2020_in_Rizin_Fighting_Federation
2020 in Rizin Fighting Federation
Rizin Fighting Federation in 2020
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.
| 2020 in Rizin Fighting Federation | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information | ||||
| First date | February 22, 2020 | |||
| Last date | December 31, 2020 | |||
| Events | ||||
| Total events | 6 | |||
| Fights | ||||
| Total fights | 67 | |||
| Title fights | 4 | |||
| Chronology | ||||
| ||||
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]
| # | Event | Date | Venue | Location | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rizin 21 – Hamamatsu | February 22, 2020 | Hamamatsu Arena |  Hamamatsu, Japan |
6,832 |
| 2 | Rizin 22 – Starting Over | August 9, 2020 | Pia Arena MM | Yokohama, Japan |
2,805 |
| 3 | Rizin 23 – Calling Over | August 10, 2020 | Pia Arena MM | Yokohama, Japan |
4,410 |
| 4 | Rizin 24 – Saitama | September 27, 2020 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan |
5,000 |
| 5 | Rizin 25 – Osaka | November 21, 2020 | Osaka-jō Hall | Osaka, Japan |
5,487 |
| 6 | Rizin 26 – Saitama | December 31, 2020 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan |
9,978 |
| Rizin 21 – Hamamatsu | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information | ||||
| Promotion | Rizin Fighting Federation | |||
| Date | February 22, 2020 | |||
| Venue | Hamamatsu Arena | |||
| City | Hamamatsu, Japan | |||
| Attendance | 6,832 | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
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 | Mikuru Asakura |
def. |  Daniel Salas |
TKO (Head Kick and Punches) | 2 | 7:34 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg |  Victor Henry |
def. | Masanori Kanehara |
TKO (Punches) | 2 | 5:45 | |
| Heavyweight 120 kg |  Roque Martinez |
def. | Hideki Sekine |
TKO (Soccer Kicks) | 1 | 4:04 | |
| Catchweight 79 kg |  Marcos de Souza |
def. |  Falco Neto |
TKO (Punches) | 1 | 1:27 | |
| Intermission | |||||||
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Yuto Hokamura |
def. | Kenji Kato |
Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 4:21 | |
| Exhibition | Roberto de Souza |
def. | Yuki Nakai |
Submission (Triangle Choke) | 1 | 8:05 | Jiu Jitsu Elimination Match |
| Hiroshi Shinagawa |
Submission (Triangle Choke) | ||||||
| Edison Kagohara |
Submission (Choke) | ||||||
| Koji Shigemizu |
Submission (Armbar) | ||||||
| Yuna Kimura |
Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | ||||||
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Naoki Inoue |
def. |  Trent Girdham |
Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg |  Vugar Karamov |
def. | Kyle Aguon |
Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Kousuke Jitukata |
def. | Ryo Sakai |
KO (Punches) | 1 | 1:28 | Kickboxing |
| Flyweight 57 kg | Kenichi Takeuchi |
def. | Naoya |
Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Opening Fight | |||||||
| Catchweight 60 kg |  Henrry Cejas |
def. | Seido |
Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Yuya |
def. | Kouki |
KO (Punch) | 1 | 2:30 | Kickboxing |
| Catchweight 59 kg | Masaji Tozuka |
- | Masahiro Ozawa |
Draw (Majority) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Rizin 22 – Starting Over | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Promotion | Rizin Fighting Federation |
| Date | August 9, 2020 |
| Venue | Pia Arena MM |
| City | Yokohama, Japan |
| Attendance | 2,805 |
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 | Roberto de Souza |
def. | Yusuke Yachi |
TKO (Punches) | 1 | 1:52 | |
| W.Strawweight 52 kg | Ayaka Hamasaki |
def. | Tomo Maesawa |
Submission (Kimura) | 2 | 6:26 | |
| W.Super Atomweight 49 kg | Kanna Asakura |
def. | Mizuki Furuse |
TKO (Punches) | 1 | 1:35 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Naoki Inoue |
def. | Shooto Watanabe |
Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 1:40 | |
| Catchweight 56 kg | Rui Ebata |
def. | Seiki Ueyama |
Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Catchweight 50.8 kg | Nadaka Yoshinari |
def. | Yuushin |
TKO (Referee Stoppage) | 2 | 8:08 | Kickboxing |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Tetsuya Seki |
def. | Kouya Kanda |
TKO (Punches) | 2 | 8:47 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Kyohei Hagiwara |
def. | Rikuto Shirakawa |
TKO (Punches) | 3 | 14:40 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Kenji Kato |
def. | Erson Yamamoto |
KO (Punch) | 1 | 3:32 | |
| Rizin 23 – Calling Over | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Promotion | Rizin Fighting Federation |
| Date | August 10, 2020 |
| Venue | Pia Arena MM |
| City | Yokohama, Japan |
| Attendance | 4,410 |
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 | Kai Asakura |
def. | Hiromasa Ougikubo |
TKO (Soccer Kicks) | 1 | 4:31 | For the vacant Rizin Bantamweight Championship |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Yuki Motoya |
def. | Mamoru Uoi |
Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 3 | 12:19 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Yutaka Saito |
def. | Kazumasa Majima |
TKO (Knees and Elbow) | 2 | 5:24 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Kento Haraguchi |
def. | Taiga Kawabe |
TKO (Punches) | 1 | 2:50 | Kickboxing |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Jin Aoi |
def. | Kotetsu Boku |
Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Catchweight 59 kg | Makoto Shinryu |
def. | Seiichiro Ito |
Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 2 | 9:30 | |
| Catchweight 73 kg | Kaito Ono |
def. |  Daryl Lokoku |
Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Flyweight 58 kg | Tatsuki Saomoto |
def. | Yusaku Nakamura |
KO (Punches) | 1 | 4:06 | |
| Catchweight 73 kg | Shintaro Matsukura |
def. | Koji Mori |
KO (Punches) | 1 | 1:28 | Kickboxing |
| Rizin 24 - Saitama | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Promotion | Rizin Fighting Federation |
| Date | September 27, 2020 |
| Venue | Saitama Super Arena |
| City | Saitama, Japan |
| Attendance | 5,000 |
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 | Tenshin Nasukawa |
def. | Koji |
Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Kai Asakura |
def. | Shoji Maruyama |
TKO (Punches and Soccer Kick) | 1 | 2:37 | Non-title bout. |
| Lightweight 71 kg | Koji Takeda |
def. | Yuki Kawana |
Decision (Split) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Lightweight 71 kg | Takasuke Kume |
def. | Satoru Kitaoka |
Decision (Split) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Catchweight 60 kg | Taishi Hiratsuka |
def. | Yuuki Kitagawa |
KO (Punch) | 2 | 3:27 | Kickboxing |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Kenta Takizawa |
def. | Yuto Hokamura |
Decision (Split) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| W. Strawweight 52 kg | Rena Kubota |
def. | Emi Tomimatsu |
Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Takahiro Ashida |
def. | Kyohei Hagiwara |
Submission (Triangle Choke) | 2 | 9:25 | |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Sudario Tsuyoshi |
Def. |  Dylan James |
TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | 1 | 5:00 | |
| Catchweight 55 kg | Mutsuki Ebata |
def. | Rasta |
Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Lightweight 71 kg | Juri Ohara |
def. | Yusuke Yachi |
Decision (Split) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Rizin 25 – Osaka | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Promotion | Rizin Fighting Federation |
| Date | November 21, 2020 |
| Venue | Osaka-jō Hall |
| City | Osaka, Japan |
| Attendance | 5,487 |
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 | Yutaka Saito |
def. | Mikuru Asakura |
Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | For the inaugural Rizin Featherweight Championship |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Hiromasa Ougikubo |
def. | Kenta Takizawa |
Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Welterweight 77 kg | Ryuichiro Sumimura |
def. | Gota Yamashita |
Decision (Split) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Flyweight 57 kg | Tatsuki Saomoto |
def. | Daichi Kitakata |
Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Exhibition | Roberto de Souza Kleber Koike Erbst |
Hari Sakamoto Misaki Akita |
Grappling Demonstration | ||||
| Intermission | |||||||
| Featherweight 66 kg | Kyohei Hagiwara |
def. | Yojiro Uchimura |
KO (Punches and Foot Stomp) | 1 | 0:22 | |
| Catchweight 60.5 kg | Taiga Kawabe |
def. | Yuma Yamahata |
Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Catchweight 83 kg | Isami Sano |
def. | Hidenori Ebata |
Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Rikuto Shirakawa |
def. | Kotetsu Boku |
TKO (Punches and Soccer Kick) | 3 | 14:19 | |
| Catchweight 53 kg | Jin Mandokoro |
def. | Syuto Sato |
Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Catchweight 63 kg | Shohei Asahara |
def. | Yuma Yamaguchi |
TKO (Punches) | 3 | 8:59 | Kickboxing |
| Rizin 26 – Saitama | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information | ||||
| Promotion | Rizin Fighting Federation | |||
| Date | December 31, 2020 | |||
| Venue | Saitama Super Arena | |||
| City | Saitama, Japan | |||
| Attendance | 9,978 | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
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 | Kyoji Horiguchi |
def. | Kai Asakura (c) |
TKO (Punches) | 1 | 2:48 | For the Rizin Bantamweight Championship |
| Catchweight 57 kg | Tenshin Nasukawa |
def. |  Kumandoi Petcharoenvit |
Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Catchweight 68 kg | Mikuru Asakura |
def. | Satoshi Yamasu |
KO (Head Kick and Punches) | 1 | 4:20 | |
| Catchweight 75 kg | Takanori Gomi |
def. | Koji Tanaka |
Decision (Majority) | 3 | 9:00 | Special Standing Bout Rules |
| W.Super Atomweight 49 kg | Ayaka Hamasaki |
def. | Miyuu Yamamoto |
Submission (Head Scissors Choke) | 1 | 1:42 | For the Vacant Rizin Super Atomweight Championship |
| Intermission | |||||||
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Naoki Inoue |
def. | Yuki Motoya |
Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 3:00 | |
| Catchweight 67 kg | Kleber Koike Erbst |
def. | Kyle Aguon |
Technical Submission (Brabo Choke) | 1 | 4:21 | |
| Catchweight 68 kg | Kyohei Hagiwara |
def. | Ren Hiramoto |
TKO (Corner Stoppage) | 2 | 1:29 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Hideo Tokoro |
def. | Shinobu Ota |
Submission (Armbar) | 2 | 2:23 | |
| Intermission | |||||||
| Catchweight 50 kg | Nadaka Yoshinari |
def. | Phetmalai Phetjaroenvit |
KO (Elbow) | 1 | 2:19 | Kickboxing |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Ulka Sasaki |
def. | Kenta Takizawa |
Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| W.Super Atomweight 49 kg | Kanna Asakura |
def. | Ai Shimizu |
Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Openweight | Atsushi Saito |
def. | Hiroya Kawabe |
Submission (Armbar) | 2 | 6:00 | Special Rules originally a draw was overturned by Rizin officials |
| Catchweight 63 kg | Kazuma Kuramoto |
def. | Taiyo Nakahara |
KO (Soccer Kicks) | 1 | 2:12 | |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Tsuyoshi Sudario |
def. | Ikuhisa Minowa |
TKO (Leg Injury) | 1 | 3:17 | |
| W.Catchweight 52.7 kg | Sakura Mori |
- | Eru Takebayashi |
Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 1:37 | No Contest due to Mori missing weight by 1.7 kg. |
- "Rizin FF Partners with FITE TV". sherdog.com.
- "Rizin FF Partners with Live-now". mmafighting.com. 24 December 2020.
- Guilherme Cruz (April 2, 2020). "RIZIN 22 canceled in Japan". mmafighting.com.
- "Hiromasa Ogikubo and Kai Asakura fight for vacant title at RIZIN 23". thebodylockmma.com. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- "UFC signs RIZIN bantamweight sensation Manel Kape". bloodyelbow.com. 31 March 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- "Kai Asakura-Shoji Maruyama, Rena-Emi Tomimatsu Added to RIZIN 24". mymmanews.com. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- "Two Bouts Added to Sept. 27 Rizin 24 Lineup in Saitama". sherdog.com. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- "【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.
- "【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. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- "【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. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- "Mikuru Asakura faces Yutaka Saito in featherweight title fight at Rizin 25". asianmma.com. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- "【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. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- "Kotetsu Boku faces Rikuto Shirakawa at Rizin 25". asianmma.com. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- "Kyoji Horiguchi to rematch Kai Asakura at Rizin 26". asianmma.com. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- "Ayaka Hamasaki and Miyuu Yamamoto face off in super atomweight title fight at Rizin 26". asianmma.com. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
- "Tenshin Nasukawa, Takanori Gomi to compete at Rizin 26". asianmma.com. 22 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
- "Ruleset for Rizin 26 bout between Takanori Gomi and Kouzi confirmed". asianmma.com. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- "Kai Asakura, Kyoji Horiguchi on point ahead of Rizin 26". asianmma.com. 30 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.