Ayaka Hamasaki wins in lackluster JEWELS show

Ayaka Hamasaki handles MIZUKI

So when I looked at the card for yesterday's JEWELS show, it seemed to me that it lacked star power. JEWELS Lightweight Champ Ayaka Hamasaki was in the main event. But the focus was on the start of the Featherweight tournament and it's not exactly a talent filled division. There was no Mika Nagano, Saori Ishioka, HIROKO, Yuka Tsuji or Megumi Fujii. The last two were there cornering fighters. In a post show interview with Wrestle Kingdom, JEWELS matchmaker Shigeru Saeki admitted that several fans gave him an earful for the lack of star power on the show. There are also the standard complaints about too much kickboxing on an MMA show. Saeki promised the December show will be better. It had better be if he wants to fill Korakuen Hall. The non title main event had JEWELS Lightweight Champ Ayaka Hamasaki win by unanimous decision over 17 year old J-Girls kickboxer MIZUKI. Hamasaki won the first round with takedowns and submission attempts. MIZUKI scored with strikes in round two but it wasn't enough to get the win. Hamasaki said MIZUKI is very strong. Fans have asked me about MIZUKI's future in MMA. I don't know if she has one. I understand she prefers kickboxing and I know J-Girls can keep her busy. She might be better off focusing on one thing. After the show, Saeki said that in December Hamasaki will defend her title against either Ham Seo Hee or Yuka Tsuji. I guess Tsuji can have it if she wants it. In the first match of the Featherweight tournament, undefeated Sugi Rock won by unanimous decision over Ayumi "Edge" Saito. Edge scored with strikes but Sugi Rock countered with takedowns and submission attempts and got the win. Edge did well for being away for three years. She is a teammate and a long time pal of Yuka Tsuji. Kikuyo Ishikawa won by unanimous decision over former VALKYRIE champ Yasuko Tamada. I guess that's an upset. Ishikawa beat up Tamada with strikes and bloodied her nose with a high kick. Karate expert Misaki Takimoto won over MIYOKO by unanimous decision. Takimoto stuffed MIYOKO's takedown attempts and won with superior strikes. And in the fourth match, Yukiko Seki won over SACHI by unanimous decision to avenge a 2007 loss. In other matches, former pro wrestler Emi Tomimatsu returned from a long layoff to beat Celine by unanimous decision. Amiba won over Betiko by split decision. Rina Tomita returned from cancer surgery to win over anna with a cross arm breaker at 4:24 of round one. One of several amateur matches featured Smackgirl favourite Nanachanchin. And as usual she lost. Bring on the year end Korakuen Hall show.