It’s never a good idea to go to the mat with reigning RIZIN lightweight champion Roberto Satoshi Souza. In…
It’s never a good idea to go to the mat with reigning RIZIN lightweight champion Roberto Satoshi Souza.
In the first of three world title tilts at RIZIN’s massive New Year’s Eve event inside the legendary Saitama Super Arena, Souza put his gold on the line against 20-win veteran Vugar Karamov.
It took Souza less than a round to score the 17th finish of his career, catching Karamov with a slick triangle choke and forcing him to tap out with only 15 seconds left in the round.
Official Result: Roberto Satoshi Souza def. Vugar Karamov via submission (triangle choke) in Round 1 to retain the RIZIN lightweight championship.
With the win, Souza extended his unbeaten streak to three under the RIZIN banner and maintained his incredible 94% finish rate. Overall, the BJJ black belt is 18-3 in his mixed martial arts career with 11 of his wins coming by way of submission and another six via KO.
Check out highlights from Roberto Satoshi Souza vs. Vugar Karamov at rIZIN 49:
Go to the ground with Roberto Satoshi Souza at your own peril. He retains his lightweight title with yet another submission win, this time of former featherweight champ Vugar Karamov. #RIZIN_Decade (Footage courtesy of RIZIN FF/RIZIN.tv) pic.twitter.com/nkueB3RtPu
DOMINANTE! O Brasileiro Roberto Satoshi Souza vence a promessa Azeri e ex-campeão peso-leve Vugar Karamov por finalização no primeiro round e mantem o cinturão peso-leve do Rizin.
The 26-year-old entered the ring for a showdown with 41-fight veteran Yusuke Yachi as part of the festivities and started the fireworks early with a quick-fire TKO.
After a brief exchange, Sakuraba threw a kick that Yachi caught. As Yachi continued to hold his leg, thew newcomer unleashed a left hand that sent Yachi crashing to the canvas. ‘Saku Jr.’ swarmed his opponent, landing a series of solid ground-and-pound strikes before the referee saw fit to step in and call for the stoppage less than half a minute into the scrap.
Having only competed in grappling tournaments until now, ‘Saku Jr.’ walked into the bout as a +220 underdog against the far more experienced Yachi.
He is now 1-0 in his professional MMA career, snapping Yachi’s four-fight win streak under the RIZIN banner.
Check Out Highlights from Taisei Sakuraba’s impressive debut at RIZIN: Decade
There's going to be some talk of the quick stoppage, but that isn't on Taisei Sakuraba. THAT is how you make your debut against a 40+ fight veteran. Mere seconds. The legacy continues! #RIZIN_Decade (footage courtesy of RIZIN FF/RIZIN.tv) pic.twitter.com/bQyAc6pTnj
The 26-year-old entered the ring for a showdown with 41-fight veteran Yusuke Yachi as part of the festivities and started the fireworks early with a quick-fire TKO.
After a brief exchange, Sakuraba threw a kick that Yachi caught. As Yachi continued to hold his leg, thew newcomer unleashed a left hand that sent Yachi crashing to the canvas. ‘Saku Jr.’ swarmed his opponent, landing a series of solid ground-and-pound strikes before the referee saw fit to step in and call for the stoppage less than half a minute into the scrap.
Having only competed in grappling tournaments until now, ‘Saku Jr.’ walked into the bout as a +220 underdog against the far more experienced Yachi.
He is now 1-0 in his professional MMA career, snapping Yachi’s four-fight win streak under the RIZIN banner.
Check Out Highlights from Taisei Sakuraba’s impressive debut at RIZIN: Decade
There's going to be some talk of the quick stoppage, but that isn't on Taisei Sakuraba. THAT is how you make your debut against a 40+ fight veteran. Mere seconds. The legacy continues! #RIZIN_Decade (footage courtesy of RIZIN FF/RIZIN.tv) pic.twitter.com/bQyAc6pTnj
The upcoming Rizin MMA matchup between Chihiro Suzuki and Kleber Koike Erbst is set to headline Rizin’s New Year’s…
The upcoming Rizin MMA matchup between Chihiro Suzuki and Kleber Koike Erbst is set to headline Rizin’s New Year’s Eve event, Rizin 49 “Decade,” on December 31, 2024, at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. This highly anticipated bout is a rematch for the Rizin Featherweight Championship, with Suzuki defending his title against former champion Erbst.
Chihiro Suzuki vs. Kleber Koike
Chihiro Suzuki, the current Rizin Featherweight champion, is a 25-year-old Japanese fighter with a professional record of 13 wins and 3 losses. Known for his striking ability, Suzuki has a knockout ratio of 54% and has been on an impressive winning streak since capturing the title. He won the championship in November 2023 by defeating Vugar Karamov and has successfully defended it once against Masanori Kanehara.
Kleber Koike Erbst is currently the favorite to win the bout, with odds of 4/7 (-180). This translates to an implied probability of about 60% that Erbst will emerge victorious. Chihiro Suzuki, the current champion, is considered the underdog in this matchup, with odds of 13/10 (+130). These odds suggest that bookmakers give Suzuki approximately a 40% chance of winning. These are competitive odds and for those who enjoy gaming make sure to check out instant withdrawal online casino Australia right here.
Kleber Koike Erbst, a 35-year-old Brazilian-born Japanese fighter, is a submission specialist. Erbst is a former Rizin Featherweight champion and has also held the KSW Featherweight title in the past. He is known for his exceptional grappling skills, with 29 of his wins coming by submission.
The stakes for this fight are high, as it’s not only a championship bout but also a rematch with a backstory. Their first encounter in June 2023 ended in controversy when Erbst missed weight and was stripped of the title. Although Erbst won the fight by submission, it was ruled a no-contest due to the weight miss.
This rematch gives both fighters a chance to settle the score definitively. This matchup presents an interesting clash of styles. Chihiro Suzuki’s striking-based approach will be pitted against Erbst’s submission-heavy grappling game. The outcome may well depend on who can impose their preferred fighting style on the other.
The fight is particularly significant as it headlines Rizin’s 10th-anniversary event, adding extra prestige and attention to an already high-stakes championship bout. For Suzuki, it’s an opportunity to cement his status as champion, while Erbst seeks to reclaim the title he once held.
The upcoming Rizin MMA match between Roberto de Souza and Vugar Karamov is set to take place on December…
The upcoming Rizin MMA match between Roberto de Souza and Vugar Karamov is set to take place on December 31, 2024, as part of the RIZIN 49, AKA RIZIN DECADE, event. This lightweight bout carries significant stakes, as it will be a title fight for the Rizin Lightweight Championship currently held by de Souza.
Roberto de Souza vs. Vugar Karamov
Roberto de Souza is a 35-year-old Japanese-Brazilian fighter with an impressive background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, de Souza began his martial arts journey at a young age under the guidance of his father, a judo instructor. He has achieved great success in BJJ, winning multiple championships including world titles in various belt levels. De Souza is known for his exceptional grappling skills and submission power, with many of his MMA victories coming by way of submission.
Roberto de Souza is slightly favored to win the fight. His odds are listed at -125, which implies a 55.56% chance of victory. This means that a bettor would need to wager $125 to win $100 if de Souza emerges victorious. Vugar Karamov, on the other hand, is the slight underdog with odds of -105. This translates to a 51.22% implied probability of winning. You can play the odds at ICE Casino right here.
A $105 bet on Karamov would yield $100 in profit if he wins the fight. The close odds suggest that bookmakers and bettors view this as a competitive matchup, with de Souza having a small edge in this Tokyo matchup.
Vugar “Vugi” Karamov, on the other hand, is a 32-year-old fighter from Azerbaijan with a diverse martial arts background. He has experience in judo, wushu sanda, and combat sambo, and is notably a former Islamic Wushu Championship winner. Karamov is moving up to the lightweight division for this fight, having previously competed as a featherweight where he briefly held the Rizin Featherweight Championship. He is known for his powerful striking and strong core physique.
This match-up presents an intriguing clash of styles. Roberto de Souza’s world-class grappling and submission skills will be pitted against Karamov’s striking power and diverse martial arts background. The fight also represents a significant opportunity for Karamov, who is looking to become a two-division champion by moving up in weight to challenge for the lightweight title.
For de Souza, this will be another chance to defend his Rizin lightweight championship and further cement his status as one of Rizin’s top fighters. His most recent title defense was a successful one, winning by TKO against Luiz Gustavo in September 2024.
Given the fighters’ backgrounds and recent performances, fans can expect an exciting contest that could potentially showcase high-level grappling from de Souza and powerful striking from Karamov. The outcome of this fight will have significant implications for the Rizin lightweight division and could potentially set up future cross-promotional opportunities.
The upcoming RIZIN MMA fight between YA-MAN and Karshyga Dautbek is set for New Year’s Eve 2024 at the…
The upcoming RIZIN MMA fight between YA-MAN and Karshyga Dautbek is set for New Year’s Eve 2024 at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. It’s part of the RIZIN DECADE event, which is shaping up to be a major night of fights.
YA-MAN vs. Karshyga Dautbek
For YA-MAN vs. Karshyga Dautbek, it appears that Dautbek is the clear favorite. On two sportsbooks, Dautbek is listed at 1.27, while YA-MAN is at 3.75. This indicates that Dautbek is heavily favored to win. The lower number (around 1.25-1.27) for Dautbek means a bet on him would pay out less, reflecting his status as the favorite. Conversely, a successful bet on YA-MAN would pay out more (at odds around 3.48-3.75) due to him being considered the underdog. Dautbek is from Kazakhstan which neighbors Mongolia, make sure to check out melbet Mongolia right here.
YA-MAN, whose real name is Ren Sugiyama, is a Japanese fighter who started in kickboxing before moving to MMA. He’s known for being pretty good at kickboxing, ranking fifth in the world at bantamweight. YA-MAN is also a bit of a YouTube personality. He’s still new to MMA, having only started in 2023. His last fight didn’t go so well, as he lost to Ren Hiramoto at the end of 2023.
Raised by a single mother, he often invites children to his fights to help motivate them. YA-MAN is a showman who often walks out surrounded by burlesque dancers. With his entertaining style and flair, YA-MAN has become a crowd favorite.
On the other side, we have Karshyga Dautbek from Kazakhstan. He’s a bit older at 31 and has more MMA experience. Dautbek has a solid record with 16 wins and only 3 losses. He’s known for knocking people out, with most of his wins coming that way. He’s on a hot streak right now and just joined RIZIN. His last fight was a quick knockout win in September 2024.
This fight is interesting because of how different these two athletes are. YA-MAN is a skilled kickboxer who’s still figuring out MMA, while Dautbek is a hard-hitting MMA veteran. YA-MAN needs to win to show he belongs in RIZIN’s featherweight division, especially after his recent loss. Dautbek wants to keep his winning streak going and make a name for himself in RIZIN.
The fight itself should be exciting. YA-MAN’s impressive kickboxing skills will be up against Dautbek’s powerful punches. Both fighters like to finish fights early, so don’t be surprised if it doesn’t go all three rounds. It’s happening in the featherweight division, which means they’ll both weigh about 145 pounds. All in all, it should be a fun fight to watch for MMA fans.
The son of legendary ‘Gracie Killer’ Kazushi Sakuraba scored an impressive 26-second knockout in his mixed martial arts debut…
The upcoming Rizin MMA matchup between Chihiro Suzuki and Kleber Koike Erbst is set to headline Rizin’s New Year’s…
The upcoming Rizin MMA match between Roberto de Souza and Vugar Karamov is set to take place on December…
The upcoming RIZIN MMA fight between YA-MAN and Karshyga Dautbek is set for New Year’s Eve 2024 at the…