Naho Sugiyama

, also known by her nickname  or Sugi Rock, is a Japanese female mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. She has competed professionally since 2009. In 2011, she became the first Jewels featherweight champion. Besides Jewels, Sugiyama has also competed in MMA promotions Valkyrie and Invicta Fighting Championships.

As of , Sugiyama is ranked as the number four female atomweight (96-106 lb) fighter in the world according to the Unified Women's Mixed Martial Arts Rankings.

Background
Sugiyama was born on  in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. A member of , Sugiyama became interested in MMA after watching Caol Uno on TV at the K-1 World Max 2005 Japan Tournament on , so she started training MMA as a hobby.

Mixed martial arts career
After participating in four amateur bouts for the Smackgirl promotion, Sugiyama made her professional debut on  in a bout where she defeated Madoka Ebihara by unanimous decision at Valkyrie 3. Sugiyama's second fight was on  at Valkyrie 6, in which she defeated Megumi Morioka by TKO. In her last fight with Valkyrie, in an upset, Sugiyama defeated the then-flyweight champion Yasuko Tamada via unanimous decision in a non-title bout at Valkyrie 8.

Debuting in Jewels on , Sugiyama submitted Misaki Takimoto with a rear naked choke in the first round at the combined event Jewels 13th Ring & 14th Ring, where Sugiyama represented Valkyrie as part of a Jewels vs Valkyrie theme.

In her fifth professional fight, Sugiyama faced and defeated Ayumi Saito by unanimous decision at Jewels 16th Ring on  in a close bout that was part of the first round of the Jewels Featherweight Queen Grand Prix.

On , at Jewels 17th Ring, Sugiyama was crowned as the first Jewels Featherweight Queen after winning the Jewels Featherweight Queen GP by defeating Kikuyo Ishikawa via split decision and Misaki Takimoto via technical submission (armbar).

Sugiyama faced Yasuko Tamada in a non-title rematch at Jewels 19th Ring on . Despite being penalized for not making weight, Sugiyama was able to defeat Tamada once again by majority decision, keeping her unbeaten record intact.

Making her debut overseas, Sugiyama faced American fighter Jessica Penne at Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama on  in a title bout to crown the first Invicta FC Atomweight Champion. Penne defeated Sugiyama by submission (triangle choke) in the second round.

On , Sugiyama faced Celine Haga in a non-title bout at Jewels 23rd Ring. She was defeated by unanimous decision.

Sugiyama defended her Jewels title against Seo Hee Ham at Jewels 24th Ring on . She was defeated by unanimous decision.

On , Sugiyama faced Masako Yoshida at Deep Jewels 2. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts
Jewels
Featherweight Queen Grand Prix winner (2011)
Atomweight Championship (Two times; current)

Mixed martial arts record

|-
| Loss
|align=center| 12-5
| Mina Kurobe
| Decision (unanimous)
| Deep Jewels 15
| 
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Tokyo, Japan
| 
|-
| Win
|align=center| 12-4
| Emi Tomimatsu
| Decision (unanimous)
| Deep Jewels 12
| 
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Tokyo, Japan
| 
|-
| Win
|align=center| 11-4
| Mina Kurobe
| Decision (unanimous)
| Deep Jewels 10
| 
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 10-4
| Ayaka Hamasaki
| TKO (Punches)
| Deep Jewels 5
| 
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4:01
| Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 10-3
| Satomi Takano
| Decision (split)
| Deep Jewels 3
| 
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 5:00
| Tokyo, Japan
| 
|-
| Win
|align=center| 9-3
| Masako Yoshida
| Decision (unanimous)
| Deep Jewels 2
| 
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 5:00
| Tokyo, Japan
| 
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 8-3
| Seo Hee Ham
| Decision (unanimous)
| Jewels 24th Ring
| 
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Tokyo, Japan
| 
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 8-2
| Celine Haga
| Decision (unanimous)
| Jewels 23rd Ring
| 
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 5:00
| Tokyo, Japan
| 
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 8-1
| Jessica Penne
| Submission (triangle choke)
| Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama
| 
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 2:20
| Kansas City, Kansas, United States
| 
|-
| Win
|align=center| 8-0
| Yasuko Tamada
| Decision (majority)
| Jewels 19th Ring
| 
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 5:00
| Osaka, Japan
| 
|-
| Win
|align=center| 7-0
| Misaki Takimoto
| Technical Submission (armbar)
| Jewels 17th Ring
| 
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4:09
| Tokyo, Japan
| 
|-
| Win
|align=center| 6-0
| Kikuyo Ishikawa
| Decision (split)
| Jewels 17th Ring
| 
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 5:00
| Tokyo, Japan
| 
|-
| Win
|align=center| 5-0
| Ayumi Saito
| Decision (unanimous)
| Jewels 16th Ring
| 
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 5:00
| Tokyo, Japan
| 
|-
| Win
|align=center| 4-0
| Misaki Takimoto
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| Jewels 13th Ring & 14th Ring
| 
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4:06
| Tokyo, Japan
| 
|-
| Win
|align=center| 3-0
| Yasuko Tamada
| Decision (unanimous)
| Valkyrie 8
| 
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 3:00
| Tokyo, Japan
| 
|-
| Win
|align=center| 2-0
| Megumi Morioka
| TKO (punches)
| Valkyrie 6
| 
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 2:20
| Tokyo, Japan
| 
|-
| Win
|align=center| 1-0
| Madoka Ebihara
| Decision (unanimous)
| Valkyrie 3
| 
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 3:00
| Tokyo, Japan
|

See also
List of female mixed martial artists

References

External links
Official blog 
 Naho Sugiyama Awakening Profile

Profile at Wajutsu Keishukai Akza website 

1978 births
Japanese female mixed martial artists
Living people
Sportspeople from Kyoto Prefecture
Atomweight mixed martial artists
Featherweight mixed martial artists