Yamanaka is a Featherweight fighter with a Muay Thai and Submission grappling background. She has fought in Smackgirl, Jewels, Strikeforce, and Invicta FC. She holds notable victories over Yoko Takahashi, Mayumi Aoki, Hitomi Akano, and Molly Helsel. 

Yamanaka would start her professional career in Smackgirl's Super Gals Mix Cup Open Weight Tournament. She would go 4-0 to win the tourney and become the Smackgirl Open weight champion. Yamanaka next entered the 2008 Smackgirl World Remix Open weight Tournament. She lost in the opening round to Hitomi Akano. She would then rattle off 8 straight wins, including a win over Akano, before signing to Strikeforce.

Yamanaka's Strikeforce debut was for the Featherweight title against Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos. Cyborg would quickly KO the overwhelmed Yamanaka but the fight became a No Contest when Cyborg tested positive for Stanozolol. Yamanaka would next fight Dutch Kickboxing champion Germaine de Randamie. Yamanaka would lose by decision.

Looking to get back on track, Yamanaka made her Invicta debut against Ediane Gomes. Gomes would outstrike the tentative Yamanaka for a decision victory.

Yamanaka holds a 1-2 record in Submission grappling. In the 2006 Smackgirl Openweight Grappling Queen Tournament Yamanaka lost a decision to Roxanne Modafferi in the opening round. She also competed in the 2008 Openweight Expert Queen Tournament, winning her first match by armbar and losing in the semifinals by armbar.

Yamanaka also holds a 2-0 Shoot Boxing record. She won both bouts by TKO over Mayumi Aoki and Megumi Yabushita