Mizuki Inoue

Mizuki Inoue is a 31-year-old Japanese mixed martial artist and karate black belt who has spent two decades pursuing excellence in combat sports. Born in Aichi Prefecture and trained in karate from childhood under coach Sadanori Yamaguchi, she turned pro at just 15 in shoot boxing and kickboxing, winning multiple tournament titles before transitioning to MMA. At 16, she became one of the youngest champions in a major MMA promotion by winning the 2010 DEEP Jewels Rough Stone Grand Prix, and she later claimed the DEEP Jewels strawweight title. She competed as a title contender in Invicta FC before joining the UFC in 2019.

Inoue's fighting style blends precise karate-based striking with elite submission grappling. She has 9 career submission wins, predominantly via armbar, and uses counter-striking and aggressive clinch work to set up takedowns. Her record in the UFC stood at 2-1 after early fights against Wu Yanan (split decision win, 2019) and Amanda Lemos (unanimous decision loss, 2020), but a career-threatening ACL injury in 2020 sidelined her for three years. In September 2023, she returned to competition with a unanimous decision victory over Hannah Goldy, proving her body had healed.

At UFC 321 in October 2025, Inoue delivered a statement comeback. Facing 5-1 betting favorite Jaqueline Amorim after a 25-month layoff, she outworked her opponent for a unanimous decision upset, winning 30-27 twice and 29-28. Post-fight, Inoue credited her confident striking and the crowd energy for her performance, describing how a near-knockdown early in the fight gave her belief in her hands. The victory elevated her to #15 in the UFC women's strawweight rankings and announced her return as a legitimate contender rather than merely a resilient veteran. She remains a quiet, disciplined force defined by her long apprenticeship in Japanese combat sports and her refusal to stay down when injury threatened to end her career.