Maui native Sumiko Inaba prevailed via split decision in her Professional Fighters League debut on Thursday, outlasting Mexico’s Saray Orozco in a three-round flyweight battle at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
The “Lady Samurai” improved to 7-1 in her pro mixed martial arts career in bouncing back from her first loss against Denise Kielholtz at Bellator 301 on Nov. 17.
That was the last Bellator event before the organization merged into the PFL. Inaba, 33, came over with Bellator. She was to fight Kaytlin Neil on two occasions, only to see those fights canceled. She was subsequently assigned Orozco (8-6), a 33-year-old from Guadalajara making her PFL debut, in one of the six regular season matches at PFL 4 on Thursday.
In a fight that featured all striking and no knockdowns, Inaba dominated the first round, held her own in the second and withstood a comeback attempt from Orozco in the third.
Inaba recorded 203 successful strikes to Orozco’s 122. Two judges scored it 29-28 in Inaba's favor and the third scored it 29-28 for Orozco.
Inaba, who missed out on a crucial chance for points because of her canceled fight with Neil, will be an alternate for the women’s flyweight postseason, according to the PFL.
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.