Eye injury spoils Megumi Fujii's retirement fight

Women’s MMA trailblazer Megumi Fujii has concluded a long and successful fighting career on a sour note.

In a pre-announced retirement fight today at Vale Tudo Japan 3 in Tokyo, the Japanese fighter suffered a TKO loss to Jessica Aguilar due to an eye injury that prompted a doctor’s stoppage.

Fujii (26-3), a 39-year-old who made her pro debut in 2004, hoped to avenge a contentious decision loss to Aguilar (16-4) at Bellator 69 in 2012. Entering today’s bout, Aguilar was ranked No. 1 and Fujii No. 2 in the Unified Women’s MMA Rankings at strawweight (115 pounds). Both also rank top 5 in the pound-for-pound rankings.

During an action-packed first round, Fujii took two inadvertent eye-pokes, which prompted a lengthy delay and a doctor’s examination. She opted to fight on, but as the second round wore on and Aguilar delivered a steady stream of combinations, Fujii’s injured eye swelled shut and hindered her version.

Before the third round began, the doctor consulted with the ref, and the bout was waved off. Aguilar was awarded the dubious TKO victory.

It’s another small blemish on an otherwise stellar career for Fujii, who will go down as one of the most active and accomplished fighters in women’s MMA history. In 26 career wins, she posted 19 submission victories. Her only losses came via questionable decisions and today’s eye injury.

Aguilar, meanwhile, has now won seven straight fights, and her only loss in her past 12 bouts came via controversial decision to Zoila Frausto Gurgel in a Bellator tournament semifinal in 2010.

(Pictured: Megumi Fujii)