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Today the DEEP organization announced the retirement bout of 28-year-old Miku Matsumoto (23-4). She will face Megumi Fujii (19-0) in an exhibition which will see two of the world's top pound-for-pound female fighters meet for the first time. The match will happen at DEEP 47 on April 17th.

Matsumoto, the Deep Women's Lightweight (106 lbs.) Champion announced her retirement at last weekends DEEP.46 show. In a blog entry on March 2, Matsumoto stated that she had become detached from MMA and no longer had the ability to continue serious training or perform as a professional fighter. She further stated that she had no regrets about her decision to retire. Matsumoto is the #3-ranked pound-for-pound female MMA fighter in the world by MMARising.com

Megumi Fujii, the current #1-ranked pound-for-pound female MMA fighter is undefeated in 19-fights dating back to May 2004. She most recently defeated veteran striker "Windy" Tomomi Sunaba by first-round armbar at Shooto: "Revolutionary Exchanges 3" on November 23, 2009.

It's a shame that Matsumoto is retiring so young, but female fight fans will be elated that a match between these two ladies is finally taking place.

Featherweight champ Takafumi Otsuka hunts for his ever elusive KO.

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DEEP 46 took place on Sunday from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo with a card highlighted by two main events and the opening round of the DEEP Light-Heavyweight Tournament. Some interesting announcement made at the show. The big announcement was that one of the best woman at 106 pounds, Miku Matsumoto is retiring. She leaves the ring as the DEEP Women's Lightweight (106-Pound) Champion with an impressive 23-4-0 record. Ryo Chonan addressed the crowd and talked about his upcoming fight with Andrews Nakahara in DREAM. Katsunori Kikuno announced his intent to protect Deep's house when he faces Cage Force champ Kuniyoshi Hironaka next month. Yuya Shirai announced himself that he'll be participating in Hidehiko Yoshida's farewell event, Astra. And finally, Bernard Ackah said that he broke his hands as he was suppose to participate in the tournament. Although he asked Saeki to let him fight on April's Deep card (perhaps as a reserve).

DEEP Featherweight Champion and one of Japan's most underrated talents, Takafumi Otsuka (10-4-1) took a 3-0 decision over Takeshi Yamazaki (14-11-3) in the first of two main events. After the match Otsuka said that he was hunting for the KO, but as it didn't come, he apologizes to the fans. He promises to start hunting for the ever elusive knockout victory this year, however.

DEEP Middleweight Champion Riki Fukuda (16-4-0) won his tune-up fight over Hiromitsu Kanehara (18-23-2) by 3-0 decision. Fukuda played a conservative game on the feet (but was still getting hit), catching kicks from a tired Kanehara to take him down and grind him up on the mat.

In the opening round of the DEEP Light-Heavyweight Tournament Ryuta Noji (9-5-0) defeated Katsuhisa Fujii (9-18-1) after dropping down punches forcing the ref to jump in. After congratulating Noji on his win, Fujii got on the mic and announced his retirement. Noji followed him on the mic and pays his respect to his Kyokushin peers and his "teacher," in particular. Yoshida Dojo's Shunsuke Inoue (8-4-2) won a 5-0 deicision over Minoru Kato (3-8-3). As Inoue was leaving he made his way to the VIP seats where none other than J-Rock president and former World Victory Road PR director Takahiro Kokuho is sitting. Inoue gets to his knees and bows deeply to Kokuho, who smiles paternally, pats him on the back, and shakes his hand. Christian “Tonton” M’Pumbu (15-2-1) defeated Yuji Sakuragi (11-16-1) with a TKO stop at 2:29 of the first round after a flurry of knees. Interestingly, Sengoku FW champ Masanori Kanehara was in Sakuragi's corner. In the opener of the tournament, Yoshiyuki Nakanishi (6-1-0) faced Outsider veteran Tomoaki Hata (3-1-1). In the last minute, Nakanishi passes to side, threatening with the keylock and locks it in. Hata taps at 4:30 of the first.

Deep 47 Impact will be held at Korakuen Hall on April 17, and is being billed as "DEEP LHW GP SEMI FINALS & FINALS, AND MATSUMOTO'S RETIREMENT COMMEMORATION EVENT. The winner of the tournament might just secure a birth in the DREAM tournament later this year. 

Full Results posted after the jump. 

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DEEP 46 takes place this Sunday February 28th, 2010 from the Tokyo Korakuen Hall. It's a hefty card with 13 matches including the Featherweight and Middleweight champs in action along with the opening round of the DEEP Light-Heavyweight Tournament plus a host of standard fights. To also note, the DEEP blog had a post saying a big, historic announcement will be made at the show. There is some speculation that it could be something to do regarding Shinya Aoki fighting in the US, but we'll have to wait and see. 

In the main event, DEEP Featherweight Champion Takafumi Otsuka (9-4-1) will face Grabaka's Takeshi Yamazaki (14-10-3) in a non-title fight. Otsuka beat Dokonjonosuke Mishima at DEEP 43 back in August to win the title. Before that he put in a valiant effort against DREAM Featherweight champ Bibiano Fernandes in the opening round of the Grand Prix last year. His opponent, Takeshi Yamazaki, picked up a win over Shoji Maruyama at DREAM.3 but is winless since in his last four fights. Yamazaki will be in tough against the champ but you can be sure he'll be hungry for a victory.

DEEP Middleweight Champion Riki Fukuda (15-4-0) will be in action against former pro-wrestler Hiromitsu Kanehara (18-22-2) in what is also a non-title match. Fukuda fought at DREAM.8 as a late replacement for Yoon Dong-Sik, where he defeated Murilo Rua by decision. He has an impressive 15-4 record. At DEEP 42 he defeated Yuichi Nakanishi by decision to win the DEEP Middleweight crown. Hiromitsu Kanehara holds notable wins over Masayuki Naruse, Wataru Sakata, Jeremy Horn and a knockout victory over Valentijn Overeem. He was undefeated in '09 with a 2-0-1 record.

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K-taro gets the victory over Paul Schreiner.

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DEEP X 05 took place on Saturday at Shinjuku Face in Japan with a theme of "3 vs. 3 - Japan versus the U.S.A". After it was all said and done, Japan came out on top winning two out of the three featured bouts.  

In the main event, 2009 ADCC World Championship semi finalist K-taro Nakamura defeated American Paul Schreiner in the 2nd round using an arm lock submission. Baret Yoshida got the only win for the U.S when he defeated Kouhei Yasumi via triangle choke. Takashi Yamada beat last years ADCC 3rd place Ryan Hall.

The Women's 2007 ADCC World Champion Sayaka Shioda was victorious in her bout and K-1 fighter Singh Jaideep lost his match in a decision to Hideki Sekine. 

BULL TERRIER presents DEEP X 05
Place: Shinjuku FACE, Tokyo, Japan
Date: Saturday, February 6th, 2010

[ ★ 81.5kg ★ 1R 4 minutes, 2R 4 minutes, 3R 2 minutes ]
K-taro Nakamura (18-4-2) beat Paul “El Technico” Schreiner (R2 1:44) via Arm Lock

[ ★ 68kg ★ 1R 4 minutes, 2R 4 minutes, 3R 2 minutes ]
Baret Yoshida (5-6-1) beat Kouhei Yasumi (6-7-2) (R1 3:38) via Triangle Choke 

[ ★ 73kg ★ 1R 4 minutes, 2R 4 minutes, 3R 2 minutes ]
Takashi Yamada beat Ryan Hall (R2 1:30) via Front Choke

[ ★ 56kg ★ 2R +2 mins ]
Sayaka Shioda (3-1-0) beat Rikako Yuasa (R1 0:22) 

[ ★Openweight ★ 1R 4 minutes, 2R 4 minutes, 3R 2 minutes ]
Marquinhos Souza vs. KOTETSU - Cancelled (Due to injury)

[ ★ 85kg ★ 1R 4 minutes, 2R 4 minutes, 3R 2 minutes ]
Motoki Miyazawa (6-1-0) beat Yuji Arai (0-1-0) (R1 2:13) via Rear Naked Choke

[ ★ Openweight ★ 2R - 1.2 R4 minutes ]
Taijiro Ui beat Yuichi Ozono via Decision (scored 8-2)

[ ★ Openweight ★ 2R - 1.2 R4 minutes ]
Hideki Sekine (1-0-0)  beat Singh “Heart” Jaideep via Decision (scored 27-1)

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DEEP has a busy February coming up with two shows planned.

DEEP X, the grappling series will run “DEEP X 05″ this Saturday February 6th, 2010 from the Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo. Some of the top grapplers in the world will be participating.

2009 ADCC World Championship semi finalist K-taro Nakamura will meet Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship 3rd place Paul Schreiner in the main event. The 2007 ADCC Women's World Champion, Sayaka Shioda will face  Rikako Yuasa and Takashi Yamada meets the 2009 ADCC World Championship 3rd place Ryan Hall.

 #18 ranked Heavyweight K-1 fighter and 2009 K-1 World Grand Prix Asia Champion, Singh Jaideep will meet Hideki Sekine. Could this mark the entrance into the MMA world for Singh Jaideep?

DEEP has also announced the match-ups for their Light-Heavyweight tournament which takes place on February 28th @ DEEP 46 (the semifinals and final of the tournament will take place on April 17th) Here are the quarterfinal brackets:

Ryuta Noji (8-5-0) vs. Katsuhisa Fujii (9-17-1)
Minoru Kato (2-8-3) vs. Shunsuke Inoue (7-4-2)
Christian "Tonton" M’Pumbu (14-2-1) vs. Yuji Sakuragi (11-15-1)
Carlos Toyota (3-3-1) vs. Yoshiyuki Nakanishi (5-1-0)

Check out the full lineups and more after the jump.

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