RIZIN Fighting Federation’s New Year’s Eve fight card is off and running … and it’s been violent.
Satoshi Yamasu was on the wrong end of a brutal second-round knockout tonight (Sat., Dec. 30, 2023) when Suguru Nii landed an overhand right that shut Yamasu’s light off immediately from inside the famous Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Check out the brutal knockout below.
WHAT A KO!
Suguru Nii scores yet another spectacular victory in the RIZIN ring!
Watch on @FITEtv ! https://t.co/eEpfmslhPp pic.twitter.com/sQ79opiWzh
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2023
The first round between the featherweights was competitive, with Yamasu getting the better of the exchanges. Yamasu was constantly chopping Nii’s leg down with great success, but it was a naked leg kick that ultimately led to him getting knocked unconscious.
Nii (17-12) is riding a five-fight win streak with five finishes since he suffered a three-fight skid.
Yamasu (13-8) has now dropped two straight and is 2-4 in his past six fights and will look to snap the dreaded losing streak like he has in the past.
RIZIN 45 is headlined by former UFC and Bellator fighter Kyoji Horiguchi and Makoto Shinryu in a rematch for the inaugural RIZIN Flyweight championship. The pair of fighters fought back in July at Bellator MMA vs. RIZIN 2, but the fight lasted 25 seconds due to an accidental eye poke, and it was deemed a no-contest.
Keep it locked at MMAMania.com for more RIZIN 45 highlights.