Yoko Takahashi

Yoko Takahashi (高橋 洋子) is a Japanese female mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter and kickboxer and former boxer and professional wrestler.

Takahashi is a former Smackgirl open weight champion.

She is considered Japan's first female mixed martial artist.

Takahashi was born on April 20, 1973 in Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan.

Takahashi debuted as a professional wrestler with All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW) promotion in 1994 and kept participating until the end of 1996, when she decided not to continue with professional wrestling due to a hernia in her back.

She became a part-time referee for promotion Yoshimoto Pro-Wrestling Jd', where she met her long-time partner Megumi Yabushita.

Takahashi debuted in MMA on July 14, 1996 at AJW event U Top Tournament: Participants Selection Matches (U★TOPトーナメント出場者選考試合) held at Korakuen Hall, in a fight that consisted of a single round with unlimited time, defeating German pro-wrestler Thundercrackk from Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi at 10 minutes and 14 seconds, after Takahashi landed a kick to the face that made Thundercrackk give up.

At Nippon Budokan on August 12, 1996 at the event U Top Tournament: First Round (U★TOPトーナメント１回戦), Takahashi suffered her first loss, being defeated by Russian judoka Irina Rodina with a submission at 6 minutes and 6 seconds of the single no time limit round.

At the event The U-Japan Super Fighting '96 vol. 1 held on November 17, 1996 at the Ariake Coliseum, Takahashi was defeated by American women's MMA pioneer Becky Levi via TKO (corner stoppage, towel thrown in, punches) at 2 minutes and 13 seconds of the unlimited time bout.

Takahashi was defeated by karateka Miwako Ishihara via unanimous decision after two rounds at Daido Juku's event Daido Juku: The Wars 4 (大道塾・THE WARS 4) on March 11, 1997 at the Korakuen Hall.

At the event Jd' MMA Professional-Amateur Showdown (Jd' 格闘技プロ・アマ対決) on October 12, 1997 Takahashi defeated Yuko Mukai via unanimous decision after 3 rounds.

On December 8, 1997 at the event Central Martial Arts Association: Octagon Challenge held at the Nagoya Congress Center, Takahashi lost against pro-wrestler Rieko Amano (known by the ring name Carlos Amano) after Takahashi illegally kicked Amano in the face and was disqualified at 17 minutes and 25 seconds.

Takahashi next fought and defeated partner Megumi Yabushita at 16 minutes with 7 seconds of an unlimited time match with a heel hold submission on March 8, 1998 at Jd' event Yokohama Super Break held at the Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium.

At Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling (LLPW) event Ultimate Challenge '98 L-1 on October 10, 1998, Takahashi won by TKO (referee stoppage) against kickboxer Aya Mitsui at 1 minute and 54 seconds of the first round.

Takahashi next fought Mari Kaneko, whom Takahashi defeated via submission (achilles lock) at Club Fight Round 1 on November 12, 2000.

Ten days later, on November 22, 2000 Takahashi defeated European Karate Champion Dutch Silviana Furunefield via armbar submission at LLPW event L-1 2000 The Strongest Lady.

At the inaugural Smackgirl event, Smackgirl: Episode 0, held on December 17, 2000 at Korakuen Hall, Takahashi knocked out Dutch kickboxer Sandra de Langeais at 1 minute and 27 seconds of the first round.

On May 3, 2001 at ReMix Golden Gate 2001, Takahashi was defeated by the previous tournament winner, Dutch Marloes Coenen, via submission (armbar) in the first round.

At Club Fight vol. 4 on August 20, 2001, Takahashi fought against Miwako Ishihara once again in a bout that ended in a tie after ten minutes.

They both left Jd' in 2002.

Takahashi got another victory when she defeated Mika Harigai by Achilles lock submission in the first round at Smackgirl: Pioneering Spirit on February 3, 2002.

On March 2, 2002 at Zero-One: True Century Creation '02, Takahashi drew with Yuuki Kubota after three rounds.

Takahashi was defeated by Dutch fighter Irma Verhoeff via TKO in the first round on June 23, 2002 at Free Fight Explosion 2, held in Beverwijk, Netherlands.

On July 7, 2002 at Zero-One: Impossible to Escape Takahashi defeated Aya Koyama by submission (guillotine choke) in the first round.

Along with a tag match a day before, this was Takahashi only MMA fight with the team Miharu cram school (三晴塾).

After almost two years without MMA fights, at It's Showtime - Amsterdam Arena held on May 20, 2004 in Amsterdam, Takahashi faced once again Irma Verhoeff, who defeated Takahashi, this time by decision.

This was Takahashi's first time representing her own team, formed in partnership with adult video maker Soft on Demand (SOD), SOD Women's MMA Dojo.

At Smackgirl 2004: Holy Land Triumphal Return on August 5, 2004 Takahashi defeated masked pro-wrestler Yuiga by TKO after the referee stopped the fight when Yuiga was knocked down with punches for the second time in the last minute of the first round.

On November 4, 2004 at Smackgirl 2004: Yuuki Kondo Retirement Celebration Takahashi defeated pro-wrestler Kaoru Ito with a kimura submission in the first round.

At Smackgirl 2004: World ReMix on December 19, 2004, during the first round of the tournament to determine Smackgirl's first open weight champion, Takahashi had a rematch with Marloes Coenen, who once again defeated Takahashi, this time by TKO (referee stoppage, punches and knees) in the first round.

Takahashi rebounded with a submission victory over American fighter Emma Bush (at the time Emma Nielsen) with a leg armbar in the first round at Smackgirl: Korea 2005 on May 21, 2005.

Debuting in Shooto, Takahashi defeated Mika Hayashi by TKO after knocking Hayashi down for the third time in the first round, winning in 47 seconds at G-Shooto plus 05 on February 24, 2006.

On March 11, 2006 at G-Shooto Japan 04 Takahashi had a third match against Marloes Coenen, who once again defeated Takahashi, submitting her with an armbar in 39 seconds.

At Deep's event CMA festival: Japan vs. South Korea total war held on May 24, 2006, Takahashi defeated South Korean kickboxer Yong Joo Lee with a heel hook submission in the second round.

On June 30, 2006 at Smackgirl 2006: Top Girl Battle Takahashi defeated Michiko Takeda via submission (rear naked choke) in the first round.

As her team had recently been disbanded, in this fight Takahashi fought as a freelance with no team.

Takahashi was defeated in her next fight by American Jen Case via armbar submission in the second round at the event Fatal Femmes Fighting: Asian Invasion on February 17, 2007.

This was Takahashi's first fight with her new team, Tomoe-gumi (巴組), after she and Megumi Yabushita left their partnership with SOD video maker.

Takahashi became the third Smackgirl open weight title holder by defeating American fighter Alicia Mena by submission (rear naked choke) in the first round at Smackgirl 2007: The Queen Said The USA Is Strongest on May 19, 2007.

At Fatal Femmes Fighting 2: Girls Night Out on July 14, 2007 Takahashi defeated former teammate Keiko Tamai with a calf slicer submission in the first round.