Just as when Hisae Watanabe fought Satoko Shinashi last year this year, the tension of the fans packing Korakuen Hall reached the maximum level when Hisae and MIKU stepped into the ring. Once again, the DEEP women's lightweight title bout stole the show.

The story of "who is going to challenge Hisae?" began back in May. MIKU was the one, after submitting both Misaki Takimoto and Su Hi Ham from Korea, she won the right to challenge the champion. Hisae vs. MIKU is a super fight in the Japanese MMA world. On top of it, the fans knew how MIKU came through two tough fights in May and June to get to this point. The aspect of a "dream match" and the story of "determining the challenger." These two elements created this unbelievable vibe in the air.

Before the fight, Hisae said, "As long a I can kill her momentum, MIKU is not going to be a problem for me." However, MIKU's supporters chartered two buses coming all the way Toyama. The labarums were all over the place and when the MC called MIKU’s name the place exploded. This "momentum" created by the supporters and MIKU's aggressive style completely swallowed Hisae on this night.

Right from the bell, MIKU closed in on Hisae and landed a solid right straight to the chin. Hisae smiled and fired back a combination but MIKU shot in, took her down to the ground. On the bottom, the champion was calm. She controlled MIKU's arm waited for the referee to step in. However back on their feet Hisae just couldn't stop MIKU's "momentum." MIKU came in with punches, threw Hisae with a neck throw and went for an armbar. Hisae defended this one but MIKU immediately got on her back going for a rear naked choke. Hisae escaped again but back at the standing game, MIKU took over with a series of left right combinations.

The second round was all on the ground. Hisae and MIKU both took the mount and pulled off reversals. It was a seesaw battle but MIKU did spend more time in the superior position. There were no decisive moments in this bout. The ground battle was rather even but surprisingly MIKU dominated the standing battle and that got her the edge on the judge’s scorecard. Just a year ago, Shinashi was the champ, and the belt went to Hisae and now the MIKU era has began.
Hisae backstage told the reporters, "I wanted to strike but her punches extend well. I felt that I was a bit taken back by her momentum. I would like to rest for a bit and think about this fight. MIKU went through fights to get a right to challenge the title. This time, I am the one who is going through the steps, of becoming a better fighter, and taking that title back. I don't chase boyfriends or men but the belt actually leaves a mark in my life so I want to take that back."

DEEP has attracted many fighters and fans because the promotion was sort of like the minor league or perhaps a gate away to PRIDE. However without PRIDE in the Japanese MMA scene, now DEEP must to create its own story. And with no PRIDE in the horizon what does DEEP need to do to continue attracting fighters and the fans? Are they stepping up to do a bigger show? Or are they finding another strategy besides being younger brother of PRIDE? It is going to be interesting to see what direction DEEP will take in last half of the year 2007. Let's hope DEEP realizes that in their show, at this point the men's competition is very good but the world's top class competition is taking place in the women's division.

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