1 Championship: “I kept getting hit”

Ayaka Miura’s fighting title wasn’t suddenly handed to her. Instead, the former ONE MMA World Title challenger earned the title the hard way.

The Tribe Tokyo MMA representative has built a reputation as one of the most feared submission hunters at the same time. Not much has survived of her signature “Ayaka Lock” – a deadly American weapon that forced nine opponents to tap.

But her extraordinary durability and sustained forward pressure were also impressive, and it was this exact trait that led to her earning her fighting name, “Zombie,” from Tribe Tokyo MMA coach and veteran Japanese MMA fighter Ryo Chunan.

During her interview with ONE Championship, the 35-year-old judoka explained how she earned the fighting title.

“While sparring with male fighters in our gym, I kept getting hit at first. But even though I submitted several times, I would immediately say: ‘Please, one more time.’ When I kept saying that, Chunan-san said: ‘You’re like a zombie.’ And that quickly became my nickname,” Ayaka Miura shared.

He stubbornly refuses to quit smoking and wants more even after being exploited. This reveals the mentality faced by opponents inside the ring against the Japanese mixed martial arts star.

What started as an observation in the gym by her head coach became the most accurate description of a fighter who wouldn’t stay put, no matter how many times opponents or sparring partners tried.

Ayaka Miura holds a five-fight winning streak through 2026

Ayaka Miura is looking to begin her campaign on the world stage this year, as she seeks to take another massive step towards Denise Zamboanga capturing the MMA women’s atomweight world title.

Nowadays, the 35-year-old star is the hottest athlete in the division. She is on a five-fight winning streak dating back to November 2023. Her list of victims throughout the run includes Meng Bo, Itsuki Hirata, Macarena Aragon, Ritu Phogat, and Juliana Otalara.

In her most recent appearance, “Zombie” pressured Colombian Otalara with her signature “Ayaka Lock” at the 3:53 mark of the contest at ONE Friday Fights 116.

Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for any updates on Miura’s upcoming fight on the ONE Championship world stage.