PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: Sumiko Inaba, Hawaii
Nickname: Lady Samurai
Date of Birth: 1991
Weight: 124lb
Division: Flyweight
Pro MMA Record: 8-2-0
Early Life
Sumiko Inaba, known as “Lady Samurai”, was born on February 6, 1991 in Pukalani, Maui, Hawaii. After graduating from King Kekaulike High School, she pursued nursing studies before discovering MMA through boxing workouts needed to stay fit. She balances her fighting career with motherhood, raising her daughter Kiyarah‑Lei, born around 2009, and often cites her daughter as her main motivation in the cage.
MMA Career
Inaba built a solid amateur foundation, going 6–1 with four amateur TKOs and one submission finish. Several of those victories came by stoppage in under two minutes, showcasing her early finishing ability .
She turned professional in November 2020, debuting with a first-round TKO over Jessica Ruiz at Bellator 251. In 2021, she secured a third-round TKO of Kristina Katsikis at Bellator 259, followed by a second-round arm-triangle choke submission win over Randi Field at Bellator 268. She then knocked out Whittany Pyles in just over a minute at Bellator 279, despite Pyles missing weight .
In October 2022, Inaba earned her first decision win against Nadine Mandiau at Bellator 286, grinding out a unanimous decision in a bout that tested her durability. In April 2023, she continued the win streak with a unanimous decision over Veta Arteaga at Bellator 295. Her first professional loss came later that year when Denise Kielholtz defeated her by clear unanimous decision at Bellator 301 .
Inaba debuted under the PFL banner in June 2024, defeating Saray Orozco by split decision at PFL 4. On September 7, 2024, she participated in the Bellator Champions Series 4 event, where she dismantled Mackenzie Stiller with a second-round TKO via ground-and-pound .
At PFL Africa in Cape Town on July 19, 2025, Inaba faced off against a dominant Dakota Ditcheva. Despite Ditcheva controlling the fight and causing damage, Inaba showed resilience and toughness. Inaba entered as a significant underdog and suffered her second professional loss via unanimous decision after three rounds.
MMA Record
| W/L/D [NC] | RECORD AFTER FIGHT | OPPONENT | FIGHT LIBRARY |
| L | 7-2-0 | Dakota Ditcheva | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSiRcmiJDeQ |
| W | 7-1-0 | Mackenzie Stiller | https://www.youtube.com/watchv=RzofdrAxwfY&pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD |
| L | 6-1-0 | Saray Orozco | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlr_4HR4c10 |
| W | 6-0-0 | Denis Kielhotz | |
| W | 5-0-0 | Veta Arteaga | |
| W | 5-0-0 | Nadine Mandiau | |
| W | 4-0-0 | Whittany Pyles | |
| W | 3-0-0 | Randi Field | |
| W | 2-0-0 | Kristina Katsikis | |
| W | 1-0-0 | Jessica Ruiz |
