Kanako Murata

Overview

Kanako Murata's grappling numbers read like a contender's. Her UFC record reads 1-2.

The Japanese strawweight is 12-3 as a professional across all promotions, and she debuted in the UFC in November 2020. She has lost her last two UFC fights, so she carries a two-fight losing streak into her next bout. She is not a champion.

Good numbers, thin results. That gap is the story so far.

UFC Career

Murata opened with a unanimous decision over Randa Markos at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Dos Anjos, going the full three rounds. It remains her only UFC win.

Her next appearance came in June 2021 against Virna Jandiroba. It ended in a second-round KO/TKO loss, at 5:00 of the round. More than two years later, at UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green, she lost a unanimous decision to Vanessa Demopoulos.

Three fights, no finishes either way in her favor. It's a small sample.

Fighting Style

Murata's career numbers describe a grappler. She goes for takedowns more than most UFC fighters and is hard to take down herself. She also hunts for submissions more than the typical fighter, though none of her UFC fights have ended that way.

On the feet, she is a selective striker. She doesn't throw much, but she connects with a high share of what she does throw, and she takes little damage in return. Her striking defense is around the UFC average, so her clean fights owe more to avoiding exchanges than to slipping shots.

Her UFC record is 1-2. Her one win and one of her losses went to the judges' scorecards, and her other loss came by knockout or TKO. She has no UFC finishes.

Notable Wins

• Randa Markos — unanimous decision, round 3, UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Dos Anjos (2020)

Quick Facts

• Division: Women's Strawweight
• UFC record: 1-2
• Professional record (all promotions): 12-3-0
• UFC debut: 2020
• Stance: Orthodox
• Height: 5'1"
• Reach: 62"
• Born: Japan