Megumi Yabushita

Background

Yabushita was born on in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan.{{cite web | script-title=ja:藪下 めぐみ やぶした めぐみ |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20 | script-title=ja:藪下めぐみ |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20 | script-title=ja:363 藪下めぐみ |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20 |trans-title = |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110707090253/http://www.adcombat.com/news/2010-03-25/yabushita-and-takahashi-form-new-team-and-announce-collaboration-fight-chix |archive-date = 2011-07-07 |url-status = dead

Judo career

Yabushita graduated from Asahikawa University High School, where she won the judo club competitions in the less than 48 kg division in 1988 and 1989. Scouted by Japan's corporate judo team Miki House, she won the all-Japan individual championships in 1993, in 1994 she placed third in the Fukuoka international women's judo championships in the 52 kg class{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20

Professional wrestling career

In 1996, Yabushita joined Jd' wrestling promotion, She made her debut on in a match against Sumie Sakai at Korakuen Hall.{{cite web | trans-title = | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110617113449/http://www6.ocn.ne.jp/~boxtop/page007.html | archive-date = 2011-06-17 | url-status = dead |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20

On , Yabushita and Sakai became the Trans-world Wrestling Federation World Women's Tag Team champions.{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20

Yabushita also won the American Wrestling Federation World Women's Title on and on .{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20

Yabushita along with Command Bolshoi became the Daily Sports Women's Tag Team and JWP Tag Team Champions on .{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20

Mixed martial arts career

When she joined women's wrestling promotion Jd' in 1996, she met Yoko Takahashi, "Japan's First Woman MMA Fighter." At the time, Takahashi, injured with a hernia that made her retire from pro-wrestling and focus on MMA, was working as pro-wrestling referee and also trained in MMA, which was the reason why Yabushita started training in MMA. On , Yabushita made her MMA debut against South Korea Ji Hee Yu, defeating her with an armbar submission at 2:51 of the first round at Central Martial Arts Association event Octagon Challenge, held at the Nagoya Congress Center Century Hall in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.{{cite web | script-title=ja:ひそかな噂とあやしい真相 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20

Her next bouts and her rose to prominence would take place during Smackgirl's ReMix World Cup 2000 celebrated on at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan.{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20

Yabushita lost her next bout by technical submission (armbar) against Erin Toughill on in the ReMix's event Golden Gate 2001.{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20 |trans-title = |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110929102542/http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/other/column/200105/ZZZ5FPBI6MC.html |archive-date = 2011-09-29 |url-status = dead | script-title=ja:[女子総合] 女子学生なら入場料無料！ 薮下×クーネン日曜再戦 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20 | script-title=ja:[スマックガール] 6.1 有明 (レポ＆写真)：薮下、スマック初戦。篠原の復帰戦は？ |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20

On , Yabushita got another victory by submitting Japanese kickboxer Naoko Sakamoto with an armbar at 0:23 of round one in Smackgirl Third Season-IV. |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20

Yabushita made her debut in Shooto promotion on in the event G-Shooto Japan: Activation, defeating Hitomi Akano in Akano's professional debut and in a match in which Yabushita applied a giant swing on Akano.{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20

On , Yabushita participated in Smackgirl's World ReMix 2004 held on Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, in the open weight queen decision tournament, which would crown the first Smackgirl open weight champion.{{cite web |url-status = dead | script-title=ja:(レポ＆写真) [スマック] 12.19 静岡：薮下、無念の反則勝ち優勝 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20 |script-title = ja:SMACK GIRL 2004 -WORLD ReMix- / 第3試合 無差別級T1回戦 SGS公式ルール 5分2R |url-status = dead |script-title = ja:SMACK GIRL 2004 -WORLD ReMix- / 第7試合 無差別級T準決勝B SGS公式ルール 5分2R |url-status = dead |script-title = ja:SMACK GIRL 2004 -WORLD ReMix- / 第10試合 無差別級T決勝 SGS公式ルール 5分2R |url-status = dead | url-status = dead |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20

Yabushita's next fight was in the event G-Shooto Japan 02, where American fighter Tara LaRosa defeated Yabushita by majority decision on .{{cite web |script-title = ja:藤井恵、反則にも心折れず！＝G－SHOOTO ブラジルの強豪ダンテスに判定勝利 |url-status = dead |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20

On , Yabushita fought against South Korean kickboxer Hyun Sung Kim as part of the opening round of Smackgirl's first middleweight queen decision tournament in Smackgirl 2005: Cool Fighter's Last Stand.{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20 | script-title=ja:スマック・ガール2日連続3興行 観戦記＜その3＞ |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20

Yabushita fought in World X-Impact Federation's X-Impact World Championships, an event held in Seoul, South Korea on , where she defeated local fighter Yong Joo Lee by unanimous decision.{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20

On , Yabushita returned to Smackgirl for the final part of the middleweight queen decision tournament that took place in the event Smackgirl 2005: Dynamic!! in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.{{cite web | script-title=ja:(レポ＆写真) [スマック] 8.17 代々木：ローラ、薮下破りミドル級女王に |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |url-status = dead |url-status = dead |url-status = dead

After the tournament, Yabushita lost against American Amanda Buckner by submission (guillotine choke) in Smackgirl 2006: Advent of Goddess on .{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21

On , Yabushita and Laura D'Auguste had a rematch in which D'Auguste was defending her Ring of Combat women's welterweight title in Ring of Combat 11 held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States. Yabushita's corner was forced to stop the fight after Yabushita got her forearm fractured during the first round.{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |trans-title=| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20060820161420/http://www.ringofcombat.com/ |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21

Yabushita rebounded back with a majority decision victory against Japanese Mizuho Sato in Shooto's Battle Mix Tokyo 02 on .{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |script-title = ja:"絶対女王"辻がパウンド連打で圧勝、大阪凱旋試合を飾る 「スマックガール2007～絶対女王は大正浪漫を舞ひ奏で～」大会トピックス |url-status = dead |url-status=dead

Yabushita participated in the event K-Grace on in the contest open weight tournament.{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21

Returning to the US, Yabushita participated in Fatal Femmes Fighting Championship 2: The Crystal Brawl, where she faced another Josh Barnett's student, American Ginele Marquez, who defeated Yabushita by unanimous decision on .{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21

In the open-air event Smackgirl in Summerfest!! on , Yabushita submitted Hiroko Kohata with an armbar in 15 seconds.{{cite web | script-title=ja:(レポ＆写真) [スマックガール] 7.26 代々木公園：サマフェス!!で5試合 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 | script-title=ja:【スマックガール】サマフェスで熱戦が展開！メインの藪下は15秒で一本勝ち |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |url-status = dead |trans-title = |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110707090328/http://www.adcombat.com/news/2007-12-29/smack-girl-12262007-yuka-tsuji-no-longer-interested-megumi-fujii |archive-date = 2011-07-07 |url-status = dead |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 | script-title=ja:【スマックガール】辻が体調不良に苦しみながらもタイトル防衛、フジメグは第1試合で秒殺勝利 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21

During the open weight tournament in Smackgirl world ReMix tournament 2008 Opening Round held on , Yabushita had a rematch against Hitomi Akano, whom Yabushita defeated in Akano's debut in MMA in 2007, and in this occasion it ended with Akano submitting Yabushita with a heel hook.{{cite web | script-title=ja:【スマックガール】日本人連敗の中、藤井だけが準決勝へ。無差別は赤野と江本 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |url-status = dead |url-status = dead

Yabushita had her four straight loss at the hands of Russian fighter Julia Berezikova, who won the match by unanimous decision in the event FightFORCE: Russia vs. The World held in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on .{{cite video |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090205194420/http://fightforce.ru/video/31 |archive-date = 2009-02-05 |url-status = dead |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21

Rebounding back from her losing streak, Yabushita scored a unanimous decision victory over Emi Fujino at Japanese event Demolition 080721 on .{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |url-status = dead |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21

After a year without fighting in MMA, on , it was announced that Yabushita would be making her debut with Jewels promotion in the event Jewels 5th Ring facing fellow pro-wrestler Atsuko Emoto.{{cite web |url-status = dead |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |trans-title=JEWELS 5th Ring Results |url-status=dead |url-status = dead

Yabushita returned to the United States on to participate in Freestyle Cage Fighting women's bantamweight grand prix at Freestyle Cage Fighting 39.{{cite web |url-status = dead |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21

On , Yabushita made her debut with Valkyrie promotion, defeating Japanese fighter Mutsumi Kasai with a scarf hold armlock submission, handling Kasai her first professional loss, in the event Valkyrie 05.{{cite web |url-status = dead |script-title = ja:高林、藤野との接戦制す。藪下・玉田が白星 |trans-title = |archive-date = 2010-08-29 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100829182250/http://www.boutreview.com/2/reports/valkyrie/100411valkyrie.html |url-status = dead

Yabushita next faced Japanese MMA rising star Rin Nakai at Valkyrie 06 on , losing by unanimous decision in a match that Nakai dominated to remain undefeated.{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |url-status = dead

Yabushita faced Sarah Kaufman at Armageddon Fighting Championship 5: Judgment Day on in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2011-03-10 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2011-04-03

Yabushita faced professional wrestler Kyoko Kimura at Pancrase Impressive Tour 11 on .{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2011-10-26 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2011-11-13

Yabushita returned to Jewels to face Shizuka Sugiyama at Jewels 20th Ring on .{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2012-06-28 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2012-07-21

On , Yabushita faced Jade Marie Anderson at Jewels 22nd Ring.{{cite web | script-title=ja:【ジュエルス】12・15藪下がレスリング全米高校王者と激突 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2012-12-07 |trans-title = |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130113015736/http://www.kakutoh-blog.com/jewels/2012/12/22nd-ring-2.php |archive-date = 2013-01-13 |url-status = dead

Yabushita faced Anderson again in a rematch at Gladiator: Dream, Power and Hope on . She was defeated by technical submission due to an armbar in the first round.{{cite web

Submission grappling career

Yabushita was supposed to debut at submission grappling against Felicia Oh on , but Erin Toughill injured Yabushita in their MMA bout and Yabushita was unable to grapple against Oh. Yabushita competed in the first women's divisions at the ADCC World Championships on May 27 and 28, 2005. She lost to eventual champion Juliana Borges in the semi-final of the over 60kg division and to Tara LaRosa in the opening round of the absolute division. Yabushita participated in Smackgirl Grappling Queen Tournament 2007 on , defeating against Hitomi Sakamoto by decision (25-0) and losing against Akiko Ninomiya with a choke sleeper submission in the middleweight tournament final.{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21

Kickboxing and Shoot boxing career

On , Yabushita debuted in kickboxing, losing against Yuko Okamoto by TKO, after Yabushita had her left shoulder dislocated in All-Japan Kickboxing Federation event Girls standing fight 1st. bout - Girls Shock!.{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 | script-title=ja:女帝プロデュース興行の全試合結果 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 | script-title=ja:【シュートボクシング】6・26 篠原光＆大沼慶子 直前インタビュー |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21

On , it was announced that Yabushita would have a kickboxing rematch against South Korean Hyun Sung Kim{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21 |url-status = dead

Facing another South Korean, Yabushita was defeated by Seo Hee Ham by unanimous decision in the event CMA Festival 2: Ikuhisa Minowa debut 10 anniversary tournament celebrated on .{{cite web |url-status=dead

Yabushita was defeated by Japanese Muay Thai expert Rie Murakami with a unanimous decision on in the event Breathless Muay Thai 4.{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-21

Yabushita got her first victory in kickboxing by defeating Kanako Oka by decision (3-0) at Shoot boxing Osaka 2010 Alpinisme -Young Caesar Cup- on .{{cite web | script-title=ja:ファントム、パジョンスックに判定負け |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20 | script-title=ja:健太、北山に完勝も不満：3.28 有明 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20

On at Dragon Gym event Charity kickboxing event: No Name Heroes 10, Yabushita was defeated via unanimous decision by Monica, MAD 66 kg champion.{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-12-10

At the event J-Girls Women Festival 2010: The women who fight are beautiful on , Yabushita had a rematch against Rie Murakami, who once again defeated Yabushita, this time by KO in the third round, successfully defending J-Girls lightweight title.{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-12-17

On , Yabushita faced Seo Hee Ham for a second time at Gladiator 14 KOK Samurai Series. Yabushita lost the fight by TKO in the second round.{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2011-03-10 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2011-03-10 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2011-03-10

On , Yabushita faced Hiroko Yamanaka in a shoot boxing match at the 2011 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup. She was defeated by TKO (doctor stoppage) due to a knee injury in round three.{{cite web | script-title=ja:【シュートボクシング】女子立ち技最強は神村エリカ！ハム・ソヒに逆転勝利 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2011-09-04

Outside sports

Yabushita has a younger sister named Yuka Yabushita who is also a judoka.{{cite web |script-title = ja:柔道部 薮下 由香 選手（文芸4年） 「みんなの支えで悲願の優勝」 |url-status = dead

Yabushita along with Yoko Takahashi left Jd' in 2002 and associated with Soft on Demand (SOD), one of the biggest adult film makers in Japan, and founded SOD Women's MMA Dojo and started to train MMA fighters. After some years, Yabushita and Takahashi decided to leave their partnership with SOD and closed their gym at the end of and they formed their own team called Tomoe-gumi. This situation forced them to collaborate with Fang Gym in order to have a place to train. Members of Tomoe-gumi had differences with Fang Gym's policies and Yabushita and Takahashi were forced to disband the team by and became freelance. They negotiated with Exit, a bar / live house in Shinjuku, Tokyo, to become bouncers at the place during the night and to use the live house space for their training and the amateur MMA shows free of charge during the day. When they decided to change the name of their team for a name that represented "girls that keep on fighting", they met with American clothing brand Fight Chix and contacted the company for a possible collaboration which was accepted. Yabushita and Takahashi renamed their team to Team Fight Chix. With their partnership, Yabushita and Takahashi are introducing, marketing and distributing Fight Chix products in the Japanese market.

Yabushita uses Kula Shaker's cover of Hush as her ring entrance theme in pro-wrestling. In MMA, she uses Visa's Fly Away song as her entrance theme.

Mixed martial arts record

| ko-wins= 1 | ko-losses= 4 | sub-wins= 10 | sub-losses= 6 | dec-wins= 7 | dec-losses= 13 | dq-wins= 1 | dq-losses= | other-wins=

| | Incheon, South Korea | |- | Loss | Jade Marie Anderson | Technical Submission (armbar) | Gladiator: Dream, Power and Hope | | Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan | |- | Loss | Jade Marie Anderson | Decision (unanimous) | Jewels 22nd Ring | | Ariake, Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Shizuka Sugiyama | Decision (split) | Jewels 20th Ring | | Ariake, Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Kyoko Kimura | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Pancrase: Impressive Tour 11 | | Kabukicho, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Sarah Kaufman | TKO (punches) | AFC 5: Judgment Day | | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada | |- | Loss | Rin Nakai | Decision (unanimous) | Valkyrie 06 | | Ariake, Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Win | Mutsumi Kasai | Submission (scarf hold armlock) | Valkyrie 05 | | Ariake, Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Shayna Baszler | Submission (twister) | Freestyle Cage Fighting 39 | | Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States

| | Kabukicho, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Win | Emi Fujino | Decision (unanimous) | Demolition 080721 | | Ariake, Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Julia Berezikova | Decision (unanimous) | FightFORCE: Russia vs. The World | | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |- | Loss | Hitomi Akano | Submission (heel hook) | Smackgirl World ReMix Tournament 2008 Opening Round | | Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Lana Stefanac | Decision (unanimous) | Smackgirl 7th anniversary: Starting Over | | Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Lisa Ellis | Decision (unanimous) | Fatal Femmes Fighting Championship 3: War of the Roses | | Compton, Los Angeles County, California, United States | |- | Win | Hiromi Kohata | Submission (armbar) | Smackgirl in Summerfest!! | | Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Ginele Marquez | Decision (unanimous) | Fatal Femmes Fighting Championship 2: The Crystal Brawl | | Compton, Los Angeles County, California, United States | |- | Loss | Roxanne Modafferi | Decision (unanimous) | K-GRACE | | Ariake, Koto, Tokyo, Japan

| | Ariake, Koto, Tokyo, Japan

| | Taisho, Osaka, Japan | |- | Win | Mizuho Sato | Decision (majority) | Shooto: Battle Mix Tokyo 2 | | Taito, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Laura D'Auguste | TKO (corner stoppage) | Ring of Combat 11 | | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States

| | Kabukicho, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Amanda Buckner | Submission (guillotine choke) | Smackgirl 2006: Advent of Goddess | | Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan

| | Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

| | Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

| | Seoul, South Korea | |- | Win | Hyun Sung Kim | KO (slam) | Smackgirl: Cool Fighter's Last Stand | | Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan

| | Aomi, Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Win | Erin Toughill | DQ (elbows) | Smackgirl: World ReMix 2004 | | Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan

| | Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan

| | Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan

| | Aomi, Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Win | Shioya Yoshimi | Submission (armbar) | All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling: Tag League: The Best | | Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan

| | Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Asako Saioka | Decision (unanimous) | Smackgirl: Smack Legend 2002 | | Ariake, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Marloes Coenen | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Jd': No Holds Barred | | Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Erin Toughill | Technical Submission (armbar) | ReMix: Golden Gate 2001 | | Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Marloes Coenen | Decision (unanimous) | ReMix: World Cup 2000 | | Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan

| | Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan

| | Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan

| | Nagoya, Aichi, Japan |

Submission grappling

Legend:

Kickboxing and Shoot boxing record

Legend:

Championships and accomplishments

Judo

• All-Japan individual championships 1993 52 kg winner
• Fukuoka international women's judo championships 1994 52 kg third place
• World Masters Munich 1995 52 kg fifth place

Professional wrestling

• JDStar
  • AWF World Women's Championship (2 times)
  • Jd' Junior Championship (2 times)
  • TWF World Women's Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Maru (1) and Sumie Sakai (2)
  • TWF World Women's Tag Team Title Tournament (2003) – with Maru
• JWP Joshi Puroresu
  • Daily Sports Women's Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Command Bolshoi
  • JWP Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Command Bolshoi
• World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana
  • World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Chikayo Nagashima

Mixed martial arts

• Smackgirl Open Weight Champion
• Smackgirl Open Weight Queen tournament winner
• Smackgirl First Middleweight Queen tournament runner-up
• ReMix Open Weight World Tournament 2000 runner-up

References

References

1. link. Asahikawa University High School
2. link. All Japan Judo Federation
3. link. "SMACKGIRL-F2006 ～The Next Cinderella Tournament 2006～". Jewels
4. link. "7月はDEMOLITION開催に決定！ 次回CAGE FORCEは9/27開催". Cage Force Official Site
5. (10 October 2023). "Throwback: ADCC 2005 Introduces First Women's Divisions".
6. link. "Breathless Muay Thai 4". Dragon Gym
7. link. "Results". Dragon Gym
8. link. (September 19, 2016). World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana