Bellator and RIZIN are putting on a fun co-promotion for NYE.
Japan has a tradition of hosing big combat sports events for New Year’s eve, and this year we’ll be getting a special co-promotion between RIZIN and Bellator. Instead of MMA promoters just posturing and talking about how their fighters are supposedly better, these two organizations actually took the risk and stepped up to put some of their best athletes in very fun match ups.
Five stars from each promotion will go head to head, and we’ll be getting current and former champions facing off in a pretty fun RIZIN vs Bellator card.
A.J. McKee will face RIZIN lightweight champion Roberto Satoshi in the main event, with the co-headliner being a featherweight champion vs champion super-fight as Bellator’s Patricio Pitbull takes on RIZIN’s Kleber Koike Erbst. Former Bellator and RIZIN champ Kyoji Horiguchi, and two-division ROAD FC champ Soo Chul Kim will also be in separate match ups on the card.
Prior to the five Bellator vs RIZIN bouts, RIZIN.40 will kick things off with more fun match ups including an atomweight tournament final, and bouts involving UFC vets John Dodson, Naoki Inoue, and Johnny Case.
Join us live, with RIZIN.40 starting at 12 a.m. ET and the Bellator vs RIZIN card to follow soon after, likely around 5 a.m. ET on December 31st.
Full fight card can be seen below, along with a live stream of the event. Unfortunately, for those in the US, the Bellator vs RIZIN portion will only be available on tape delay on Showtime. More details on how to watch here.
Fight Card and Results
Bellator MMA vs. RIZIN FF
AJ Mckee Jr. def. Roberto de Souza by Decision (Unanimous)
The early guard pull sees @ToshiJJ get AJ right where he wants him!
[ #RIZIN40 | #RIZINvsBellator ] pic.twitter.com/qPYNUrVru9
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
A wild ending to round 1!
This is why JMMA rules, rule!
[ #RIZIN40 | #RIZINvsBellator ] pic.twitter.com/ilQwCWxI7h
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
These two are complete wizards on the ground…
[ #RIZIN40 | #RIZINvsBellator ] pic.twitter.com/fJjuttH8yh
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
From side control to a back take! @ToshiJJ
[ #RIZIN40 | #RIZINvsBellator ] pic.twitter.com/0sYOL7dWnZ
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
Patricio Freire def. Kleber Koike Erbst by Decision (Unanimous)
Goin’ for a ride!
An entertaining end to round 1???
[ #RIZIN40 | #RIZINvsBellator ] pic.twitter.com/yfAZoAbQhZ
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
Using his reach advantage EVERYWHERE. @KoikeKleber
[ #RIZIN40 | #RIZINvsBellator ] pic.twitter.com/d03SYPRpVP
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
Kleber pulls guard!
[ #RIZIN40 | #RIZINvsBellator ] pic.twitter.com/m7sbyHQ6XB
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
Kyoji Horiguchi def. Hiromasa Ougikubo by Decision (Unanimous)
A strong finish to round 1 for team @BellatorMMA‘s Kyoji Horiguchi…
[ #RIZIN40 | #RIZINvsBellator ] pic.twitter.com/UDkCVBDbfB
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
Ougikubo gets the reversal in round 2!
[ #RIZIN40 | #RIZINvsBellator ] pic.twitter.com/caKVofZRM2
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
[ #RIZIN40 | #RIZINvsBellator ] pic.twitter.com/RnRcKfx22Z
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
Juan Archuleta def. Soo Chul Kim by Decision (Split)
[ #RIZIN40 | #RIZINvsBellator ] pic.twitter.com/zyDk97Nyc5
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
WHAT A SCRAP
[ #RIZIN40 | #RIZINvsBellator ] pic.twitter.com/kRAl0PR8AY
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Koji Takeda by Decision (Unanimous)
Based on the first round, Khabib must be pleased with his student so far
[ #RIZIN40 | #RIZINvsBellator ] pic.twitter.com/NIwdwC1XV4
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
RIZIN.40
Seika Izawa def. Si Woo Park by Decision (Split) [super-atomweight grand prix final]
Highlights through round 1?
[ #RIZIN40 | @FiteTV PPV link in bio ] pic.twitter.com/tWdfZROrKL
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
Things are heating up as we enter the final round!
[ #RIZIN40 | @FiteTV PPV link in bio ] pic.twitter.com/gMUZk4TTb9
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
A crazy last minute of the Grand Prix Final!
[ #RIZIN40 | @FiteTV PPV link in bio ] pic.twitter.com/okrfyT7yZW
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
Naoki Inoue def. Kenta Takizawa by Submission (arm lock), R2
The switch-up sees @NaokiInoueMMA get the takedown on Kenta Takizawa!
[ #RIZIN40 | @FiteTV PPV link in bio ] pic.twitter.com/QtYnW9T9ef
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
Maybe the World Cup isn’t over quite yet ??
[ #RIZIN40 | @FiteTV PPV link in bio ] pic.twitter.com/JDNot5DKEv
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
Junior Tafa def. Tsuyoshi Sudario by TKO (Punches), R1
John Dodson def. Hideo Tokoro by KO (Punches), R1
He definitely lived up to his word… @JohnDodsonMMA makes his RIZIN debut NOW!
[ #RIZIN40 | @FiteTV PPV link in bio ] pic.twitter.com/Amjh32zFPd
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
Ren Hiramoto def. Genji Umeno KO (Left hook), R2 [Boxing Rules]
Yuki Motoya def. Rogerio Bontorin by KO (knee), R2
ARE YOU KIDDING ME??
The KO fest continues @yuki_motoya stops Rogerio Bontorin with a huge knee in Round 2?!
[ #RIZIN40 | @FiteTV PPV link in bio ] pic.twitter.com/7reza9AE3G
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
Johnny Case def. Nobumitsu Tyson by TKO (Punches), R1
Okay, now we’re just getting spoiled with sub-minute KOs @HollywoodCase stops Tyson Nobumitsu in 36 seconds ??
[ #RIZIN40 | @FiteTV PPV link in bio ] pic.twitter.com/B6LX7ImLrq
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
Chihiro Suzuki def. Yoshiki Nakahara by KO (Punches), R1
THE KO’s DON’T STOP!!!@chihiro19990514 gets the 1st round finish over Nakahara!
[ #RIZIN40 | @FiteTV PPV link in bio ] pic.twitter.com/G8jXtTP6gX
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
Sho Patrick Usami def. Noah Bey by KO (Left hook), R1
Sho Patrick Usami delivers one of the most shocking KO’s you’ll ever see!
[ #RIZIN40 | @FiteTV PPV link in bio ] pic.twitter.com/xJW0eg4IaS
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
Yushi def. Tatsuya Nakazawa by decision (Unanimous)
Fight number one and we already have a top notch walkout. #RIZIN40 https://t.co/i7cijNzVMl pic.twitter.com/hY0C57JWwE
— Anton Tabuena (@antontabuena) December 31, 2022
A BIG HEAD KICK RIGHT OFF THE BAT !!!
[ #RIZIN40 | 12/31 | @FiteTV link in bio ] pic.twitter.com/Hd9qXO4yUb
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
Live Stream: (Fite TV or the embed below)