The year 2018 was the fourth year in the history of the Rizin Fighting Federation, a mixed martial arts promotion based in Japan. The year began with Rizin 10 in Fukuoka on May 6, 2018.
Rizin events are broadcast through a television agreement with Fuji Television. In North America and Europe, Rizin events are available via PPV on FITE TV.
Background Nobuyuki Sakakibara announced that Rizin will do 5 events in 2018: May, July, August, September and the December 31st show.
List of events
# Event Date Venue Location Attendance 1 Rizin 10 - Fukuoka Marine Messe Fukuoka Fukuoka, Japan 7,910 2 Rizin 11 - Saitama Saitama Super Arena Saitama, Japan 17,912 3 Rizin 12 - Aichi - Ken Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium Nagoya, Japan5,567 4 Rizin 13 - Saitama Saitama Super Arena Saitama, Japan27,208 5 Rizin - Heisei's Last Yarennoka! Saitama Super Arena Saitama, Japan7,498 6 Rizin 14 - Saitama Saitama Super Arena Saitama, Japan29,105
Title fights Title fights in 2018 # Weight Class Method Round T.Time Event Notes1Super Atomweight 49 kg Ayaka Hamasakidef. Kanna AsakuraSubmission (Armbar)29:34Rizin 14 - SaitamaFor the inaugural Rizin Women's Super Atomweight Championship2Bantamweight 61 kg Kyoji Horiguchi def. Darrion CaldwellSubmission (Guillotine Choke)311:13Rizin 14 - SaitamaFor the inaugural Rizin Bantamweight Championship
Rizin 10 - Fukuoka
Rizin 10 - Fukuoka was a mixed martial arts event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on May 6, 2018 at the Marine Messe Fukuoka in Fukuoka, Japan.
Background Bantamweight Grand Prix Champion Kyoji Horiguchi 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, taking on DEEP flyweight champion Yusaku Nakamura, and newly-crowned atomweight queen Kanna Asakura, 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 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, as well as up-and-coming prospects Manel Kape and Kai Asakura.
Results Rizin 10 Weight Class Method Round T.Time NotesBantamweight 61 kg Kyoji Horiguchidef. Ian McCallKO (Punch)10:09Flyweight 57 kg Tenshin Nasukawadef. Yusaku NakamuraTKO (3 Knockdowns Rules)24:42Kickboxing boutSuper Atomweight 49 kg Kanna Asakuradef. Melissa KaragianisDecision (Unanimous)315:00Lightweight 70 kg Yusuke Yachidef. Diego NunesDecision (Split)315:00Lightweight 70 kg Daron Cruickshankdef. Koshi MatsumotoKO (Head Kick)13:52Strawweight 51.5 kg Issei Ishiidef. Daishin SakaiDecision (Unanimous)39:00Kickboxing boutCatchweight 59 kg Kai Asakuradef. Manel KapeDecision (Split)315:00Super Atomweight 49 kg Ayaka Hamasakidef. Alyssa GarciaDecision (Unanimous)315:00Heavyweight 120 kg Ante Delijadef. Ricardo PraselDecision (Unanimous)315:00Heavyweight 120 kg Jairzinho Rozenstruikdef. Andrey KovalevDecision (Split)315:00Strawweight 53 kg Kanako Murata def. Lanchana GreenSubmission (Anaconda Choke)14:54Bantamweight 61 kg Tomohiro Kitaivs. Kurogi DarvishDraw (Split)39:00Kickboxing bout
Rizin 11 - Saitama
Rizin 11 - Saitama was a mixed martial arts event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on July 29, 2018 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
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 taking on RENA, who she defeated in the final of the Atomweight Grand Prix.
Originally Mirko Cro Cop was scheduled for this event, however on May 21, 2018, while training for a bout in Bellator MMA 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 and Andy Souwer. However, Souwer was forced to withdrawal due to signing an exclusive contract with ONE Championship. He was replaced by UFC veteran Melvin Guillard 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 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 11 Weight Class Method Round T.Time NotesSuper Atomweight 49 kg Kanna Asakuradef. Rena KubotaDecision (unanimous)315:00Catchweight 60 kg Kyoji Horiguchidef. Hiromasa OugikuboDecision (Unanimous)215:00Light Heavyweight 93 kg Jiří Procházkadef. Bruno CappelozzaKO (Punches)11:41Catchweight 74 kg Takanori Gomidef. Melvin GuillardKO (Punches)12:33Lightweight 70 kg Diego Brandaodef. Satoru KitaokaKO (Punches)11:30Openweight Unurjargal Boldpurevdef. Shoma ShibisaiDecision (Unanimous)315:00Lightweight 70 kg Kaito Onodef. Yoshiya UzatsuyoKO (knee)24:22Kickboxing boutSuper Atomweight 49 kg Miyuu Yamamotodef. Saori IshiokaDecision (split)315:00Catchweight 59 kg Topnoi Thanongsaklekdef. Tadaaki Yamamoto KO (Punch)11:06Lightweight 70 kg Daron Cruickshankdef. Tom SantosTKO (Elbows)314:11
Rizin 12 - Nagoya
Rizin 12 - Nagoya was a mixed martial arts event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on August 12, 2018 at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya, Japan.
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 will face DEEP Welterweight Champion Ryuichiro Sumimura. Mikuru Asakura (who is Kai Asakura's older brother) is expected to face all-time great, Hatsu Hioki. Former UFC competitor Angela Magana makes her promotional debut against Kanako Murata.
Results
Rizin 12 Weight Class Method Round T.Time NotesLightweight 70 kg Luiz Gustavodef. Yusuke YachiKO (Punch)27:32Bantamweight 61 kg Yuki Motoyadef. Kazuma SoneSubmission (Rear-Naked Choke)29:31Welterweight 77 kg Kiichi Kunimotodef. Ryuichiro SumimuraSubmission (Arm-Triangle Choke)14:59Featherweight 65 kg Kaitlin Youngdef. Reina MiuraDecision (Unanimous)315:00Catchweight 59 kg Daiki Naitodef. Hannya HashimotoTKO (Leg Kicks)24:53Kickboxing boutFeatherweight 66 kg Mikuru Asakuradef. Hatsu HiokiKO (Head Kick and Punches)13:45Heavyweight 120 kg Roque Martinezdef. Kiyoshi KuwabaraTKO (Punches)14:37Featherweight 65 kg Kaito Onodef. Sho OgawaDecision (Unanimous)39:00Kickboxing boutStrawweight 53 kg Kanako Muratadef. Angela MaganaSubmission (Von Flue choke)28:52Catchweight 59 kg Ryukidef. NAOYADecision (Unanimous)39:00Kickboxing bout.Lightweight 70 kg Shintaro Matsukuradef. Takahiro OkuyamaKO (Punch)25:30Kickboxing boutCatchweight 53 kg Shota Takiya def. Syuto SatoDecision (Unanimous)39:00Kickboxing bout
Rizin 13 - Saitama
Rizin 13 - Saitama was a mixed martial arts event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on September 30, 2018 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
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 looked to continue his winning streak against WSOF/PFL veteran Jake Heun. Brothers Mikuru and Kai Asakura fought Karshyga Dautbek and Topnoi Thanongsaklek, respectively. 4-time K-1 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 made her second appearance for RIZIN, this time fighting the current DEEP Jewels Atomweight Champion, Mina Kurobe. UFC veterans Daron Cruickshank and Diego Brandao faced off in a lightweight bout.
Mirko Cro Cop returned after a 4-month injury lay-off against DEEP Megaton Champion, Roque Martinez. The first African professional sumo wrestler, Osunaarashi, fought fan-favorite Bob Sapp. The card was headlined by kickboxing sensation Tenshin Nasukawa and Bantamweight Grand Prix Champion Kyoji Horiguchi, in a kickboxing rules bout.
Results Rizin 13 Weight Class Method Round T.Time NotesLight Heavyweight 93 kg Jiří Procházkadef. Jake HeunTKO (Punches)14:29Featherweight 66 kg Mikuru Asakuradef. Karshyga DautbekDecision (Unanimous)315:00Lightweight 70 kg Daron Cruickshankdef. Diego BrandaoKO (Flying Knee)25:17Flyweight 57 kg Tenshin Nasukawadef. Kyoji HoriguchiDecision (Unanimous)39:00Kickboxing boutSuper Atomweight 49 kg Miyuu Yamamotodef. Andy NguyenDecision (Unanimous)315:00Heavyweight 120 kg Mirko Filipovicdef. Roque MartinezTKO (Cut)14:58Openweight Bob Sappdef. OsunaarashiDecision (Unanimous)39:00Special Rules boutStrawweight 53 kg Haruo Ochidef. Mitsuhisa SunabeKO (Soccer Kicks)312:51Catchweight 59 kg Kai Asakuradef. Topnoi ThanongsaklekDecision (Unanimous)315:00Super Atomweight 49 kg Ayaka Hamasakidef. Mina KurobeSubmission (Kimura)14:45Catchweight 59 kg Taiga Kento HaraguchiDraw (Majority)39:00Kickboxing boutCatchweight 58 kg Manel Kapedef. Yusaku NakamuraSubmission (Rear-Naked Choke) 314:27
Rizin - Heisei's Last Yarennoka!
Rizin - Heisei's Last Yarennoka! was a mixed martial arts event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on December 31, 2018 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Background The card was headlined by former Sengoku, Deep and Pancrase champion Satoru Kitaoka who takes on former Shooto champion Tatsuya Kawajiri in a three-round Lightweight match.
Results Rizin Heisei's Last Yarennoka! Weight Class Method Round T.Time NotesLightweight 70 kg Satoru Kitaokadef. Tatsuya KawajiriDecision (Split)315:00Catchweight 68 kg Mikuru Asakuradef. Takeshi InoueTKO (Flying Knee and Punch)27:39Flyweight 57 kg Kana Watanabedef. Shizuka SugiyamaTKO (Punch)10:11Bantamweight 61 kg Kai Asakuradef. Jae Hoon MoonDecision (Unanimous)315:00Catchweight 64 kg Taiju Shiratoridef. Yoshiya UzatsuyoTKO (Flying Knee)37:43Kickboxing boutCatchweight 92 kg Yuta Uchidadef. Takuma KonishiDecision (Unanimous)39:00Kickboxing boutSuper Atomweight 49 kg Aidef. Nanaka KawamuraTKO (Punches)13:01
Rizin 14 - Saitama
Rizin 14 - Saitama was a mixed martial arts event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on December 31, 2018 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Background The card was headlined by kickboxing sensation Tenshin Nasukawa, who took on multiple weight world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. 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 was to face Jiří Procházka at this event, but had to withdraw due to an injury. He was replaced by Brandon Halsey.
Rena Kubota was to face Samantha Jean-Francois at this event, but had to withdraw due to Anemia and dehydration. The fight was canceled.
Results