Kanako Murata

Japan

Robbed in return to octagon
StrawweightUFC
October 7, 2023
Murata lost to Vanessa Demopoulos via unanimous decision (28-29, 28-29, 28-29) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
This was Murata's first fight since June 2021. Her reward for getting back into the octagon after well over two years was one of the worst judges decisions you will ever see. There's a case to be made Murata deserved all three rounds, but she unquestionably was the better fighter over the course of the final ten minutes. In Rounds 2 and 3 combined, Murata landed all three of her takedown attempts for 9:27 worth of control time. All three judges felt she lost. It's a tough business sometimes.
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Next fight booked
StrawweightUFC
July 18, 2023
Murata is slated to fight Vanessa Demopoulos at UFC Vegas 80 on Oct. 7, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Murata, who hasn't fought since June of 2021 as the result of a medical suspension, will make her return against Vanessa Demopoulos. The 29-year-old Japanese fighter holds a 1-1 record in the UFC.
Needs elbow cleared
StrawweightUFC
June 22, 2021
Murata is facing a 180-day medical suspension, MMAJunkie.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Murata suffered a dislocated left elbow in the loss to Virna Jandiroba last weekend. She will need clearance from a doctor is she wants to fight again before mid-December.
Win streak snapped at eight
StrawweightUFC
June 19, 2021
Murata lost to Virna Jandiroba via TKO (doctor's stoppage) at 5:00 of Round 2 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Murata's toughness was on full display in a fight in which she struggled from the outset. She somehow managed to survive a very deep armbar from Jandiroba in Round 1, but the damage was already done. Murata was essentially unable to raise her arm the rest of the fight, and her opponent took full advantage. Murata's corner would have been smart to throw in the towel and protect their fighter, but it was the cageside physician who correctly halted the proceedings at the end of Round 2. The defeat snaps an eight-fight winning streak for Murata. Her most recent setback prior to Saturday was a submission at the hands of former UFC fighter Rin Nakai in a Rizin bout back in December 2016.
Taking on Jandiroba in June
StrawweightUFC
March 3, 2021
Murata will be taking on Virna Jandiroba in a strawweight bout at the UFC event on June 19, Marcelo Barone of GloboEsporte.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Murata will be in the Octagon for the first time since defeating Randa Markos by unanimous decision. She will look to take her MMA record to 13-1 and her record with the UFC to 2-0.
Controls Randa Markos in debut
StrawweightUFC
November 14, 2020
Murata defeated Randa Markos via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
It was a dominant showing from Murata in her company debut. Known for her standout wrestling game, Murata landed 4-of-9 takedown attempts and racked up 9:21 worth of control time, a massive number in a 15-minute fight. Murata's ability to control this fight also led to a 79-37 edge in total strikes landed. A victory over Markos doesn't mean a ton in the later days of 2020 but Murata did everything that was asked of her and then some in her first UFC bout. It will be interesting to see how she fairs against a bit better competition.