[2] Sawada transitioned to the sport of mixed martial arts in 2021, following a successful amateur wrestling career, the standouts of which included a silver medal at the 2019 All Japan Adult Championship and a silver medal at the 2017 Asian Junior Championship.
The contest was ruled a unanimous decision draw, as all three ringside officials handed in a 19–19 scorecard.
[5] Sawada faced the tournament favorite Hisae Watanabe at Professional Shooto 2022 Vol.
Sawada first knocked Watanabe down with a right overhand, before advancing to back mount and forcing her opponent to tap to a rear-naked choke.
She earned an additional three points for the stoppage victory and the top place in the league standings.
Although the fight was scrapped, Sawada was nonetheless awarded the full three points, bringing her to a total of eight, twice as much as the second-placed contestants had.
With ten total points, Sawada won the Infinity League tournament, as well as the inaugural Shooto Women's Atomeweight Championship.
[15] Following this victory, Sawada was ranked as the tenth best atomweight mixed martial artist in the world by Fight Matrix.