Erika (kickboxer)


Erika Gibo, more popularly known by her ring name erika♡, is a Japanese mixed martial artist and former professional kickboxer. She is the former RISE (kickboxing)#Women's [Mini Flyweight championship|RISE Women's Mini Flyweight] champion.
Between November 2023 and December 2024, she was ranked as a top ten women's strawweight kickboxer in the world according to Beyond Kick.

Kickboxing career

Early career

erika made her professional debut against Chizuru Nanase at Tenkaichi 92 on November 25, 2018. She won the fight by unanimous decision. erika won all five of her fights in the next two years, amassing an undefeated 5–0 win streak, most notably overcoming Koto Hiraoka at REBELS 65 on August 30, 2020.
erika faced the RISE Women's Mini Flyweight (–49 kg) champion in the quarterfinals of the RISE "Queen of Queens" tournament, held at RISE DEAD OR ALIVE 2020 Yokohama. She lost the fight by a clear unanimous decision.
erika faced MARI in an NJKF Atomweight title eliminator bout at DEEP☆KICK 48 on December 12, 2020. She won the fight by unanimous decision. erika then challenged Momoka Mandokoro for the NJKF Minerva Atomweight Championship at DEEP☆KICK Minerva Osaka Tournament on January 30, 2021. She won the fight by unanimous decision.
erika made her KNOCK OUT debut against Shoko at KNOCK OUT-EX vol.2 on June 12, 2021. She won the fight by unanimous decision, with three scorecards of 30–27. erika returned to NJKF to face Ayaka in a non-title bout at NJKF 2021 3rd on September 19, 2021. She won the fight by unanimous decision, with three scorecards of 30–28.

RISE

Move up in weight

erika moved up to mini-flyweight, following her final fight under the NJKF banner, and was scheduled to face AKARI at RISE 153 on December 12, 2021. The fight was ruled a draw by unanimous decision after the first three rounds were contested. erika was awarded a unanimous decision win after an extra fourth round was fought.
erika, at the time the #1 ranked RISE mini flyweight contender, was booked to face the #3 ranked contender Wakana Miyazaki at RISE Girls Power 6 on February 12, 2022. She lost the fight by majority decision, with scores of 29–28, 29–27 and 28–28.

Mini flyweight champion

On March 25, 2023, it was announced that a mini flyweight tournament would be held to crown a new RISE champion, as the reigning RISE Women's Mini Flyweight (–49 kg) champion Hinata Terayama had vacated her title. erika was booked to face Moe Okura in the tournament semifinals, which were held on April 24, 2023. She won the fight by a second-round knockout. erika faced the one-time RISE Mini Flyweight title challenger AKARI in the tournament finals at RISE 159 on June 24, 2023. She won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 50–48, 49–47 and 50–46. erika became the first Okinawa-born champion in RISE history.
erika faced Byun Bo-Kyeong at Tenkaichi 97 on August 20, 2023, following a 14-month absence from professional competition. She won the fight by unanimous decision, with three scorecards of 30–26, having dropped Bo-Kyeong in the second round.
erika made her first RISE Women's Mini Flyweight title defense against the one-time RISE Women's Atomweight title challenger Arina Kobayashi at RISE 173 on November 18, 2023. She lost the fight by a second-round technical knockout.
On October 7, 2024, erika announced her retirement as kickboxer.

Mixed martial arts career

Shooto

erika made her professional debut against Haruka Yoshinari at Shooto Colors vol.4 on December 15, 2024. She won the fight by unanimous decision.
erika faced the former Jewels Microweight champion Aya Murakami at Shooto 2025 Vol.4 on May 18, 2025. She won the fight by majority decision.
erika faced Mio Shimaya in the opening round of the 2025 Shooto Infinity League at Professional Shooto 2025 Vol.6 on July 21, 2025.
erika faced Chiyo Takamoto in the second round of the 2025 Shooto Infinity League at Shooto Colors Vol.6 on January 18, 2026. She lost the fight by a second-round knockout.

Championships and accomplishments

Kickboxing

Mixed martial arts

Amateur

  • Shooto
  • * 2024 Shooto All Japan Amateur Championship Flyweight Winner

Kickboxing record

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