TLDR
- Natasha Kuziutina submitted RENA with a guillotine choke at Super RIZIN 5 in Japan
- The three-time Olympic wrestler recently defended her LFA strawweight title in Brazil
- Kuziutina defeated Yasmin Guimarães by unanimous decision at LFA 197 in São Paulo
- She won Olympic bronze in wrestling at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games
- Kuziutina is the first Russian female champion in LFA history
Sources: middleeasy.com | lfa.com
Natasha Kuziutina continued her winning streak by submitting Japanese veteran RENA with a guillotine choke at Super RIZIN 5. The three-time Olympic wrestler and current LFA champion added another victory to her growing MMA resume.
The Russian fighter forced the tap from RENA during their strawweight bout in Japan. This win came shortly after Kuziutina defended her LFA interim women’s strawweight title in Brazil.
Recent Title Defense in Brazil
Kuziutina defended her LFA championship just weeks before the RIZIN appearance at LFA 197 in Cajamar, São Paulo. She faced Brazilian Muay Thai specialist Yasmin Guimarães in front of a hostile home crowd.
The judges awarded Kuziutina a unanimous decision with scores of 47-45, 49-43, and 48-45. This marked her second successful title defense as LFA interim women’s strawweight champion.
Kuziutina, nicknamed “Kuzya,” holds a special connection to Brazil. She won an Olympic bronze medal in wrestling at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
Natasha Kuziutina perfectly timed takedown puts @SB_RENA under control on the ground!!
[ #SUPERRIZIN5 | Live Now | Watch on #RIZINtv ] pic.twitter.com/oPUVPEXD4V
— RIZIN.tv (@RIZINTV_) September 10, 2026
Olympic Pedigree Translates to MMA Success
The 31-year-old Russian competed in three Olympic Games during her wrestling career. She has successfully transitioned those grappling skills into mixed martial arts.
As LFA’s first Russian female champion, Kuziutina has proven dominant in the strawweight division. The promotion has launched over 330 fighters to the UFC since forming in 2017.
The LFA 197 event featured 14 total fights at the Ginásio do Polvilho in Greater São Paulo. In the co-main event, Márcio Barbosa knocked out Felipe Oliveira with an uppercut and ground strikes at 2:54 of the first round.
Other fighters on the card included Vinicius Pires, who won via triangle choke, and Jose Augusto, who earned a TKO victory. The entire main card aired live on UFC Fight Pass.
Kuziutina controlled Guimarães throughout their five-round championship bout despite the Brazilian crowd support. Her wrestling background allowed her to dictate the pace and positioning.
The victory in Brazil set up her appearance at Super RIZIN 5 against RENA. The Japanese fighter brought significant experience but couldn’t escape Kuziutina’s guillotine choke.
RIZIN Fighting Federation is one of Japan’s premier MMA organizations. Super RIZIN events feature the promotion’s biggest fights and attract international talent.
Kuziutina’s guillotine finish demonstrated her complete skill set beyond wrestling. The submission victory showed her development in all aspects of MMA.
The LFA operates as a feeder organization to the UFC, hosting monthly events worldwide. Cities include Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas, Phoenix, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo.
Fans can watch LFA events on UFC Fight Pass, which streams to over 200 countries and territories. The service offers access to more than 20,000 fights from various combat sports organizations.
Kuziutina now holds wins in both LFA and RIZIN competition within a short timeframe. Her momentum continues to build as she combines Olympic-level wrestling with improving striking and submission skills.
