Rin Nakai facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rin Nakai 中井 りん
Born	(1986-10-22) October 22, 1986 (age 38) Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan
Height	5 ft 1 in (155 cm)
Weight	125 lb (57 kg)
Division	Flyweight
Reach	60.5 in (154 cm)
Style	Judo
Fighting out of	Japan
Team	Pancrase Venus
Years active	2006–Present (MMA)
Mixed martial arts record
Total	32
Wins	28
By knockout	10
By submission	12
By decision	6
Losses	2
By decision	2
Draws	1
No contests	1
last updated on: March 04, 2022

Rin Nakai (中井 りん, also なかい りん, Nakai Rin, born October 22, 1986) is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist. She started her career in 2006. Rin has fought in major organizations like Pancrase, Smackgirl, Valkyrie, and the UFC.

From 2006 to 2018, Rin Nakai was often ranked among the top ten women fighters. She competed in the Flyweight and Bantamweight weight classes.

Rin Nakai's Early Life and Training

Rin Nakai was born on October 22, 1986, in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. She began training in judo when she was only three years old. Judo is a Japanese martial art and Olympic sport.

Judo Achievements

Rin was very good at judo from a young age.

• In middle school, she was ranked fifth in all of Japan for judo.
• In senior high school, she achieved an even higher rank, placing third in Japan.

She went to Takanawadai High School and later attended Teikyo University, though she did not finish her studies there.

Starting Her MMA Journey

Rin Nakai began her professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career on October 1, 2006. Her first fight was at an event called Pancrase 2006 Blow Tour.

First Fight and Early Wins

In her debut fight, Rin faced Asuka Ito. She won the match by TKO (technical knockout) after breaking Ito's nose. This was a strong start to her career.

Fighting in Smackgirl

Rin joined the Smackgirl fighting promotion in 2007.

• On May 19, 2007, she won her first Smackgirl fight against Kazue Matake by decision.
• Later that year, on September 6, 2007, she defeated Asha Ingeneri in the first round with an armbar. An armbar is a submission hold that hyperextends the opponent's elbow joint.
• Her final fight for Smackgirl was on April 25, 2008, where she defeated Kanako Takeshita.

Competing in Valkyrie

In December 2008, Rin fought WINDY Tomomi at a Pancrase-sponsored event. She won by TKO with mounted punches. After a break, Rin joined the VALKYRIE promotion.

• On February 11, 2010, she won her first VALKYRIE fight against Mizuho Sato using a Kimura Lock, another type of submission hold.
• On June 19, 2010, she won a decision against Megumi Yabushita at VALKYRIE 06.
• Rin continued her winning streak at VALKYRIE 07 on September 26, 2010. She defeated Mayumi Aoki with an armbar in a tournament semi-final.
• She faced Mizuho Sato again in the tournament final at VALKYRIE 08 on November 28, 2010. Rin won when the doctor stopped the fight because Sato might have fractured her eye socket. This win made Rin the VALKYRIE tournament champion.
• On December 30, 2010, Rin fought Mika "HARI" Harigai and won by Keylock submission. This victory extended her winning streak to ten fights. It was such a big achievement that it was featured on the front page of a major Japanese sports newspaper.

Returning to Pancrase

After her success in Valkyrie, Rin Nakai returned to the Pancrase organization.

Key Fights and Championships

• On September 4, 2011, Rin fought Danielle West. The fight ended in a split-decision draw.
• On May 20, 2012, she defeated Kyoko Kimura by armbar submission at Pancrase Progress Tour 6.
• Rin had a rematch with Mayumi Aoki on September 1, 2012, at Pancrase Progress Tour 10. This fight was part of a tournament to decide the Bantamweight Queen of Pancrase. Rin won by TKO in the second round.
• On December 1, 2012, Rin faced Danielle West again for the Bantamweight Queen of Pancrase title. Rin won by unanimous decision, becoming the first Bantamweight Queen of Pancrase. There was some discussion about the rules during this fight, as they were different for each fighter.
• On September 29, 2013, she defeated Tara LaRosa by decision.
• On May 11, 2014, she won a decision against Sarah D'Alelio in Pancrase.

Fighting in the UFC

In 2014, Rin Nakai moved to the American UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) promotion. At that time, the UFC did not have a women's flyweight division (56.7 kg), so Rin had to compete at bantamweight (61.2 kg).

UFC Debut and Challenges

• Her UFC debut was on September 20, 2014, at UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson. She fought Miesha Tate, who was ranked second in the bantamweight division. Rin lost this fight by decision, which was her first loss in her MMA career.
• On March 19, 2016, at UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Mir, she faced Leslie Smith and lost by decision.

After the UFC

After her time in the UFC, Rin Nakai continued her fighting career in other promotions.

Recent Victories

• On July 24, 2016, she returned to Pancrase at Pancrase 279. She defeated Emiko Raika by TKO with elbows.
• On December 29, 2016, Rin competed at Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 2nd Round. She won against the skilled wrestler Kanako Murata by submission (Rear Naked Choke) in the third round. This improved her record to 19 wins and 2 losses.
• On February 24, 2018, she made a comeback at DEEP 82 IMPACT. She defeated Kim Ji-young by TKO with elbow strikes.
• At Deep Jewels 24, Rin defeated Kaewjai Prachumwong by TKO in the second round.
• On October 22, 2019, she fought Titapa Junsookplung (also known as Diamond Rose the Rocket) at Deep Jewels 26 and won with an armbar.
• On March 12, 2022, she fought Shoko Fujita in a quarterfinal match at Deep Jewels 36 and won by TKO.
• On May 8, 2022, she competed in the DEEP JEWELS Flyweight Grand Prix semi-final at Deep Jewels 37, defeating Tae Murayama by armbar. She then won the final on the same day against Shizuka Sugiyama by armbar, becoming the first Deep Jewels Flyweight Champion.
• On February 18, 2023, Rin faced Aoi Kuriyama at Deep Jewels 40 and won by submission in the second round.
• On May 26, 2024, she defended her Deep Jewels Flyweight championship against Namiko Kawabata at Deep Jewels 45, winning by technical submission in the third round.
• On November 23, 2024, she won against Haruka Suzuki by TKO at Deep Jewels 47.

Championships and Accomplishments

Rin Nakai has achieved several important titles and recognitions in her career:

• VALKYRIE
  • First VALKYRIE Open Weight Championship (2010)
• Pancrase
  • First Bantamweight Queen of Pancrase Championship (2012)
• Fight Matrix
  • Highest Quarterly Ranking: 1/01/2010, #2 Women Flyweight

Mixed martial arts record

See also

In Spanish: Rin Nakai para niños