Do you remember what you were doing in your early 20s? Studying in college? Starting a new job? The possibilities are endless. Whether you’re finding your passion in a career dear to your heart… Or so you believe at the time… Not many people can say that they were competing as a professional athlete no matter the sport, whether it was then or it’s now. That happens to be even more of a rarity when it comes to MMA.
Now, think back to even earlier than that, to the days of high school at ages 15 and 16. At this stage, we all were still growing up, trying to figure out and become who we are today. Well, for Japan’s Mizuki Inoue, that was becoming a professional fighter.
Obviously, getting punched in the face or getting into fights in one’s youth is a somewhat normal occurrence at one point or another. But nothing good ever comes out of it, especially as far as the wallet is concerned.
Having literally grown up in the fight game, Mizuki is now 24-years old and has nearly 10 years of fighting experience under her belt. A shocking accolade to be presented with, time really does fly and she couldn’t agree more. “I actually don’t really think about my career but when you asked me this then I realized, ‘Wow, I have been fighting that long…'” Mizuki said when speaking with The Body Lock.
At age 15, Mizuki made her professional combat sports debut as she fought Kanako Oka in a Shoot Boxing match. She would have two more fights after this before making her MMA debut at 16 in October 2010.
For the beginning of her career, Mizuki became a staple of the Shoot Boxing and Jewels rings in Tokyo as she would fight 19 times before finally making her way to the United States (13 Shoot Boxing matches and six MMA bouts).
With 19 bouts in three years, at only 19 years old, Mizuki had already amassed more experience than a lot of fighters get to in their whole careers. Yet she was only still just getting started.
Continued: https://thebodylockmma.com/invicta-fc/mizuki-inoue-young-veteran-looking-to-make-history/
