Mika Nagano

Early life

Nagano was born on in Gifu, Gifu, Japan.{{cite web

While studying at Chukyo Women's University, she was an amateur wrestling champion and finished fourth in the 55 kg division of the 2002 Japan Queen's Cup; the same tournament where future Olympic medalist Saori Yoshida finished first.

In 2004, she was ranked fourth in the 51 kg class, but left the university after three years before graduating and stopping wrestling.

Nagano moved to Tokyo in 2005, where she joined a modeling agency of independent wrestling and started talent activities. She was eventually charmed by MMA when she visited S-KEEP.

Mixed martial arts career

Nagano debuted in MMA in an exhibition match against Megumi Yabushita at Smackgirl: F 2006 on . She made her professional debut against Megumi Fujii and lost via submission (triangle choke) at Smackgirl: Starting Over at Korakuen Hall on .

After winning her next fight by split decision and losing her third by decision, she went on to win her following three fights by submission (armbar). In the process, she won the 2009 Rough Stone Grand Prix 54 kg & under tournament after defeating Yoko Kagoshima in the tournament final.

Following a unanimous decision win and going on a five-fight winning streak (defeating Rina Tomita twice), Nagano was upset at Jewels 8th Ring on by Norwegian fighter Celine Haga, who was an underdog after losing her first four professional fights.{{cite web

Nagano managed to avenge this loss in the Jewels Lightweight (115 lb) Queen Tournament Opening Round by defeating Haga with an armbar submission at Jewels 9th Ring on .{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-10-10 |url-status = dead |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-10-11

Nagano was scheduled to face Emi Murata at Jewels 12th Ring on in Tokyo, Japan,{{cite web |trans-title = |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110713132047/http://www.kakutoh.com/pc/blog/jewels/2011/03/post_273.php |archive-date = 2011-07-13 |url-status = dead

She then faced Murata at Jewels 14th Ring on {{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2011-05-10 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2011-05-16 | script-title=ja:【ジュエルス】スギロックが瀧本美咲に一本勝ち！対抗戦はヴァルキリーが勝利 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2011-05-20

Nagano rematched Megumi Fujii at Jewels 15th Ring on .{{cite web | script-title=ja:【ジュエルス】7・9長野美香が藤井惠と3年半ぶりの再戦！「想いのすべてをぶつける」 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2011-07-11 | script-title=ja:【ジュエルス】2大女王強し！辻結花が石岡沙織を、藤井惠が長野美香を撃退 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2011-07-11

Nagano faced Mei Yamaguchi at Jewels 17th Ring on .{{cite web | script-title=ja:【ジュエルス】浜崎が不完全燃焼の初防衛、スギロックが初代女王に |trans-title=| accessdate = 2011-12-17

Nagano then faced Emi Fujino at Jewels 18th Ring on .{{cite web

On , Nagano faced Anna Saito at Jewels 19th Ring in Osaka, Japan.{{cite web

Nagano's next fight took place on when she faced Tomo Maesawa at Jewels 21st Ring.{{cite web | script-title=ja:【ジュエルス】9・22"ビジュアルファイター"長野美香の参戦が決定 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2012-09-06 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2012-09-23

On , Nagano competed outside Japan for the first time when she faced Alexandra Chambers at Brace For War 17 in Australia.{{cite web

Nagano faced Rina Tomita for a third time at Jewels 22nd Ring on . The fight was Tomita's retirement match.{{cite web | script-title=ja:【ジュエルス】12・15初の金網リングを使用！杉山しずか出場 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2012-11-17 |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

Nagano next faced Emi Tomimatsu at Jewels 23rd Ring on .{{cite web | script-title=ja:【ジュエルス】3・30長野美香と富松恵美が特別ルールで激突 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2013-02-08 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2013-03-31

On , Nagano faced Takumi Umehara at Jewels 24th Ring.{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2013-05-20 | script-title=ja:【ジュエルス】韓流女子格闘家ハム・ソヒが女王の座に |trans-title=| accessdate = 2013-05-26

Nagano next faced Akiko Naito in Naito's retirement fight at Deep Jewels 1 on .{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2013-07-28 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2013-09-03

In a rematch at Deep Jewels 2 on , Nagano faced Emi Tomimatsu in the opening round of the Deep Jewels lightweight title tournament.{{cite web |trans-title=| accessdate = 2013-10-01 |trans-title=| accessdate = 2013-11-11

Professional wrestling career

Nagano made her professional wrestling debut on with wrestling promotion Ice Ribbon.{{cite web |url-status=dead

Outside mixed martial arts

Nagano has posed in bikini and semi-nude photo shoots in Japanese magazine Friday.{{cite web | script-title=ja:【ニュース】"女子格アイドル"長野美香が手ブラ・セミヌード！ |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-08-24

Personal life

Nagano was married in December 2013 and announced her pregnancy on February 6, 2014.

Mixed martial arts record

| ko-wins= | ko-losses= 1 | sub-wins= 15 | sub-losses= 1 | dec-wins= 3 | dec-losses= 11 | dq-wins= | dq-losses= | other-wins=

| |Tokyo, Japan | |- | Win | Tomoko Inoue | Submission (armbar) | Deep Jewels 38 | | Tokyo, Japan | |- | Win | Kate Oyama | Submission (guillotine choke) | Deep Jewels 37 | | Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Miki Motono | Decision (unanimous) | Deep Jewels 24 | | Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Miyuu Yamamoto | Decision (unanimous) | Rizin 14 | | Saitama, Japan | |- | Draw | Tanja Hoffmann | Draw (majority) | Deep Jewels 22 | | Tokyo, Japan | |- | Win | Izumi Noguchi | Submission (armbar) | Deep Jewels 21 | | Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Bayarmaa Munkhgerel | Decision (unanimous) | MGL-1 Fighting Champion | | Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia | |- | Win | Sachiko Fujimori | Technical Submission (armbar) | Deep Jewels 13 | | Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Emi Tomimatsu | Decision (unanimous) | Deep Jewels 2 | | Kabukicho, Tokyo, Japan

| | Kabukicho, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Win | Takumi Umehara | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Jewels 24th Ring | | Kabukicho, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Win | Emi Tomimatsu | Decision (unanimous) | Jewels 23rd Ring | | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Win | Rina Tomita | Submission (armbar) | Jewels 22nd Ring | | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Alexandra Chambers | TKO (knee and punches) | Brace For War 17: Brace Girls | | Southport, Queensland, Australia | |- | Win | Tomo Maesawa | Technical Submission (armbar) | Jewels 21st Ring | | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Win | Anna Saito | Submission (armbar) | Jewels 19th Ring | | Taisho-ku, Osaka, Japan | |- | Loss | Emi Fujino | Decision (unanimous) | Jewels 18th Ring | | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Mei Yamaguchi | Decision (split) | Jewels 17th Ring | | Kabukicho, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Megumi Fujii | Decision (unanimous) | Jewels 15th Ring | | Kabukicho, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Win | Emi Murata | Submission (armbar) | Jewels 13th Ring & 14th Ring | | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Seo Hee Ham | Decision (split) | Jewels 11th Ring | | Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan

| | Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan

| | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Win | Mai Ichii | Decision (unanimous) | Jewels 7th Ring | | Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Win | Yoko Kagoshima | Submission (armbar) | Jewels 6th Ring | | Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan

| | Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan

| | Koto, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Win | Misaki Ozawa | Submission (armbar) | Jewels 3rd Ring | | Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Saori Ishioka | Decision (unanimous) | Jewels 1st Ring | | Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Win | Asami Kodera | Decision (split) | Smackgirl: World ReMix 2008 Second Round | | Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan | |- | Loss | Megumi Fujii | Submission (triangle choke) | Smackgirl: Starting Over | | Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan |

References

References

1. "Mika Nagano Awakening Profile". Awakeningfighters.com.
2. link. Dream Mail
3. (2013-12-28). "【DEEP JEWELS】長野美香が2月大会での引退を発表". eFight.
4. Nagano's retirement ceremony took place on February 16 at ''Deep Jewels 3''.. link. (2014-02-17). Daily Sports Online
5. "Season1~". [[World Wonder Ring Stardom]].
6. "Season2~". [[World Wonder Ring Stardom]].
7. (2013-04-02). "ゆずポン引退試合の相手は世IV虎に決定". [[Nikkan Sports]].
8. (April 29, 2013). "スターダム「Stardom Champions Fiesta 2013～両国シンデレラ」". [[Yahoo!]].
9. link. (2014-02-06). Daily Sports Online