One of the best prospects in women's MMA is going to be out for a while.

Mizuki Inoue tore her ACL recently and will require surgery, sources told MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani. Invicta FC president Shannon Knapp confirmed the information and said Inoue was on the short list of potential next challengers for Angela Hill's strawweight title.

Typically, an athlete will need around one year to recover from ACL surgery. It's unclear if there's any kind of loose timetable for Inoue's return.

Inoue (12-4) has won four in a row between Invicta and Deep Jewels in her native Japan. She's coming off a second-round submission win over Lynn Alvarez in July. Inoue, 22, would have been a shoo-in to face Hill next. She's one of the best 115-pound female fighters in the world, regardless of promotion.

The well-rounded Inoue has been competing in pro MMA since 2010 — when she was 16 years old.

Hill (5-2) won the title from Livia Renata Souza by split decision in May. Knapp said it's too soon to say who will be the next challenger for the belt at 115 with Inoue out. Another potential challenger, Alex Grasso, recently signed with the UFC.

Invicta FC 19, headlined by a flyweight title fight between champion Jennifer Maia and challenger Roxanne Modafferi, goes down Friday night in Kansas City. Ayaka Hamasaki defends her atomweight title in the co-main event.