An interview with Kurobe Mina before her ROAD FC title match

Kurobe Mina (10-2, Master Japan) will be fighting in ROAD FC for the very first time, but she's going to get an immediate title shot. As the current DEEP JEWELS Atomweight Champion, she has proven to be one of the best female fighters in Asia. So at Xiaomi ROAD FC 039, Kurobe will be facing Korea's best, Ham Seo-Hee, for the inaugural ROAD FC Women's Atomweight Championship.

In February of 2017 at DEEP JEWELS 15 Kurobe won her first title match at the surprising age of 39. In that bout she accomplished two remarkable feats: she avenged her most recent loss - to Sugiyama Naho - and won the title from her.

“I am the DEEP Jewels Atomweight Champion. I don't know if I'll be the winner of this next Championship, but if I win it will be thanks to the cheerfulness of my coach and team members.”

Kurobe's first couple of years in MMA saw her take the gold with her grappling skills. As the level of her opponents increased, she developed more skills with Master Japan's Hironaka Kuniyoshi, former Shooto Champ and early UFC veteran, and she started putting on grinding wars that went to the scorecards. The title fight with Sugiyama was an exemplary three-rounder of striking and grappling that ran at a fierce pace.

“When I have the opportunity to fight, I challenge it with the determination that this might be my very last fight. My strength is persistence.”

In addition to being the DEEP JEWELS Champ, Kurobe is now on a 5-fight win streak. Back in 2012 she started in JEWELS, and continued in DEEP when they absorbed the all-female promotion. Her bout in ROAD FC 039 will be her first on foreign soil.

“I am very glad to fight in ROAD FC. I am honored. I think it's a great event. When I received the offer for my first fight to be a title fight, I was surprised and frightened. But I thought about it for an hour or two, and it turned into a feeling of being able to really welcome it.”

Coming from JEWELS, Kurobe has a special affinity for women's MMA endeavors. After all, that's where she has been fortunate to mount her successful career. She is well-aware of the best female fighters in Japan because she's already fought many of them, such as Sugiyama, Ishioka Saori. V.V Mei, Tomimatsu Emi, and Yoshida Masako. Now she is looking to what develops across the Yellow Sea.

“I'm very happy that ROAD FC has created the all-female “ROAD FC XX” league. I hope that the number of female MMA fighters increases because of it. I want to see someone from ROAD FC XX challenge for a title fight in DEEP JEWELS in the future.”

After her DEEP JEWELS title win, Kurobe expressed a wish to compete with international talent and now her wish comes true. Her next opponent, Ham, was the first female Korean fighter in the UFC, an historical achievement bookended by her bouts in ROAD FC. Kurobe won't take her lightly; she also knows that Ham shares a distinction similar to hers.

“Ham Seo-Hee is the former DEEP JEWELS 48kg Champ. I think she's a beautiful fighter. Her dominance is striking, especially her left hand and left kick. Her weaknesses are not visible because her ground is really strong too.”

It's a rare opportunity for a fighter to have a shot at two titles. Kurobe can be forgiven if it's a bit overwhelming!

“If I beat Ham Seo-Hee this time, I will be the Champion of both ROAD FC and DEEP JEWELS. It's so hard for me to explain what this would mean to me, but I am very happy thinking about it.”

Championship belts aside, Kurobe is most of all determined to carry on performing at the fast-paced and brutal level that has become her hallmark.

“I think I'm going to show everything that I have. I know that the ROAD FC fans are expecting Ham Seo-Hee to win, but first I have to apologize. Because I will win. Sorry! But please be cheerful because I will always show you a thrilling fight.”

The inaugural ROAD FC Women's Atommweight Championship Match: Kurobe Mina vs Ham Seo-Hee will be live on June 10, 2017 at the Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul, South Korea. The event will air live on MBC in Korea and Abema in Japan, as well as internationally on YouTube, and on CCTV in China.

Courtesy DEEP JEWELS