Tag: RIZIN News

RIZIN FF Confirm Several Fights For Upcoming August Shows

RIZIN FF announced several bouts today for its RIZIN 23 and RIZIN 23 cards. The two events will be held back to back on Sunday, August 9, and Monday, August 10, respectively, inside the Pia Arena in Yokohama, Japan. The promotion announced four fights for each event. All the fighters who will be competing on […]

RIZIN FF announced several bouts today for its RIZIN 23 and RIZIN 23 cards. The two events will be held back to back on Sunday, August 9, and Monday, August 10, respectively, inside the Pia Arena in Yokohama, Japan.

The promotion announced four fights for each event. All the fighters who will be competing on the cards are based in Japan. So, there will be no danger of bouts getting canceled due to border restrictions.

RIZIN FF President Nobuyuki Sakakibara also spoke about the crowdfunding drive that began earlier this week. The company has taken a hefty financial hit due to Covid-19. The pandemic has impacted its ability to put on shows; the aim of funding campaign is to mitigate the company’s losses by rising 50,000,000 yen ( approx US$465,000)

“I would like to sincerely ask the fans for their support in order to maintain the life form of martial arts called RIZIN,” Sakakibara said.

The fight that will generate the most excitement among fans is the clash between Kai Asakura and Hiromasa Ougikubo. The two men will square off for the vacant RIZIN bantamweight title. Ogikubo has only lost twice since 2013, with both losses coming at the hands of Kyoji Horiguchi, whom Asakura defeated at RIZIN 18.

Asakura will be looking to rebound from his last outing, which saw him stopped in the second by Manel Kape at RIZIN 20.

Former UFC fighter Naoki Inoue will make his second appearance under the RIZIN banner when he takes on Shooto Watanabe, who will be making his promotional debut.

Below is the list of confirmed bouts for the two upcoming shows.

RIZIN 22: Starting Over
Naoki Inoue vs Shooto Watanabe
Tetsuya Seki vs Yojiro Uchimura
Kanna Asakura vs Mizuki Furuse
Yusuke Yachi vs Roberto Satoshi Souza

RIZIN 23: Calling Over
Hiromasa Ougikubo vs Kai Asakura
Seiichirio Ito vs Makoto Takahashi
Yuki Motoya vs Mamoru Uoi
Yutaka Saito vs Kazumasa Majima

What do you think of the announced fights?

RIZIN FF Set For Back To Back Events In August

RIZIN FF is set for a spectacular return next month with the Japanese promotion announcing that it will hold back to back shows on Sunday, August 9, and Monday, August 10. The promotion last event took place in February and fans have been kept busy wondering when the company would begin staging events again. The […]

RIZIN FF is set for a spectacular return next month with the Japanese promotion announcing that it will hold back to back shows on Sunday, August 9, and Monday, August 10. The promotion last event took place in February and fans have been kept busy wondering when the company would begin staging events again.

The announcement was made today during a press conference held by the promotion’s president Nobuyuki Sakakibara. RIZIN 21 and 22 will both take place inside the newly built Pia Arena in Yokohama, Japan, and will feature only Japanese based fighters. Thankfully for RIZIN, the bulk of its roster is based in Japan, which means fans should be in for some decent match-ups.

Information regarding the lineups is yet to be released, but will hopefully be announced in the near future. At the moment there is no word on if the events will be available as a PPV for international audiences.

Are you excited for the return of RIZIN?

RIZIN FF President Announces Upcoming Press Conference

It looks like fans will soon be getting an update regarding RIZIN FF’s future moves. The company’s president Nobuyuki Sakakibara tweeted on Saturday that he will be holding a press conference this week to discuss what is going on with the Japanese promotion. “We have received a variety of ideas and encouragement from players and […]

It looks like fans will soon be getting an update regarding RIZIN FF’s future moves. The company’s president Nobuyuki Sakakibara tweeted on Saturday that he will be holding a press conference this week to discuss what is going on with the Japanese promotion.

“We have received a variety of ideas and encouragement from players and stakeholders since RIZIN’s current situation was revealed. For about four years since the launch of RIZIN in 2015, I am able to come to this point with the support of highly motivated players and lovable fans, and I am really grateful now. I’ll share all my thoughts and thoughts at an upcoming conference next week.”

Sakakibara was in the headlines recently after posting about the stress and frustration he felt due to being unable to stage events due to Covid-19. In response to his tweet, many RIIZN FF’s fighters responded, throwing their support behind both the promotion and Sakakibara, with some fighters even saying they would fight for free if required.

The company’s last event was back in February, but Japan’s environment has improved a lot since the outbreak first hit. Pancrase announced on Friday that it would be returning on July 24. Hopefully, Rizin will make a similar announcement this week.

Are you keen to see RIZIN’s return?

RIZIN FF President Announces Upcoming Press Conference

It looks like fans will soon be getting an update regarding RIZIN FF’s future moves. The company’s president Nobuyuki Sakakibara tweeted on Saturday that he will be holding a press conference this week to discuss what is going on with the Japanese promotion. “We have received a variety of ideas and encouragement from players and […]

It looks like fans will soon be getting an update regarding RIZIN FF’s future moves. The company’s president Nobuyuki Sakakibara tweeted on Saturday that he will be holding a press conference this week to discuss what is going on with the Japanese promotion.

“We have received a variety of ideas and encouragement from players and stakeholders since RIZIN’s current situation was revealed. For about four years since the launch of RIZIN in 2015, I am able to come to this point with the support of highly motivated players and lovable fans, and I am really grateful now. I’ll share all my thoughts and thoughts at an upcoming conference next week.”

Sakakibara was in the headlines recently after posting about the stress and frustration he felt due to being unable to stage events due to Covid-19. In response to his tweet, many RIIZN FF’s fighters responded, throwing their support behind both the promotion and Sakakibara, with some fighters even saying they would fight for free if required.

The company’s last event was back in February, but Japan’s environment has improved a lot since the outbreak first hit. Pancrase announced on Friday that it would be returning on July 24. Hopefully, Rizin will make a similar announcement this week.

Are you keen to see RIZIN’s return?

Kyoji Horiguchi Healing Well, Targets Kai Asakura Upon Return

RIZIN FF bantamweight Kyoji Horiguchi is healing well after suffering after a serious knee injury last October. The 29-year-old vacated both his RIZIN FF and Bellator bantamweight titles following the injury, which consisted of a torn ACL and meniscus damage. In a recent interview with Japan’s Sports Graphic Number magazine, Horiguchi spoke about his recovery […]

RIZIN FF bantamweight Kyoji Horiguchi is healing well after suffering after a serious knee injury last October. The 29-year-old vacated both his RIZIN FF and Bellator bantamweight titles following the injury, which consisted of a torn ACL and meniscus damage.

In a recent interview with Japan’s Sports Graphic Number magazine, Horiguchi spoke about his recovery — now into its eighth month— as well as his plans for the future.

“There are very few fighters who have recovered from this injury, that’s why I want to be the first to show that I can be back with this injury. The team that I belong to has supported me, and I am recovering faster than planned, ” Horiguchi said.

The former UFC veteran has been living in the US for the past four years. He has based himself in Florida and trains out of American Top Team. The lifestyle seems to suit the Takasaki native who is aiming to stay permanently in the US. While no fighter enjoys a spell on the sidelines Horiguchi hasbeen careful to not wasted this current period of inactivity but use it to analyze his game and look for ways to improve.

” I’ve been thinking of changing my fighting style a little, and I’ve been working on training that can overwhelm [opponents]not only hitting but also wrestling. I was able to increase the range, and I am now stronger,”

Horiguchi’s last outing was a non-title fight at Rizin 18, where he suffered a shock first-round KO loss to the surging Kai Asakura. His first order of business once he has fully healed, will be the rematch with Asakura.

When it does take place, Horiguchi promises fans will see a stronger Kyoji Horiguchi entering the ring.

Would you be keen for a rematch between Horiguchi and Asakura?

RIZIN Fighters Aim To Keep The Show Going After Nobuyuki Sakakibara Makes Heartfelt Post

RIZINIt has been a tough few months for RIZIN FF President Nobuyuki Sakakibara. The Japanese promotion last held an event in February, and despite online whispers, there has been no firm date as to when the company will resume holding events. The uncertainty about RIZIN’s future led to Sakakibara posting a heartfelt message on social […]

RIZIN

It has been a tough few months for RIZIN FF President Nobuyuki Sakakibara. The Japanese promotion last held an event in February, and despite online whispers, there has been no firm date as to when the company will resume holding events.

The uncertainty about RIZIN’s future led to Sakakibara posting a heartfelt message on social media. In it, he wrote about the company’s current situation, including its lost revenue of just over six and a half million USD.

“Anyway, I’m impatient now Cancel 3 tournaments according to national request Sales of 700 million yen flew I’ve come all the way up to the resumption of summer mega-events, but at present, it is difficult to have an event with a large audience The players are also in poverty and cannot live ……With this condition, you just sit and wait for death. What to do next?

Sakakibara’s tweet did not go unnoticed by a number of the promotions biggest names including the likes of Mikuru Asakura and Ayaka Hamasaki who all pledged their support for the company. Some of them, such as Makoto Shinryu, even went as far as stating they would compete for free if that is what it takes to get RIZIN back to where it was pre-COVID-19.

“If I can cooperate, I will fight without fight money!”

After being flooded with support, Sakakibara sent out a follow-up tweet , written with renewed spirits.

“I was impressed by the reaction from the athletes last night. In addition, I received warm words and advice from over 1000 people, and I could not sleep well last night. Thank you to RIZIN and other group players who love the future, the sea, Tenshin, and martial arts, and martial arts fans. I can’t stop here. Definitely.”

In what must be regarded as a good omen for RIZIN, Japanese wrestling promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling has begun staging live events with fans in attendance, albeit at reduced capacity.

Hopefully, it will not be too much longer before RIZIN follows suit and is back in business.

Are you looking forward to seeing RIZIN return?