The year 2018 was the fourth year in the history of the
Rizin Fighting Federation
Rizin Fighting Federation (stylised in all caps and also known as Rizin FF) is a Japanese mixed martial arts organization created in 2015 by the former Pride Fighting Championships and Dream Stage Entertainment president Nobuyuki Sakakibara.
...
, a
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world.
In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...
promotion based in
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
. The year began with
Rizin 10 in Fukuoka on May 6, 2018.
Rizin events are broadcast through a television agreement with
Fuji Television
JOCX-DTV (channel 8), branded as or , is a Japanese television station that serves the Kantō region as the flagship (broadcasting), flagship station of the Fuji News Network (FNN) and the Fuji Network System (FNS). The station is owned-and- ...
. In North America and Europe, Rizin events are available via PPV on
FITE TV
Triller TV (stylized as TrillerTV, formerly known as FITE and FITE TV, and currently marketed as TrillerTV powered by FITE) is a Bulgarian-based American digital video streaming service.
Owned by Flipps Media, Inc. and operated by its parent co ...
.
Background
Nobuyuki Sakakibara
is a Japanese businessman and mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter. He is known for his executive role in Dream Stage Entertainment, including its promotions Pride Fighting Championships and Fighting Opera Hustle, and works as the current preside ...
announced that Rizin will do 5 events in 2018: May, July, August, September and the December 31st show.
List of events
Title fights
Rizin 10 - Fukuoka
''Rizin 10 - Fukuoka'' was a
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world.
In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...
event held by the
Rizin Fighting Federation
Rizin Fighting Federation (stylised in all caps and also known as Rizin FF) is a Japanese mixed martial arts organization created in 2015 by the former Pride Fighting Championships and Dream Stage Entertainment president Nobuyuki Sakakibara.
...
on May 6, 2018 at the
Marine Messe Fukuoka
in Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk i ...
in
Fukuoka
is the List of Japanese cities by population, sixth-largest city in Japan and the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city is built along the shores of Hakata Bay, and has been a center of international commerce since ancient times. ...
,
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
.
Background
Bantamweight Grand Prix Champion
Kyoji Horiguchi
is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He most recently competed in Rizin FF in the Flyweight division, where he was a former RIZIN Flyweight Champion and former RIZIN Bantamweight Championsh ...
was announced to take on fellow veteran
Ian McCall in a much anticipated bout that failed to materialize during the
New Years Event. Rounding off the marquee match-ups were the kickboxing phenomenon,
Tenshin Nasukawa
is a Japanese Professional Boxing, professional boxer, former kickboxer, professional kickboxer and mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. A generational talent, Nasukawa was regarded as a pound for pound talent throughout most of his caree ...
, taking on DEEP flyweight champion Yusaku Nakamura, and newly-crowned atomweight queen
Kanna Asakura
Kanna Asakura (); born October 12, 1997, in Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan, is a female Japanese retired mixed martial artist. She competed in the Atomweight (106 lb) division and completed with the Rizin Fighting Federation. She is the #6 ranked At ...
, who will face former King of the Cage atomweight champion Melissa Karagianis.
Yachi Yusuke will face off against UFC-vet
Diego Nunes, and the
Kunlun Fight
Kunlun Fight (KLF) () is a kickboxing promotion headquartered in Beijing, China. It debuted in 2014 and is regarded as one of the top kickboxing promotions in the world. Events are broadcast on Jiangsu Television domestically and on various regio ...
strawweight champion
Weili Zhang was supposed to face Kanako Murata. However, Zhang suffered an injury on her left shoulder during training and was forced to withdraw from the fight. She was replaced by the former TUF 23 cast member Lanchana Green. This event also saw the return of the former Invicta atomweight champion
Ayaka Hamasaki
is a Japanese female mixed martial artist, judoka and submission grappler. She is the former Rizin Super Atomweight Champion. She has fought in MMA promotions ''Shooto'', Jewels and Rizin in Japan, and Invicta FC in the United States. Hamasak ...
, as well as up-and-coming prospects
Manel Kape and
Kai Asakura
is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He previously competed in Rizin Fighting Federation, where he was the Rizin Bantamweight Champion. A professional si ...
.
Results
Rizin 11 - Saitama
''Rizin 11 - Saitama'' was a
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world.
In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...
event held by the
Rizin Fighting Federation
Rizin Fighting Federation (stylised in all caps and also known as Rizin FF) is a Japanese mixed martial arts organization created in 2015 by the former Pride Fighting Championships and Dream Stage Entertainment president Nobuyuki Sakakibara.
...
on July 29, 2018 at the
Saitama Super Arena
is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Chūō-ku, Saitama, Chūō-ku, Saitama (city), Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. It opened preliminarily on May 5, 2000, and then was officially opened on September 1 of the same year. Its maximum capa ...
in
Saitama, Japan
is the capital and largest city of Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance. , the city had an estimated population of 1,324,854 ...
.
Background
After a 9-second knockout victory, Kyoji Horiguchi made a quick turnaround, in a long-awaited rematch against fellow Japanese champion Hiromasa Ogikubo. Ogikubo, the current Shooto bantamweight champion, has not lost since he last faced Horiguchi in 2013. Another rematch took place with
Kanna Asakura
Kanna Asakura (); born October 12, 1997, in Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan, is a female Japanese retired mixed martial artist. She competed in the Atomweight (106 lb) division and completed with the Rizin Fighting Federation. She is the #6 ranked At ...
taking on
RENA, who she defeated in the final of the
Atomweight Grand Prix.
Originally
Mirko Cro Cop
Mirko Filipović (; born 10 September 1974), better known by his ring name Mirko Cro Cop, is a Croatian former professional mixed martial artist, kickboxer and amateur boxer. He is mostly known for his time in Pride Fighting Championships. Cro ...
was scheduled for this event, however on May 21, 2018, while training for a bout in
Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA (formerly Bellator Fighting Championships) was an American mixed martial arts promotion (entertainment), promotion founded in 2008 by Bjorn Rebney and operated until 2025. The promotion takes its name from ''wikt:bellator, bellātor ...
against
Roy Nelson, Crocop suffered multiple injuries to his left leg including an ACL tear, a partial MCL tear, and a LCL sprain. It was revealed that the recovery for these injuries would take a minimum of 5 months, and so he was ruled out of the event.
Originally a fight was set between
Takanori Gomi
is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist who gained international fame in Pride Fighting Championships. Later in his career, Gomi also competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Gomi is the only Pride FC Lightweight Champion in the ...
and
Andy Souwer
Andy Souwer (born 9 November 1982) is a Dutch former kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He is a two-time K-1 World MAX champion (2005, 2007) and four-time Shootboxing World tournament champion as well as former It's Showtime 70MAX world champio ...
. However, Souwer was forced to withdrawal due to signing an exclusive contract with
ONE Championship
ONE Championship, formerly ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC) until January 2015, is a Multinational corporation, multinational combat sports Promoter (entertainment), promotion founded on 14 July 2011 by Chatri Sityodtong and Victor Cui. Origi ...
. He was replaced by UFC veteran
Melvin Guillard
Melvin Guillard (born March 30, 1983) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Middleweight division.
Guillard most notably competed in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Bellator MMA and World S ...
at a weight limit of 73.0kg. Guillard weighed in at 73.95kg, forcing the bout to be contested at a catchweight.
Originally a fight was set between
Kai Asakura
is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He previously competed in Rizin Fighting Federation, where he was the Rizin Bantamweight Champion. A professional si ...
and Topnoi Tiger Muay Thai. However, Asakura was pulled from the event due to a knee injury and replaced by former Tenkaichi Champion Tadaaki Yamamoto
Originally a fight was set between Rin Nakai and Shizuka Sugiyama. However, Nakai was pulled from the event due to acute nephritis, and the bout was cancelled all together.
Results
Rizin 12 - Nagoya
''Rizin 12 - Nagoya'' was a
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world.
In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...
event held by the
Rizin Fighting Federation
Rizin Fighting Federation (stylised in all caps and also known as Rizin FF) is a Japanese mixed martial arts organization created in 2015 by the former Pride Fighting Championships and Dream Stage Entertainment president Nobuyuki Sakakibara.
...
on August 12, 2018 at the
Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in
Nagoya
is the largest city in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is the list of cities in Japan, fourth-most populous city in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020, and the principal city of the Chūkyō metropolitan area, which is the List of ...
,
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
.
Background
Former
Jungle Fight Lightweight Champion Bruno Carvalho was expected to headline this event against Yusuke Yachi, but was forced off the card due to an injury. Carvalho was replaced by the undefeated Luiz Gustavo.
King Reina takes on veteran
Kaitlin Young in a women's featherweight bout.
Kiichi Kunimoto
is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the welterweight division. A professional competitor since 2006, he has also competed for the RIZIN, UFC, Bellator, and Pancrase.
Background
Born and raised in the Nishina ...
will face DEEP Welterweight Champion Ryuichiro Sumimura.
Mikuru Asakura
is a Japanese mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist who competes in the featherweight (MMA), featherweight division of Rizin Fighting Federation. He also competed for Road Fighting Championship, Fighting Network Rings and Deep (mixed martia ...
(who is
Kai Asakura
is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He previously competed in Rizin Fighting Federation, where he was the Rizin Bantamweight Champion. A professional si ...
's older brother) is expected to face all-time great,
Hatsu Hioki
(, born July 18, 1983) is a Japanese former professional mixed martial artist competing in the featherweight division. He is the former Shooto Lightweight Champion, Sengoku Featherweight Champion, and TKO Featherweight Champion. Hioki is a lon ...
. Former UFC competitor
Angela Magana makes her promotional debut against Kanako Murata.
Results
Rizin 13 - Saitama
''Rizin 13 - Saitama'' was a
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world.
In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...
event held by the
Rizin Fighting Federation
Rizin Fighting Federation (stylised in all caps and also known as Rizin FF) is a Japanese mixed martial arts organization created in 2015 by the former Pride Fighting Championships and Dream Stage Entertainment president Nobuyuki Sakakibara.
...
on September 30, 2018 at the
Saitama Super Arena
is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Chūō-ku, Saitama, Chūō-ku, Saitama (city), Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. It opened preliminarily on May 5, 2000, and then was officially opened on September 1 of the same year. Its maximum capa ...
in
Saitama, Japan
is the capital and largest city of Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance. , the city had an estimated population of 1,324,854 ...
.
Background
A champion versus champion affair kicked off the card, as current
Pancrase Strawweight Champion Mitsuhisa Sunabe took on reigning
DEEP Strawweight Champion Haruo Ochi.
Jiří Procházka
Jiří Procházka (; ; born October 14, 1992) is a Czech professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion a ...
looked to continue his winning streak against
WSOF/
PFL veteran Jake Heun. Brothers
Mikuru and
Kai Asakura
is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He previously competed in Rizin Fighting Federation, where he was the Rizin Bantamweight Champion. A professional si ...
fought Karshyga Dautbek and Topnoi Thanongsaklek, respectively. 4-time
K-1
K-1 is a professional kickboxing promotion established in 1993 by karateka Kazuyoshi Ishii.
Originally under the ownership of the Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG), K-1 was considered to be the largest Kickboxing organization in the worl ...
champion
Taiga Kawabe made his RIZIN debut against fellow debutant Kento Haraguchi.
Miyuu Yamamoto rematched former
King of the Cage Atomweight Champion Andy Nguyen; Nguyen defeated Yamamoto at RIZIN's 2016 New Year Eve card.
Manel Kape returned to the RIZIN ring for a 5th time, and faced DEEP Flyweight Champion Yusaku Nakamura. Former Invicta Atomweight Champion
Ayaka Hamasaki
is a Japanese female mixed martial artist, judoka and submission grappler. She is the former Rizin Super Atomweight Champion. She has fought in MMA promotions ''Shooto'', Jewels and Rizin in Japan, and Invicta FC in the United States. Hamasak ...
made her second appearance for RIZIN, this time fighting the current DEEP Jewels Atomweight Champion,
Mina Kurobe
is a Japanese mixed martial artist, currently fighting in the super atomweight division of Shooto, where she is the former and inaugural Shooto Super Atomweight champion. A professional competitor since 2012, Kurobe is also the former DEEP JE ...
. UFC veterans
Daron Cruickshank and
Diego Brandao faced off in a lightweight bout.
Mirko Cro Cop
Mirko Filipović (; born 10 September 1974), better known by his ring name Mirko Cro Cop, is a Croatian former professional mixed martial artist, kickboxer and amateur boxer. He is mostly known for his time in Pride Fighting Championships. Cro ...
returned after a 4-month injury lay-off against DEEP Megaton Champion,
Roque Martinez
Roque Martinez (born March 4, 1986) is a retired Chamorro mixed martial artist who competed in the Heavyweight division. He has formerly competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Rizin Fighting Federation.
Background
Born and raised on ...
. The first African professional sumo wrestler,
Osunaarashi, fought fan-favorite
Bob Sapp
Robert Malcolm Sapp (born September 22, 1973) is an American mixed martial artist, kickboxing, kickboxer, professional wrestler, actor, and former American football, football player. He is currently under contract with Rizin Fighting Federatio ...
. The card was headlined by kickboxing sensation
Tenshin Nasukawa
is a Japanese Professional Boxing, professional boxer, former kickboxer, professional kickboxer and mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. A generational talent, Nasukawa was regarded as a pound for pound talent throughout most of his caree ...
and Bantamweight Grand Prix Champion
Kyoji Horiguchi
is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He most recently competed in Rizin FF in the Flyweight division, where he was a former RIZIN Flyweight Champion and former RIZIN Bantamweight Championsh ...
, in a kickboxing rules bout.
Results
Rizin - Heisei's Last Yarennoka!
''Rizin - Heisei's Last Yarennoka!'' was a
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world.
In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...
event held by the
Rizin Fighting Federation
Rizin Fighting Federation (stylised in all caps and also known as Rizin FF) is a Japanese mixed martial arts organization created in 2015 by the former Pride Fighting Championships and Dream Stage Entertainment president Nobuyuki Sakakibara.
...
on December 31, 2018 at the
Saitama Super Arena
is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Chūō-ku, Saitama, Chūō-ku, Saitama (city), Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. It opened preliminarily on May 5, 2000, and then was officially opened on September 1 of the same year. Its maximum capa ...
in
Saitama, Japan
is the capital and largest city of Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance. , the city had an estimated population of 1,324,854 ...
.
Background
The card was headlined by former
Sengoku
The was the period in Japanese history in which civil wars and social upheavals took place almost continuously in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Kyōtoku incident (1454), Ōnin War (1467), or (1493) are generally chosen as the period's start ...
,
Deep
Deep or The Deep may refer to:
Places United States
* Deep Creek (Appomattox River tributary), Virginia
* Deep Creek (Great Salt Lake), Idaho and Utah
* Deep Creek (Mahantango Creek tributary), Pennsylvania
* Deep Creek (Mojave River tributary ...
and
Pancrase
is a Japanese mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Tokyo. It was founded in 1993 by professional wrestlers Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki.
The name was based on pankration, a fighting sport in the An ...
champion Satoru Kitaoka who takes on former
Shooto
is a combat sport and mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission (ISC). Shooto was originally formed in 1985, first as a particular fighting system and then in 1989 as a ...
champion Tatsuya Kawajiri in a three-round Lightweight match.
Results
Rizin 14 - Saitama
''Rizin 14 - Saitama'' was a
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world.
In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...
event held by the
Rizin Fighting Federation
Rizin Fighting Federation (stylised in all caps and also known as Rizin FF) is a Japanese mixed martial arts organization created in 2015 by the former Pride Fighting Championships and Dream Stage Entertainment president Nobuyuki Sakakibara.
...
on December 31, 2018 at the
Saitama Super Arena
is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Chūō-ku, Saitama, Chūō-ku, Saitama (city), Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. It opened preliminarily on May 5, 2000, and then was officially opened on September 1 of the same year. Its maximum capa ...
in
Saitama, Japan
is the capital and largest city of Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance. , the city had an estimated population of 1,324,854 ...
.
Background
The card was headlined by kickboxing sensation
Tenshin Nasukawa
is a Japanese Professional Boxing, professional boxer, former kickboxer, professional kickboxer and mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. A generational talent, Nasukawa was regarded as a pound for pound talent throughout most of his caree ...
, who took on multiple weight world boxing champion
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr. (né Sinclair; born February 24, 1977) is an American boxing promoter and former professional boxer who competed between 1996 and 2017. He list of undefeated boxing world champions, retired with an undefeated record a ...
in a three-round
exhibition boxing match. The match was controversial and drew accusations of match-fixing from both fans and pundits alike.
Emanuel Newton
Emanuel Newton (born February 1, 1984) is a retired American mixed martial artist who competed in Bellator's Light Heavyweight division, where he is a former Bellator Light Heavyweight World Champion. He has also competed for WEC, King of the ...
was to face
Jiří Procházka
Jiří Procházka (; ; born October 14, 1992) is a Czech professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion a ...
at this event, but had to withdraw due to an injury. He was replaced by
Brandon Halsey.
Rena Kubota
, better known by her ring name RENA (stylized in capital letters) or Reina, is a professional Japanese shoot wrestler, kickboxer and mixed martial artist, currently competing in the strawweight division of Rizin.
A professional competitor si ...
was to face Samantha Jean-Francois at this event, but had to withdraw due to Anemia and dehydration. The fight was canceled.
Results
References
External links
* http://www.rizinff.com/en/
* http://www.tapology.com/search?term=rizin&mainSearchFilter=events
{{2018 in mixed martial arts
Rizin Fighting Federation
2018 in mixed martial arts
2018 in Japanese sport
2018 sport-related lists