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Chihiro Sawada

Chihiro Sawada (澤田千優, Sawada Chihiro, born November 23, 1997) is a Japanese mixed martial artist and former wrestler, competing in the atomweight divisions of Shooto, Combate Global and ONE Championship. She is the reigning Shooto Women's Atomeweight champion. She is ranked #3 in the ONE Championship Women's Atomweight rankings.

Mixed martial arts career

Shooto

Early career

Sawada transitioned to the sport of mixed martial arts in 2021, following a successful amateur wrestling career, the standouts of which included a silver medal at the 2019 All Japan Adult Championship and a silver medal at the 2017 Asian Junior Championship.

Sawada made her professional debut against Yuki Ono at Professional Shooto 2021 Vol. 3 on May 16, 2021. The contest was ruled a unanimous decision draw, as all three ringside officials handed in a 19–19 scorecard.

Shooto Infinity League

It was announced on October 17, 2021, that Sawada would be one of four participants in the 2022 Shooto Atomweight Infinity League, which held to crown the inaugural Shooto Women's Atomweight champion. Each fighter earned a set number of points after each bout under the rules of the tournament, depending on whether the contest ended in a decision or stoppage victory or in a draw, with each fighter facing every other.

Sawada faced Miku Nakamura at Professional Shooto 2021 Vol. 7 on November 6, 2021, in the opening round of the tournament. She won the fight by majority decision, with two judges having scored the bout 20–18 in her favor, while the third judge had it scored as an even 19–19 draw. The victory earned her two points and a joint top place in the league standings.

Sawada faced the tournament favorite Hisae Watanabe at Professional Shooto 2022 Vol. 3 on May 22, 2022. She won the fight by a second-round submission. Sawada first knocked Watanabe down with a right overhand, before advancing to back mount and forcing her opponent to tap to a rear-naked choke. She earned an additional three points for the stoppage victory and the top place in the league standings.

Sawada was expected to face Haruna Kato at Professional Shooto 2022 Vol. 6 on September 19, 2022. Kato was forced to withdraw with vestibular disorder and paroxysmal positional vertigo. Although the fight was scrapped, Sawada was nonetheless awarded the full three points, bringing her to a total of eight, twice as much as the second-placed contestants had.

Sawada faced Yuki Ono at Professional Shooto 2022 Vol. 7 on November 27, 2022. She won the fight by majority decision, with scores of 20–18, 20–18 and 20–17. With ten total points, Sawada won the Infinity League tournament, as well as the inaugural Shooto Women's Atomeweight Championship.

ONE/Combate

Sawada made her ONE Championship debut against Sanaz Fayazmanesh at ONE Friday Fights 5 on February 17, 2023, in what was also her strawweight debut. She won the fight by a second-round submission. Fayazmanesh was forced to tap to an Americana 53 seconds into the penultimate round.

Sawada faced Ana Palacios at Combate Global: Mexico vs. Japan on May 13, 2023. She won the fight by unanimous decision. Following this victory, Sawada was ranked as the tenth best atomweight mixed martial artist in the world by Fight Matrix.

Sawada made her first Shooto Women's Atomweight Championship defense against Miku Nakamura at Shooto Colors Vol.2 on December 2, 2023. She won the fight by a first-round submission.

Sawada faced Jihin Radzuan on March 9, 2024, at ONE Fight Night 20. At weigh-ins, Radzuan missed weight, she weigh in at 120 pounds, 5 pounds over the atomweight limit and failed hydration, while Sawada failed hydration, with their bout was negotiated at a catchweight. Sawada won the fight by unanimous decision.

Sawada faced Noelle Grandjean at ONE Fight Night 22 on May 4, 2024. She won the fight by unanimous decision.