeats Christina Morales at K-1 Women's World GP". iskaworldhq.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  20. "Confira os resultados do K-1 World Grand Prix Japan 2019 que aconteceu hoje em Nagoya". connectionjapan.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  21. "SVENSKAN SNUVAD PÅ VINSTEN – I HISTORISKA TITELMATCHEN: "SKANDAL"". mmamytt.se. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  22. "Gloria Peritore sconfitta a Tokyo, ma ha portato in Giappone il coraggio dell'Italia che non molla". quilicata.it. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  23. "Kana Morimoto vs Gloria Peritore". tapology.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  24. "K-1実行委員会『K-1 WORLD GP 2020 JAPAN』". efight.jp. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  25. "【K-1】壽美が大号泣の勝利、憧れの女王・KANAに日本人として初の土をつける". efight.jp. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
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