Shizuka Sugiyama (杉山 しずか, sugiyama shizuka), occasionally nicknamed Shiiyan (しぃやん) and The Big Newcomer of Hope (期待の大型新人, kitai no oogata shinjin), is an American-born Japanese female mixed martial artist. She previously fought in the MMA promotion Jewels and now competes for Deep.
Background
Sugiyama was born on (1987-02-11)February 11, 1987 in New York City, New York, United States.[2][3][4] Sugiyama has an older brother.[3]
She graduated from the sports faculty of the Tokai University.[3] While in the Tokai University, she was first introduced to the Karate-Do Zendokai association and began studying karate at 18 years old.[3][4] She got her black belt in Karate in 2009.[4]
Sugiyama participated in the Japan Open 2007 Vale Tudo Real Fighting Karate-do Championship Series, placing second in the general category for women,[3] being defeated by Saori Ishioka. In 2008, she was the winner of the Japan Open 2008 Vale Tudo Real Fighting Karate-do Championship Series 57 kg.[3] She would repeat this feat in 2009.[5]
Shortly before her professional debut in MMA, she had a grappling match and was defeated by Hitomi Sakamoto.
Mixed martial arts career
JEWELS
She debuted on November 16, 2008 (2008-11-16) at Jewels 1st Ring, defeating Harumi with a rear naked chokesubmission.[6] She would win her next fight against Shiho by TKO on February 4, 2009 (2009-02-04).[7] At Jewels 3rd Ring on May 16, 2009 (2009-05-16), Sugiyama defeated Norwegian fighter Celine Haga by unanimous decision.[8] In another dominant performance, Sugiyama defeated Mika Harigai by unanimous decision on July 11, 2009 (2009-07-11).[9]
Making her debut with the Shoot boxing promotion, Sugiyama once again faced Hitomi Sakamoto, who had defeated Sugiyama in a grappling match. This time, Sugiyama defeated Sakamoto by decision.[10] Sugiyama's first loss came against German fighter Alexandra Sanchez in the opening round of the 2009 Jewels Rough Stone Grand Prix 60 kg on September 13, 2009 (2009-09-13).[11]
Sugiyama rebounded back with a unanimous decision victory over Yukiko Ozeki at Jewels 6th Ring on December 11, 2009 (2009-12-11).[12] At Jewels 7th Ring on March 19, 2010 (2010-03-19), Miki Morifuji defeated Sugiyama by unanimous decision.[13]
Sugiyama was announced for Jewels 9th Ring in a shoot boxing match against MongolianEsui,[14] but she suffered a broken collar bone and a dislocated shoulder during training, which forced her to withdraw from the event.[15][16]
Returning after her injury, Sugiyama faced Esui in a MMA bout at Jewels 11th Ring on December 17, 2010 (2010-12-17). Esui defeated Sugiyama by TKO (corner stoppage) early in the second round.[17][18]
Sugiyama returned to Jewels to face Megumi Yabushita at Jewels 20th Ring on July 21, 2012 (2012-07-21).[23][24] She defeated Yabushita by split decision.[25][26]
Sugiyama faced Yurika Tanaka at Jewels 21st Ring on September 22, 2012 (2012-09-22).[27] She defeated Tanaka by TKO in the second round.[28][29]
Sugiyama was set to face Roxanne Modafferi at Jewels 22nd Ring on December 15, 2012 (2012-12-15).[30][31] However, Modafferi suffered a neck injury in training and withdrew from the fight on December 13.[32]
Sugiyama next faced Sung Eun Kim at Jewels 23rd Ring on March 30, 2013 (2013-03-30).[33][34] She won the fight by TKO in the first round.[35][36]
DEEP JEWELS
On July 20, 2013 (2013-07-20), Sugiyama made her Deep debut against Chisa Yonezawa at Deep: Tokyo Impact - Lightweight GP 2013 Semifinal.[37][38] She defeated Yonezawa by TKO in the first round.[39][40]
Sugiyama next faced Ji Yeon Kim at Deep: Cage Impact 2013 on November 24, 2013 (2013-11-24).[41][42] The fight ended in a majority draw after two rounds.[43][44]
In her third appearance with DEEP, Sugiyama was scheduled to fight Mizuho Sato at Deep-Jewels 3. She beat Sato by a first-round TKO, after the ringside doctor was forced to stop the bout.[45]
Sugiyama was scheduled to fight Takayo Hashi at Deep-Jewels 4 for the inaugural middleweight title. Hashi won the fight by TKO, near the end of the third round.[46]
Sugiyama was scheduled to fight Yurika Nakakura at Deep Jewels 6. She won the fight by unanimous decision.[47]
At Deep - Dream Impact 2014: Omisoka Special, Sugiyama was scheduled to fight the multiple-time World Boxing Council title challenger Emiko Raika in the latter's sophomore MMA appearance.[48] Sugiyama won the fight by technical submission, forcing her opponent's corner to throw in the towel, as Raika refused to tap.[49]
Sugiyama was next scheduled to fight Yukinari Nabekawa at Deep-Jewels 15.[50] She won the fight by split decision.[51]
Sugiyama extended her winning streak to four, after beating Satsuki Kodama by an armbar at Deep Jewels 17.[52]
In her first fight outside of Japan, Sugiyama was scheduled to fight Chan-Mi Jeon at Double G FC 02.[56] She won the fight by unanimous decision.
Sugiyama once again returned to DEEP, as she was scheduled to fight Asami Nakai at Deep Jewels 25.[57] Sugiyama won the fight by an armbar.[58]
Sugiyama was scheduled to fight Kano Kagaya at Deep-Jewels 29, in Kagaya's sophomore MMA appearance.[59] Kagaya later withdrew due to COVID-19 and was replaced by Mika Arai.[60] She won the fight by a technical submission, due to an armbar.[61]
Sugiyama was scheduled to fight at DEEP's 20th anniversary event, against Aoi Kuriyama.[62] Sugiyama won by a first-round TKO.[63]
Deep-Jewels Flyweight Grand Prix
Sugiyama faced Mikiko Shimizu in the Deep-Jewels Flyweight Grand Prix quarterfinal bout at Deep Jewels 36 on March 12, 2022.[64] She won the bout via split decision.[65]
On May 8, 2022, she was scheduled to face Aoi Kuriyama in the DEEP JEWELS Flyweight Grand Prix semi-final held at Deep Jewels 37. However, Kuriyama missed weight, resulting in Sugiyama receiving a bye to the final. In the final on the same day, she faced Rin Nakai, losing via armbar at the end of the first round.[66]
PANCRASE
Sugiyama made her PANCRASE debut against Emiko Raika at PANCRASE 341 on March 31, 2024 (2024-03-31). She won the fight by unanimous decision.[67]
On July 21, 2024, she faced the champion Honoka Shigeta in the women's flyweight title match at PANCRASE 346 and won by submission in the first round with a ninja choke. She became the fourth Queen of Pancrase in the flyweight division.[68]
Outside mixed martial arts
Sugiyama posed for a photobook published by Kamipro[4] and has also appeared in an Internet TV show called Stickam TV.[69]