is a Japanese mixed martial artist and former wrestler, competing in the atomweight divisions of Shooto and Combate Global. She is the reigning Shooto Women's Atomeweight champion.
Mixed martial arts career
Shooto
Early career
Sawada transitioned to the sport of mixed martial arts in 2021, following a successful amateur wrestling career, the standouts of which included a silver medal at the 2019 All Japan Adult Championship and a silver medal at the 2017 Asian Junior Championship.
Sawada made her professional debut against Yuki Ono at Professional Shooto 2021 Vol. 3 on May 16, 2021. The contest was ruled a unanimous decision draw, as all three ringside officials handed in a 19–19 scorecard.
Shooto Infinity League
It was announced on October 17, 2021, that Sawada would be one of four participants in the 2022 Shooto Atomweight Infinity League, which held to crown the inaugural Shooto Women's Atomweight champion. Each fighter earned a set number of points after each bout under the rules of the tournament, depending on whether the contest ended in a decision or stoppage victory or in a draw, with each fighter facing every other.
Sawada faced Miku Nakamura at Professional Shooto 2021 Vol. 7 on November 6, 2021, in the opening round of the tournament. She won the fight by majority decision, with two judges having scored the bout 20–18 in her favor, while the third judge had it scored as an even 19–19 draw. The victory earned her two points and a joint top place in the league standings.
Sawada faced the tournament favorite Hisae Watanabe at Professional Shooto 2022 Vol. 3 on May 22, 2022. She won the fight by a second-round submission. Sawada first knocked Watanabe down with a right overhand, before advancing to back mount and forcing her opponent to tap to a rear-naked choke. She earned an additional three points for the stoppage victory and the top place in the league standings.
Sawada was expected to face Haruna Kato at Professional Shooto 2022 Vol. 6 on September 19, 2022. Kato was forced to withdrew with vestibular disorder and paroxysmal positional vertigo. Although the fight was scrapped, Sawada was nonetheless awarded the full three points, bringing her to a total of eight, twice as much as the second-placed contestants had.
Sawada faced Yuki Ono at Professional Shooto 2022 Vol. 7 on November 27, 2022. She won the fight by majority decision, with scores of 20–18, 20–18 and 20–17. With ten total points, Sawada won the Infinity League tournament, as well as the inaugural Shooto Women's Atomeweight Championship.
ONE/Combate
Sawada made her ONE Championship debut against Sanaz Fayazmanesh at ONE Friday Fights 5 on February 17, 2023, in what was also her strawweight debut. She won the fight by a second-round submission. Fayazmanesh was forced to tap to an Americana 53 seconds into the penultimate round.
Sawada faced Ana Palacios at Combate Global: Mexico vs. Japan on May 13, 2023. She won the fight by unanimous decision. Following this victory, Sawada was ranked as the tenth best atomweight mixed martial artist in the world by Fight Matrix.
Championships and accomplishments
Freestyle wrestling
2010
National Junior High School Championship (41 kg) 2012 Junior Queen's Cup (Junior High School Division) (44 kg) 2014 Junior Queen's Cup (Cadet) (46 kg) Asian Cadet Championship (46 kg) Inter Highchool Wrestling Championships (46 kg) All Japan Women's Open Championship (46 kg) 2015 Junior Queen's Cup (Junior) (44 kg) Junior Olympic Cup (44 kg) Asian Junior Championship (44 kg) Inter Highchool Wrestling Championships (46 kg) 2016 Junior Queen's Cup (Junior) (48 kg) Junior Olympic Cup (48 kg) East Japan Student Women's Championship (48 kg) All Japan Student Championship (48 kg) All Japan Women's Open Championship (Senior) (48 kg) 2017 Junior Queen's Cup (Junior) (48 kg) Junior Olympic Cup (48 kg) Asian Junior Championship (48 kg) East Japan Student Women's Championship (48 kg) All Japan Student Championship (48 kg) All Japan Women's Open Championship (Senior) (48 kg) 2018 East Japan Student Women's Championship (50 kg) All Japan Amateur Championship (50 kg) All Japan Student Championship (50 kg) All Japan Women's Open Championship (Senior) (50 kg) 2019 All Japan Adult Championship (50 kg) All Japan Student Championship (50 kg)