Seo Hee Ham


Seo Hee Ham or Seohee Ham is a female South Korean mixed martial artist and kickboxer.
She is nicknamed Hamderlei Silva because of the similarities between her fighting style and Wanderlei Silva's style. In Japan, she is also occasionally nicknamed Arale-chan, in reference to her similar looks outside of the ring to the character Arale Norimaki from the manga series Dr. Slump.
Ham has participated in MMA promotions Deep, Smackgirl, ROAD FC and Jewels. On, she became the second Jewels featherweight queen champion.
Ham is currently ranked as the #2 female atomweight fighter in the world according to the Unified Women's Mixed Martial Arts Rankings.

Early life and education

Ham was born on in South Korea. She started training in kickboxing in 2004.
With few female fighters to train with in South Korea, Ham regularly trains with male fighters, such as fellow gym member Dong Hyun Kim.

Mixed martial arts career

Japan

Ham debuted against Japanese MMA veteran Hisae Watanabe on at Deep 28 Impact, upsetting the favorite Watanabe by winning via unanimous decision. Ham was defeated by Miku Matsumoto via triangle choke submission on at clubDeep Toyama: Barbarian Festival 6.
Ham rebounded back from her first loss with a unanimous decision victory over Ayumi Saito on at Smackgirl 2007: Queens' Hottest Summer. On at Smackgirl 7th anniversary: Starting Over, Ham challenged Smackgirl Lightweight Champion Yuka Tsuji for her title, losing by unanimous decision in a match that Tsuji completely dominated.
On, Ham participated in the Smackgirl World ReMix Tournament 2008 Opening Round, where she defeated Saori Ishioka by unanimous decision. In the tournament semi-finals on, Abe Ani Combat Club star Megumi Fujii handed Ham her third professional defeat by submitting her with an armbar in the Smackgirl World ReMix Tournament 2008 Second Round.
After a year without fights in MMA, Ham made her debut with MMA promotion Jewels and earned another victory on by defeating Misaki Takimoto by unanimous decision at Jewels 5th Ring.
Ham next participated at Jewels 9th Ring in the first round of the inaugural Jewels Lightweight Queen Tournament, held to crown the first Jewels Lightweight Champion, where she defeated Mai Ichii by unanimous decision on.
Ham was slated to compete at Jewels 10th Ring, but since she decided to participate in two kickboxing matches with conflicting dates, Jewels released her. Jewels later announced that she would still participate in the semi-finals of the Lightweight Queen Tournament at Jewels 11th Ring.
Ham faced Mika Nagano in the semi-finals and defeated Nagano by split decision. In the tournament final later that night, Ham was defeated by Ayaka Hamasaki via unanimous decision.
Ham rematched Saori Ishioka on at DEEP: 52 Impact in Tokyo, Japan. She once again defeated Ishioka by unanimous decision.
On, Ham faced Anna Saito in a mixed martial arts rules match at Gladiator 15: GI 2. Ham defeated Saito by unanimous decision.
Ham faced Mei Yamaguchi in a Jewels vs. Valkyrie match at Jewels 15th Ring on. She defeated Yamaguchi by unanimous decision.
Ham challenged Jewels champion Ayaka Hamasaki in a rematch at Jewels 17th Ring on. She was defeated by TKO after the first round when she could not continue due to injury.
On, Ham faced pro wrestler Ryo Mizunami at Gladiator: Dream, Power and Hope. She defeated Mizunami by submission due to an armbar early in the first round.
Ham dropped down in weight to challenge Naho Sugiyama for the Jewels Atomweight queen title at Jewels 24th Ring on. She defeated Sugiyama by unanimous decision to become the new Jewels Atomweight queen champion.
Following Jewels' closure, Ham's title was renamed the Deep Jewels Atomweight championship. She defended the title against Sadae Numata at Deep Jewels 2 on. Ham won the fight by unanimous decision.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In early November 2014 Seo Hee Ham signed a four-fight contract with Ultimate Fighting Championship to join UFC's Strawweight division. She made her debut against Joanne Calderwood at on December 12, 2014. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Ham was expected to face Bec Rawlings on May 10, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 65. However, Ham pulled out of the bout on April 10 and was replaced by Lisa Ellis.
After nearly a year away from the company, Ham returned to face Cortney Casey on November 28, 2015 at. She won the fight via unanimous decision. The win also earned Ham her first Fight of the Night bonus award. She lost to Danielle Taylor at UFC Fight Night 101 on Nov. 26, 2016 via split decision and was subsequently released from the promotion.

Road FC

After briefly considering retirement, Ham signed with Road FC where she became the atomweight champion with a victory over Mina Kurobe. On December 23, 2017, she successfully defended her atomweight championship with a first round stoppage over Jinh Yu Frey.

Rizin

On June 21, 2019, it was announced Ham would face former DEEP Champion Tomo Maesawa at Rizin 17 on July 28, 2019. She won the fight by TKO in the first round.
Next, Ham faced Miyuu Yamamoto at Rizin 19 on October 12, 2019. She won the fight via technical knockout in the second round.
With two consecutive victories in Rizin, Ham earned a title shot against Ayaka Hamasaki at Rizin 20 on December 31, 2019. She won the trilogy fight via split decision, becoming the second Rizin Women's Super Atomweight Champion.

Kickboxing career

Ham had her first professional kickboxing match at CMA Festival 2: Ikuhisa Minowa Debut 10 Anniversary Tournament on, where she defeated former Smackgirl Open Weight Champion Megumi Yabushita by unanimous decision. On, Ham defeated Ayano Oishi in a K-1 rules match by unanimous decision at Japan-South Korea friendship international martial arts tournament Gladiator Okayama tournament.
At Jewels 7th Ring on, Ham had an exhibition match against Shoot boxing rising star Rena Kubota.
Ham earned another unanimous decision victory over Japanese fighter Miyu Matsui on at Gladiator 6, winning the CMA KPW Lightweight Championship.
On, Ham faced Megumi Yabushita for a second time at Gladiator 14: KOK Samurai Series. Ham won the fight by TKO in the second round.
On, Ham entered the 2011 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup tournament. She defeated Emi Fujino and Mina in the opening rounds, but lost to Erika Kamimura via unanimous decision in the tournament final.
Ham faced Erika Kamimura in a rematch at Rise 88 on. She was defeated by unanimous decision.
Ham entered the 2012 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup on. She defeated Lisa Ellis to advance to the semi-final round, but lost to Rena Kubota via unanimous decision.

Championships and accomplishments

Ham defeated pro-wrestler Stalker Ichikawa by left high kick KO at Gladiator 10 on. She defeated pro-wrestler Antonio Koinoki by KO at Gladiator 11 on.

Mixed martial arts record

Kickboxing record

Legend: