Akaya Hamasaki Taking Her Time to Earn a Title Shot in Invicta FC

There were a lot of impressive performances at the second all-female Invicta FC card, but one of the stand out fighters that night was Japanese competitor Ayaka Hamasaki.

A student of former top pound-for-pound women’s star Megumi Fujii, Hamasaki came to the U.S. as one of the top touted fighters on the card, but it always comes down to performance on fight night.

There have been more than a few Japanese fighters that have expressed the hardships of traveling a long distance, and how jetlag and lack of time to adjust to the time differences have affected performances in the cage.

It obviously wasn’t a factor for Hamasaki, who put on a dominant show against Lacey Schuckman that night, finishing the fight in the third round by armbar.

“Invicta flew me in early enough (Tuesday). I had a plenty time to get rid of jet lag so I was fine. The entire experience at Invicta FC was amazingly fun, and also, I really had a good time getting ready, fighting in America, in front of the US fans,” Hamasaki told MMAWeekly.com.

“The atmosphere at the venue was completely different, and I was mostly surprised how fans are so into the MMA.”

Hamasaki is still adjusting to some difference that come with fighting in the United States, including some rules differences that she wasn’t used to, but ultimately the experience was a good one overall.

“I am not sure what kind of impression I made to the North American fans but I know I found new assignments. I was not used to the rules, so (I hadn’t) trained on throwing elbows yet I couldn’t do that in the fight. For my next fight I am going to train harder and I want to put up a good exciting fight,” Hamasaki said.

The current JEWELS champion will next most likely fight back at home in Japan, but she anticipates a return to Invicta FC in early 2013.

“I wanted to fight in October but I believe Invicta FC wants to me to wait till early next year which is fine. I probably have to defend Jewels title so I will just follow what Invicta FC / Jewel’s plan,” Hamasaki stated.

The plan for Invicta FC is to start introducing titles at their October show, and Hamasaki’s dominant performance would seemingly land her in line for at least a share of the top spot at 115lbs.

She’s fine with whatever Invicta FC decides and if the wins keep coming, Hamasaki knows a another title fight will be in her future.

“I am still new to this sport, I need more experience, so for now I am just concentrating on winning one fight at a time,” said Hamasaki.

“That is my goal for now. And if I keep doing this then the championship opportunity should naturally come in my way.”

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