Back in 2016, Ayaka Hamasaki squared off against Jinh Yu Frey at Invicta 19. The fight was an exciting affair, with Frey controlling most of the action and Hamasaki uncorking a massive punch that left a cut on Frey’s head, leading to the ref stopping the bout.
Despite insisting she was fine and able to continue, referee Marc Wasem waved it off. Frey went on to win the then-vacant title after Hamasaki left the organization with a controversial decision win over Finland’s Minna Grusander, and earned another decision victory in an immediate rematch. Yamasaki moved up to challenge current UFC fighter Livia Renata Souza and suffered a brutal loss, but found a new home in her native Japan under the RIZIN banner and racking up four straight wins.