2020 in Rizin Fighting Federation

2020 in Rizin Fighting Federation
Information
First dateFebruary 22, 2020
Last dateDecember 31, 2020
Events
Total events6
Fights
Total fights67
Title fights4
Chronology
2019 in Rizin Fighting Federation 2020 in Rizin Fighting Federation 2021 in Rizin Fighting Federation

The year 2020 was the sixth year in the history of the Rizin Fighting Federation, a mixed martial arts promotion based in Japan. The year began with Rizin 21 in Hamamatsu on February 22, 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic would put the promotion on hiatus until Rizin 22 on August 9.

Rizin events are broadcast through a television agreement with Fuji Television. In North America and Europe, Rizin events were available via PPV on FITE TV.[1] Beginning with Rizin 26, events have been streaming on LIVENow in North America and Europe.[2][3]

List of events

# Event Date Venue Location Attendance
1 Rizin 21 – Hamamatsu February 22, 2020 Hamamatsu Arena Japan Hamamatsu, Japan 6,832
2 Rizin 22 – Starting Over August 9, 2020 Pia Arena MM Japan Yokohama, Japan 2,805
3 Rizin 23 – Calling Over August 10, 2020 Pia Arena MM Japan Yokohama, Japan 4,410
4 Rizin 24 – Saitama September 27, 2020 Saitama Super Arena Japan Saitama, Japan 5,000
5 Rizin 25 – Osaka November 21, 2020 Osaka-jō Hall Japan Osaka, Japan 5,487
6 Rizin 26 – Saitama December 31, 2020 Saitama Super Arena Japan Saitama, Japan 9,978

Rizin 21 – Hamamatsu

Rizin 21 – Hamamatsu
PromotionRizin Fighting Federation
DateFebruary 22, 2020
VenueHamamatsu Arena
CityJapan Hamamatsu, Japan
Attendance6,832
Event chronology
Rizin 20 Rizin 21 – Hamamatsu

Rizin 21 – Hamamatsu was a Combat sport event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on February 22, 2020 at the Hamamatsu Arena in Hamamatsu, Japan.

Results

Rizin 21
Weight Class Method Round T.Time Notes
Catchweight 68 kg Japan Mikuru Asakura def. Mexico Daniel Salas TKO (Head Kick and Punches) 2 7:34
Bantamweight 61 kg United States Victor Henry def. Japan Masanori Kanehara TKO (Punches) 2 5:45
Heavyweight 120 kg Guam Roque Martinez def. Japan Hideki Sekine TKO (Soccer Kicks) 1 4:04
Catchweight 79 kg Brazil Marcos de Souza def. Portugal Falco Neto TKO (Punches) 1 1:27
Intermission
Bantamweight 61 kg Japan Yuto Hokamura def. Japan Kenji Kato Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 1 4:21
Exhibition Brazil Roberto de Souza def. Japan Yuki Nakai Submission (Triangle Choke) 1 8:05 Jiu Jitsu Elimination Match
Japan Hiroshi Shinagawa Submission (Triangle Choke)
Japan Edison Kagohara Submission (Choke)
Japan Koji Shigemizu Submission (Armbar)
Japan Yuna Kimura Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Bantamweight 61 kg Japan Naoki Inoue def. Australia Trent Girdham Decision (Unanimous) 3 15:00
Featherweight 66 kg Azerbaijan Vugar Karamov def. Guam Kyle Aguon Decision (Unanimous) 3 15:00
Heavyweight 120 kg Japan Kousuke Jitukata def. Japan Ryo Sakai KO (Punches) 1 1:28 Kickboxing
Flyweight 57 kg Japan Kenichi Takeuchi def. Japan Naoya Decision (Unanimous) 3 9:00 Kickboxing
Opening Fight
Catchweight 60 kg Bolivia Henrry Cejas def. Japan Seido Decision (Unanimous) 3 9:00 Kickboxing
Lightweight 70 kg Japan Yuya def. Japan Kouki KO (Punch) 1 2:30 Kickboxing
Catchweight 59 kg Japan Masaji Tozuka - Japan Masahiro Ozawa Draw (Majority) 3 9:00 Kickboxing

Rizin 22 – Starting Over

Rizin 22 – Starting Over
PromotionRizin Fighting Federation
DateAugust 9, 2020
VenuePia Arena MM
CityJapan Yokohama, Japan
Attendance2,805

Rizin 22 – Starting Over was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on August 9, 2020 at the Pia Arena MM in Yokohama, Japan.

Background

The event was initially planned to be held on April 19, 2020 at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan However, the event was cancelled on April 2, 2020, due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

Results

Rizin 22
Weight Class Method Round T.Time Notes
Lightweight 71 kg Brazil Roberto de Souza def. Japan Yusuke Yachi TKO (Punches) 1 1:52
W.Strawweight 52 kg Japan Ayaka Hamasaki def. Japan Tomo Maesawa Submission (Kimura) 2 6:26
W.Super Atomweight 49 kg Japan Kanna Asakura def. Japan Mizuki Furuse TKO (Punches) 1 1:35
Bantamweight 61 kg Japan Naoki Inoue def. Japan Shooto Watanabe Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 1 1:40
Catchweight 56 kg Japan Rui Ebata def. Japan Seiki Ueyama Decision (Unanimous) 3 9:00 Kickboxing
Catchweight 50.8 kg Japan Nadaka Yoshinari def. Japan Yuushin TKO (Referee Stoppage) 2 8:08 Kickboxing
Featherweight 66 kg Japan Tetsuya Seki def. Japan Kouya Kanda TKO (Punches) 2 8:47
Featherweight 66 kg Japan Kyohei Hagiwara def. Japan Rikuto Shirakawa TKO (Punches) 3 14:40
Bantamweight 61 kg Japan Kenji Kato def. Japan Erson Yamamoto KO (Punch) 1 3:32

Rizin 23 – Calling Over

Rizin 23 – Calling Over
PromotionRizin Fighting Federation
DateAugust 10, 2020
VenuePia Arena MM
CityJapan Yokohama, Japan
Attendance4,410

Rizin 23 – Calling Over was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on August 10, 2020 at the Pia Arena MM in Yokohama, Japan.

Background

A Rizin Bantamweight Championship bout for the vacant title between former title challenger Kai Asakura and Hiromasa Ougikubo served as the event headliner.[5] Former Rizin Bantamweight champion Manel Kape announced on March 30, 2020 that he would be relinquishing the bantamweight title and announce he has signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC.[6]

Results

Rizin 23
Weight Class Method Round T.Time Notes
Bantamweight 61 kg Japan Kai Asakura def. Japan Hiromasa Ougikubo TKO (Soccer Kicks) 1 4:31 For the vacant Rizin Bantamweight Championship
Bantamweight 61 kg Japan Yuki Motoya def. Japan Mamoru Uoi Submission (Guillotine Choke) 3 12:19
Featherweight 66 kg Japan Yutaka Saito def. Japan Kazumasa Majima TKO (Knees and Elbow) 2 5:24
Bantamweight 61 kg Japan Kento Haraguchi def. Japan Taiga Kawabe TKO (Punches) 1 2:50 Kickboxing
Featherweight 66 kg Japan Jin Aoi def. Japan Kotetsu Boku Decision (Unanimous) 3 15:00
Catchweight 59 kg Japan Makoto Shinryu def. Japan Seiichiro Ito Submission (Guillotine Choke) 2 9:30
Catchweight 73 kg Japan Kaito Ono def. Democratic Republic of the Congo Daryl Lokoku Decision (Unanimous) 3 9:00 Kickboxing
Flyweight 58 kg Japan Tatsuki Saomoto def. Japan Yusaku Nakamura KO (Punches) 1 4:06
Catchweight 73 kg Japan Shintaro Matsukura def. Japan Koji Mori KO (Punches) 1 1:28 Kickboxing

Rizin 24 – Saitama

Rizin 24 - Saitama
PromotionRizin Fighting Federation
DateSeptember 27, 2020
VenueSaitama Super Arena
CityJapan Saitama, Japan
Attendance5,000

Rizin 24 – Saitama was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on September 27, 2020 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Background

The first two fights announced for Rizin 24 was a bantamweight bout between Kai Asakura and Shoji Maruyama, as well as a women's strawweight bout between Rena Kubota and Emi Tomimatsu. A fight between two MMA veterans was announced as well, as Takasuke Kume took on Satoru Kitaoka.[7] The main event was a kickboxing fight between Tenshin Nasukawa and Koji.[8]

Results

Rizin 24
Weight Class Method Round T.Time Notes
Catchweight 58.5 kg Japan Tenshin Nasukawa def. Japan Koji Decision (Unanimous) 3 9:00 Kickboxing
Bantamweight 61 kg Japan Kai Asakura def. Japan Shoji Maruyama TKO (Punches and Soccer Kick) 1 2:37 Non-title bout.
Lightweight 71 kg Japan Koji Takeda def. Japan Yuki Kawana Decision (Split) 3 15:00
Lightweight 71 kg Japan Takasuke Kume def. Japan Satoru Kitaoka Decision (Split) 3 15:00
Catchweight 60 kg Japan Taishi Hiratsuka def. Japan Yuuki Kitagawa KO (Punch) 2 3:27 Kickboxing
Bantamweight 61 kg Japan Kenta Takizawa def. Japan Yuto Hokamura Decision (Split) 3 15:00
W. Strawweight 52 kg Japan Rena Kubota def. Japan Emi Tomimatsu Decision (Unanimous) 3 15:00
Featherweight 66 kg Japan Takahiro Ashida def. Japan Kyohei Hagiwara Submission (Triangle Choke) 2 9:25
Heavyweight 120 kg Japan Sudario Tsuyoshi Def. New Zealand Dylan James TKO (Doctor Stoppage) 1 5:00
Catchweight 55 kg Japan Mutsuki Ebata def. Japan Rasta Decision (Unanimous) 3 9:00 Kickboxing
Lightweight 71 kg Japan Juri Ohara def. Japan Yusuke Yachi Decision (Split) 3 15:00

Rizin 25 – Osaka

Rizin 25 – Osaka
PromotionRizin Fighting Federation
DateNovember 21, 2020
VenueOsaka-jō Hall
CityJapan Osaka, Japan
Attendance5,487

Rizin 25 – Osaka was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on November 21, 2020 at the Osaka-jō Hall in Osaka, Japan.

Background

During the press conference prior to Rizin 25,[9] Rizin CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara confirmed that nine fights were finalized for the card.

Rizin standout Mikuru Asakura will fight the former Shooto Lightweight champion Yutaka Saito for the inaugural featherweight title.[10] Former Bantamweight title challenger Hiromasa Ougikubo is scheduled to fight Kenta Takizawa.[11] Former strawweight King of Pancrase Daichi Kitakata is scheduled to face the ZST Flyweight champion Tatsuki Saomoto.[12]

Two additional MMA bouts were announced: Yojiro Uchimura vs. Kyohei Hagiwara in the featherweight division and Ryuichiro Sumimura vs. Gota Yamashita in the welterweight division. The remaining four fights are kickboxing bouts: Taiga Kawabe will fight Yuma Yamahata, Yuma Yamaguchi is scheduled to fight Shohei Asahara, Hidenori Ebata will take on Isami Sano and Jin Mandokoro is set to go up against Syuto Sato.[13] A fight between Kotetsu Boku and Rikuto Shirakawa was later added to the card.[14]

Results

Rizin 25
Weight Class Method Round T.Time Notes
Featherweight 66 kg Japan Yutaka Saito def. Japan Mikuru Asakura Decision (Unanimous) 3 15:00 For the inaugural Rizin Featherweight Championship
Bantamweight 61 kg Japan Hiromasa Ougikubo def. Japan Kenta Takizawa Decision (Unanimous) 3 15:00
Welterweight 77 kg Japan Ryuichiro Sumimura def. Japan Gota Yamashita Decision (Split) 3 15:00
Flyweight 57 kg Japan Tatsuki Saomoto def. Japan Daichi Kitakata Decision (Unanimous) 3 15:00
Exhibition Brazil Roberto de Souza
Japan Kleber Koike Erbst 		Japan Hari Sakamoto
Japan Misaki Akita 		Grappling Demonstration
Intermission
Featherweight 66 kg Japan Kyohei Hagiwara def. Japan Yojiro Uchimura KO (Punches and Foot Stomp) 1 0:22
Catchweight 60.5 kg Japan Taiga Kawabe def. Japan Yuma Yamahata Decision (Unanimous) 3 9:00 Kickboxing
Catchweight 83 kg Japan Isami Sano def. Japan Hidenori Ebata Decision (Unanimous) 3 9:00 Kickboxing
Featherweight 66 kg Japan Rikuto Shirakawa def. Japan Kotetsu Boku TKO (Punches and Soccer Kick) 3 14:19
Catchweight 53 kg Japan Jin Mandokoro def. Japan Syuto Sato Decision (Unanimous) 3 9:00 Kickboxing
Catchweight 63 kg Japan Shohei Asahara def. Japan Yuma Yamaguchi TKO (Punches) 3 8:59 Kickboxing

Rizin 26 – Saitama

Rizin 26 – Saitama
PromotionRizin Fighting Federation
DateDecember 31, 2020
VenueSaitama Super Arena
CityJapan Saitama, Japan
Attendance9,978
Event chronology
Rizin 26 – Saitama Rizin 27

Rizin 26 – Saitama was a combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on December 31, 2020 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Background

The card was headlined by a rematch for the Rizin bantamweight championship, in his first title defense the reigning bantamweight champion Kai Asakura has met the former champion Kyoji Horiguchi. The two met previously in a non-title bout, with Asakura winning by knockout.[15]

Olympic silver medalist Shinobu Ota, has signed with Rizin Fighting Championship, he made his MMA debut against the veteran Hideo Tokoro.[16]

Former RIZIN Super Atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki was set to fight Miyuu Yamamoto for the vacant Super Atomweight title.[17]

Tenshin Nasukawa was scheduled to fight Kumandoi Phetjaroenvit, while Takanori Gomi was scheduled to fight Koji under special standup rules.[18] Gomi's weight limit was 75 kg and Koji's 65 kg. The rules of the bout forbid grappling and kicking, while both fighters wore 12oz gloves.[19]

Sakura Mori missed weight for her atomweight bout with Eru Takebayashi by 1.7 kg.[20]

Results

Rizin 26
Weight Class Method Round T.Time Notes
Bantamweight 61 kg Japan Kyoji Horiguchi def. Japan Kai Asakura (c) TKO (Punches) 1 2:48 For the Rizin Bantamweight Championship
Catchweight 57 kg Japan Tenshin Nasukawa def. Thailand Kumandoi Petcharoenvit Decision (Unanimous) 3 9:00 Kickboxing
Catchweight 68 kg Japan Mikuru Asakura def. Japan Satoshi Yamasu KO (Head Kick and Punches) 1 4:20
Catchweight 75 kg Japan Takanori Gomi def. Japan Koji Tanaka Decision (Majority) 3 9:00 Special Standing Bout Rules
W.Super Atomweight 49 kg Japan Ayaka Hamasaki def. Japan Miyuu Yamamoto Submission (Head Scissors Choke) 1 1:42 For the Vacant Rizin Super Atomweight Championship
Intermission
Bantamweight 61 kg Japan Naoki Inoue def. Japan Yuki Motoya Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 1 3:00
Catchweight 67 kg Japan Kleber Koike Erbst def. United States Kyle Aguon Technical Submission (Brabo Choke) 1 4:21
Catchweight 68 kg Japan Kyohei Hagiwara def. Japan Ren Hiramoto TKO (Corner Stoppage) 2 1:29
Bantamweight 61 kg Japan Hideo Tokoro def. Japan Shinobu Ota Submission (Armbar) 2 2:23
Intermission
Catchweight 50 kg Japan Nadaka Yoshinari def. Thailand Phetmalai Phetjaroenvit KO (Elbow) 1 2:19 Kickboxing
Bantamweight 61 kg Japan Ulka Sasaki def. Japan Kenta Takizawa Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00
W.Super Atomweight 49 kg Japan Kanna Asakura def. Japan Ai Shimizu Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00
Openweight Japan Atsushi Saito def. Japan Hiroya Kawabe Submission (Armbar) 2 6:00 Special Rules
originally a draw was overturned by Rizin officials
Catchweight 63 kg Japan Kazuma Kuramoto def. Japan Taiyo Nakahara KO (Soccer Kicks) 1 2:12
Heavyweight 120 kg Japan Tsuyoshi Sudario def. Japan Ikuhisa Minowa TKO (Leg Injury) 1 3:17
W.Catchweight 52.7 kg Japan Sakura Mori - Japan Eru Takebayashi Submission (Armbar) 1 1:37 No Contest due to Mori missing weight by 1.7 kg.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Rizin FF Partners with FITE TV". sherdog.com.
  2. ^ "Rizin FF Partners with Live-now". mmafighting.com. 24 December 2020.
  3. ^ "LIVENOW AND RIZIN FIGHTING FEDERATION STRIKE DEAL TO BRING MMA CONTEST TO A GLOBAL AUDIENCE". pressparty.com.
  4. ^ Guilherme Cruz (April 2, 2020). "RIZIN 22 canceled in Japan". mmafighting.com.
  5. ^ "Hiromasa Ogikubo and Kai Asakura fight for vacant title at RIZIN 23". thebodylockmma.com. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  6. ^ "UFC signs RIZIN bantamweight sensation Manel Kape". bloodyelbow.com. 31 March 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Kai Asakura-Shoji Maruyama, Rena-Emi Tomimatsu Added to RIZIN 24". mymmanews.com. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Two Bouts Added to Sept. 27 Rizin 24 Lineup in Saitama". sherdog.com. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  9. ^ "【RIZIN】年末前にもう1大会か、10月19日（月）に『RIZIN.25』開催発表会見". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  10. ^ "【RIZIN】朝倉未来が初王座戦に余裕「相手じゃない」対する修斗世界王者の斎藤「チャンスは必ずある」". efight.jp. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  11. ^ "【RIZIN】扇久保博正が再起戦、金太郎下したストライカー・瀧澤謙太と激突「蹴りの勝負でも僕が上」（扇久保）". efight.jp. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  12. ^ "Mikuru Asakura faces Yutaka Saito in featherweight title fight at Rizin 25". asianmma.com. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  13. ^ "【RIZIN】11.21大阪大会決定、朝倉未来ら９カード発表「後半巻き返しをしていきたい」（榊原CEO）". efight.jp. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Kotetsu Boku faces Rikuto Shirakawa at Rizin 25". asianmma.com. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  15. ^ "Kyoji Horiguchi to rematch Kai Asakura at Rizin 26". asianmma.com. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  16. ^ "Shinobu Ota will make his New Year's Eve debut against hideo Tokoro". yahoo.co.jp.
  17. ^ "Ayaka Hamasaki and Miyuu Yamamoto face off in super atomweight title fight at Rizin 26". asianmma.com. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  18. ^ "Tenshin Nasukawa, Takanori Gomi to compete at Rizin 26". asianmma.com. 22 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  19. ^ "Ruleset for Rizin 26 bout between Takanori Gomi and Kouzi confirmed". asianmma.com. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  20. ^ "Kai Asakura, Kyoji Horiguchi on point ahead of Rizin 26". asianmma.com. 30 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.