Former RIZIN Super Atomweight Champion Seika Izawa announced on Instagram that she gave birth to a healthy baby girl on September 25, officially stepping into motherhood alongside her husband and fellow mixed martial arts fighter CORO. The arrival marks a new chapter for the Japanese MMA standout, who previously vacated her championship belt earlier this year to focus on her pregnancy and family life.
Welcomed by the Fight Community
News of the birth drew immediate reactions from across the combat sports community in Japan. "Congratulations and great job! Please take good care of your health moving forward," Tsunoda wrote.
Tsunoda transitioned to MMA after a decorated career in international judo, creating a natural parallel between the two athletes as they compete in high-level combat sports.
Vacating the RIZIN Belt
Izawa announced her pregnancy in April, a milestone that required her to relinquish the RIZIN Super Atomweight Championship. The title represented one of the most important honors of her professional career. Fighting out of Roys GYM and Japan Top Team, the 28-year-old built a reputation as a dominant force in the atomweight division through precise grappling, tactical discipline, and exceptional resilience under pressure.
Her path to the RIZIN throne began with a strong background in amateur wrestling before she broke into the major promotion’s main cards. Rather than stepping away from competition prematurely, she defended her status against persistent challengers before stepping aside to prioritize her pregnancy.
Looking Toward the Future
With the arrival of her daughter, Izawa has embraced a new identity outside the cage, famously writing “Target: Strongest Mom” as she begins her journey in parenthood. While her competitive career in RIZIN is paused, women’s MMA features numerous examples of athletes returning to active competition following maternity leave. For now, the former RIZIN queen has set aside her championship aspirations to focus entirely on her newborn, leaving open the possibility of a future return to the sport she dominated.
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