Rena Kubota

Kubota fought in the Rizin Fighting Federation inaugural event on New Year's Eve 2015, and won via Flying Armbar submission in the second round (December 31, 2015 (2015-12-31 ) ).

She was scheduled to fight Katie Klimansky-Casimir at Shootboxing 2014: Act 1 on February 23, 2014, but the fight was scrapped when the American fighter encountered immigration issues.

Kubota returned to face Taiwanese fighter Du Peiling at Shoot Boxing 2013: Act 2 on April 20, 2013 (2013-04-20 ) . She defeated Peiling via third-round KO. Rena locked in a standing arm-triangle choke and then switched to a rear-naked choke. The referee stopped the match as Peiling was starting to lose consciousness.

On June 23, 2013 (2013-06-23 ) , it was announced that Kubota would face Lorena Klijn during the 2013 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup Japan Midsummer Festival event on August 3, 2013 (2013-08-03 ) . She defeated Klijn by majority decision after an extension round.

On November 16, 2013 (2013-11-16 ) , at Shoot Boxing Battle Summit: Ground Zero Tokyo 2013, Kubota defeated late replacement opponent Maylee Won. Pomas by unanimous decision.

Kubota entered the 2012 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup on August 25, 2012 (2012-08-25 ) . She defeated Kim Townsend, Seo Hee Ham and Mei Yamaguchi in succession to become the 2012 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup tournament champion.

After her second victory of the Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup, Kubota appeared at the pre-recorded TV program Beautiful women athletes full performance: TV 2011 Athletic Club of Fire (美女アスリート総出演“炎の体育会TV2011” , Bijo Asurīto Sōshutsuen Honō no Taiiku-Kai TV 2011) on TBS on January 11, 2011 (2011-01-11 ) , where she faced and defeated male comedians Yu Shinagawa, Hidetsugu Shibata and Koji Imada in exhibition bouts. While the show averaged 11.8% of TV rating, her appearance had the highest rating, 16.8%, and her ring name became the second-highest searched for keyword on Google Japan the next day.

Kubota was scheduled to fight South Korean fighter Sun Young Kim on April 23, 2011 (2011-04-23 ) , at Shoot Boxing 2011 Act 2 in Tokyo, but Kim withdrew from the bout. As a result, Kubota faced J-Girls rising talent Erika Kamimura in an exhibition match in which Rena was knocked down once by her younger opponent in a single three-minute round, which surprised fans and pundits alike.

Kubota faced Ai Takahashi again in a five-round title fight at Shoot Boxing 2011 Act 3 on June 5, 2011 (2011-06-05 ) . She was defeated by unanimous decision.

On August 19, 2011 (2011-08-19 ) , Kubota faced Thai Zaza Sor. Aree in a non-tournament bout at the 2011 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup. Rena trapped Zaza in a standing arm-triangle choke and Zaza struggled violently to escape but was unable to. She was fading away and about to pass out when the referee broke the hold and awarded the point to Rena. It's a pity the referee did not let Rena put Zaza to sleep and therefore win by KO. Nevertheless, Rena won the match when she delivered a devastating punch to Sor Aree's stomach in round two which caused her to collapse to the mat. Flat on her back and holding her stomach in agony, Sor Aree was not able to continue and Rena won the match. This would be the second time that Rena's powerful attacks have left an opponent in so much pain that they are not able to get up and not able to continue the match. The first opponent to collapse in pain was Hisae Watanabe.

Kubota faced Bellator MMA veteran Jessica Penne in a shoot boxing match at Shoot Boxing 2011 Act 4 on September 10, 2011 (2011-09-10 ) . She was defeated by majority decision after two extension rounds in a considerable upset.

Kubota faced Erika Kamimura in a rematch at Rise 85 on November 23, 2011 (2011-11-23 ) . She defeated Kamimura by unanimous decision to become the first Rise Queen champion. Kubota vacated the Rise Queen title on July 23, 2013 (2013-07-23 ) .

Kubota was scheduled to face kickboxing and MMA legend Hisae Watanabe on April 11, 2010 (2010-04-11 ) , but Kubota broke her finger and Watanabe faced an alternate opponent. The two would finally meet on August 29, 2010 (2010-08-29 ) during the 2010 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup. Kubota stunned everyone including Watanabe with her speed and aggressiveness. The #2-ranked Watanabe had been very confident of winning, but Kubota shocked everyone with her powerful performance and she defeated Watanabe by TKO. Kubota delivered a devastating knee to the body which caused Watanabe to fall to her knees. Watanabe was holding her stomach and was in severe pain and unable to continue the match.

Kubota debuted in the Jewels promotion in a shoot boxing match at Jewels 4th Ring on July 11, 2009 (2009-07-11 ) . She defeated Tomoko SP by decision.

Kubota returned to shoot boxing and won her first Girls S-Cup title, at only 18 years old, at the 2009 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup on August 23, 2009 (2009-08-23 ) . She defeated Masako Yoshida by decision, Saori Ishioka by TKO and finally Mei Yamaguchi by decision to win the tournament.

On June 1, 2008 (2008-06-01 ) , Kubota fought to a draw with MMA fighter Miku Matsumoto in the Deep promotion in a kickboxing match at ClubDEEP Toyama Barbarian Festival 7. Kubota then returned to shoot boxing and won an extra-round decision against Misato Tomita on July 21, 2008 (2008-07-21 ) .

Kubota's next fight, her second professional loss, came in a rematch against Miku Matsumoto at the Shoot Boxing World Tournament 2008 on November 24, 2008 (2008-11-24 ) . Matsumoto won the fight by unanimous decision. Kubota then made her debut in K-1 at K-1 Award & MAX Korea 2009 on March 20, 2009 (2009-03-20 ) . She was defeated via extra-round split decision against South Korean Muay Thai kickboxer Su Jeong Lim. The bout was Kubota's only fight for the promotion.

Kubota made her kickboxing debut in the all-female promotion J-Girls at New Heroine Coming! on July 1, 2007 (2007-07-01 ) . She lost a split decision to Asami Furuya in the flyweight New Heroine tournament semi-final. Kubota fought once more in J-Girls in the World Queen Tournament and defeated Mika Nagai by decision on November 4, 2007 (2007-11-04 ) .

Kubota's next bout was her first in shoot boxing. She defeated Kanako Oka by decision at Shoot Boxing 2007 Mu-So 5th on December 23, 2007 (2007-12-23 ) . Kubota won her next two fights in the Road to S-Cup series.

After winning the Girls S-Cup, Kubota won fights against Emi Fujino by TKO (doctor stoppage), Australian Christina Jurjevic by decision and Mika Nagai by decision in a rematch from their 2007 fight.

Kubota was born in Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan on (1991-06-29 ) June 29, 1991. She began training at Oikawa Dojo when she was a sixth grader.