Random Awesome Fights: Miku "Supernova" Matsumoto vs Hikaru Shinohara

by The Midge on Aug 19, 2011 6:39 PM EDT in Random Awesome Fights

On December 12th, 2008 Miku "Supernova" Matsumoto as near the pinnacle of here career, riding an 8-0 unbeaten streak in DEEP- seven of which were won by impressive finishes. What was a promotion to do with a seemingly unstoppable overlord of a division with no contracted challengers worthy of a fight? DEEP did what any promotion would do; throw her in with a much larger beast of a fighter.

Enter Hikaru Shinohara, who after having a slow start to her professional MMA career was unbeaten over the last two years, finishing all of her opponents. Sounds like a formidable opponnent right? Add in the fact that she was 30+ pounds heavier than Miku Matsumoto and you've got yourself an interesting match up. Think of it kinda like when Anderson Silva moved up to Light Heavyweight, except pretend that he moved up to Heavyweight...and fought someone who had finished all their opponents in the last two years.

Entering DEEP: Protect Impact 2008, it was obvious that Miku was extremely outsized. However, as any martial artist will tell you- technique trumps size.

(via JpZa420)

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I heart Judo throws

especially when the throwee outweighs the thrower by 30% of their bodyweight!

"Some people see the glass half full. Others see it half empty.
I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be."

by The Midge on Aug 19, 2011 8:51 PM EDT reply actions

Whoa man, some context pls.....

hikaru had no chance ….this was an exact replay of their first match. And hiraku beating up debuting pro wrestlers in the span of a few years does not equal formidable opponent. Now mind you, Miku is great…in fact she’s awesome very technical but her record is also a big sign of what is plagues women’s mma which is evenly spread talent or simply talent. Debuting pro wrestlers dont count.

Sometimes, these things happen in MMA

by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Aug 19, 2011 8:51 PM EDT reply actions

hush you haha

"Some people see the glass half full. Others see it half empty.
I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be."

by The Midge on Aug 19, 2011 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions

If Miku didn't freakin retire upon hitting her prime

right as WMMA is blossoming, maybe we would have seen her ruin more than a few top notch girls like Lisa Ward and Carina Damm.

2004 to 2009 was a much different scene for females than 2011 for sure. I’d kill to see Miku in a Bellator tourney with Fujii, Esparza, Aguilar, Gurgel, etc.

"Some people see the glass half full. Others see it half empty.
I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be."

by The Midge on Aug 19, 2011 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions

She's not as good as Fuji or Tsuji. Really 115 simply isnt developed like the other weights.

135 is really the deepest weight and we’re getting a lot more 125ers but during her reign, she was fighting girls they found off the street. Most were novelty fight because in japan women fighting isnt a serious thing. Now they are trying with valkyrie and jewel but still nothin like the good ol us of a. As far as her, i would credit her with maybe 4 big wins, hisae being the biggest. Carina and ward have fallen off so bad now too you gotta question them a little. Takimoto but that one is kinda goofy. Windy usually puts up a fight but the fact that she couldnt finish he while fuji and tsuji could says something imo. So yea…..it’s a shame she came too early to the sport.

Sometimes, these things happen in MMA

by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Aug 19, 2011 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions