The year 2019 was the fifth year in the history of the Rizin Fighting Federation, a mixed martial arts promotion based in Japan. The year began with Rizin 15 in Yokohama on April 21, 2019.
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 6 events in 2019: April, June, July, August, October, and the usual December 31 show.
He also announced that they will do a lightweight Grand Prix this year. Bellator MMA CEO Scott Coker has announced that he will be sending Patricky Freire to participate in the opening round.
Rizin's Lightweight grand prix will begin on October 12 at the Osaka-jo Hall, with the four opening rounds bouts of the tournament bracket. The semifinals and finals will be held on Dec. 31, at Saitama Super Arena.
List of events
# Event Date Venue Location Attendance 1 Rizin 15 - Yokohama Yokohama Arena Yokohama, Japan 12,914 2 Rizin 16 - Kobe World Memorial Hall Kobe, Japan 8,107 3 Rizin 17 - Saitama Saitama Super Arena Saitama, Japan 16,930 4 Rizin 18 - Nagoya Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium Nagoya, Japan 6,281 5 Rizin 19 - Osaka Edion Arena Osaka, Japan 5,098 6 Rizin 20 - Saitama Saitama Super Arena Saitama, Japan 29,315
Title fights Title fights in 2019 # Weight Class Method Round Time Event Notes1Light Heavyweight 93 kg Jiří Procházkadef. Muhammed LawalTKO (Punches)313:02Rizin 15For the inaugural Rizin Light Heavyweight Championship2Super Atomweight 49 kg Ayaka Hamasaki (c)def. Jinh Yu Frey Decision (Unanimous)315:00Rizin 16For the Rizin Super Atomweight Championship3Featherweight 57 kg Tenshin Nasukawadef. Martin BlancoKO (Knee to the Body)25:19Rizin 16For the ISKA Featherweight Championship4Light Heavyweight 93 kg Jiří Procházka (c)def. C. B. DollawayKO (Punches)11:55Rizin 20For the Rizin Light Heavyweight Championship5Super Atomweight 49 kg Seo Hee Hamdef. Ayaka Hamasaki (c)Decision (Split)315:00Rizin 20For the Rizin Super Atomweight Championship6Bantamweight 61 kg Manel Kapedef. Kai AsakuraTKO (Punches)25:38Rizin 20For the vacant Rizin Bantamweight Championship
Rizin Lightweight Grand Prix
8-Man Lightweight Grand Prix Participant Hiroto Uesako Damien Brown Johnny Case Patricky Freire Roberto de Souza Tatsuya Kawajiri Luiz Gustavo
Rizin Lightweight Grand Prix bracket
Rizin 15 - Yokohama
Rizin 15 - Yokohama was a Combat sport event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on April 21, 2019 at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan.
Background A light heavyweight bout between RIZIN top contender Jiří Procházka and former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight champion Muhammed Lawal will serve as the Rizin 15 - Yokohama main event. The bout will crown the inaugural RIZIN Light Heavyweight champion.
Ulka Sasaki has been forced to withdraw from his schedule fight against Kai Asakura due to a visceral infection and Justin Scoggins has stepped in as a replacement. Unfortunately, Scoggins has suffered a knee injury during training and has been unable to compete, that forced his fight against Kai Asakura to be cancelled.
Shinju Nozawa-Auclair was supposed to face Saray Orozco. However, Nozawa-Auclair suffered an ankle injury during training and was forced to withdraw from the fight. Kanako Murata has stepped in on short notice against Orozco.
Results Rizin 15 Weight Class Method Round T.Time NotesLight Heavyweight 93 kg Jiří Procházkadef. Muhammed LawalTKO (Punches)313:02For the inaugural Rizin Light Heavyweight ChampionshipCatchweight 59 kg Tenshin Nasukawadef. Fritz Aldin BiagtanTKO (3 Knockdown Rule)37:24Kickboxing IntermissionCatchweight 60 kg Kyoji Horiguchidef. Ben NguyenTKO (Punches)12:53Catchweight 71 kg Roberto de Souzadef. Satoru KitaokaTKO (Punches)28:56Light Heavyweight 93 kg Karl Albrektssondef. Christiano FrohlichDecision (Unanimous)315:00Catchweight 51 kg Rena Kubotadef. Samantha Jean-FrancoisDecision (Unanimous)315:00Catchweight 68 kg Mikuru Asakuradef. Luiz GustavoDecision (Unanimous)315:00Flyweight 57 kg Kana Watanabedef. Justyna Haba Decision (Unanimous)315:00Lightweight 70 kg Damien Browndef. Koji TakedaDecision (Unanimous)315:00Flyweight 58 kg Manel Kapedef. Seiichiro ItoTKO (Punches)28:59Flyweight 57 kg Kanako Muratadef. Saray OrozcoSubmission (Von Flue choke)27:12Bantamweight 61 kg Thalisson Gomes Ferreiradef. TaigaTKO (3 Knockdown Rule)25:34Kickboxing
Rizin 16 - Kobe
Rizin 16 - Kobe was a Combat sport event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on June 2, 2019 at the World Memorial Hall in Kobe, Japan.
Background ISKA Featherweight Ahmed Ferradji was scheduled to defend his title against Tenshin Nasukawa at RIZIN 16, but Ferradji withdrew from the scheduled fight. As a result, ISKA has stripped the title from Ferradji and ISKA Bantamweight Champion Martin Blanco has stepped in on short notice to face Nasukawa for the vacant ISKA Featherweight World Title.
Kizaemon Saiga was scheduled to face Kunitaka Fujiwara at RIZIN 16, but was not medically cleared for the event due to vision issues. Stepping in on a few days' notice to fight Fujiwara was the former K-1 Krush champion Ryuji Horio.
Results Rizin 16 Weight Class Method Round T.Time NotesFeatherweight 57 kg Tenshin Nasukawadef. Martin BlancoKO (Knee to the Body)25:19For the ISKA Featherweight ChampionshipSuper Atomweight 49 kg Ayaka Hamasaki (c)def. Jinh Yu Frey Decision (Unanimous)315:00For the Rizin Super Atomweight ChampionshipSuper Atomweight 49 kg Miyuu Yamamotodef. Kanna AsakuraDecision (Unanimous)315:00 IntermissionHeavyweight 120 kg Jake Heun def. Roque MartinezDecision (Split)315:00Flyweight 57 kg Yusaku Nakamuradef. Topnoi ThanongsaklekDecision (Unanimous)315:00Lightweight 71 kg Tofiq Musayevdef. Daron CruickshankDecision (Unanimous)315:00 IntermissionBantamweight 61 kg Mamoru Uoidef. Kana HayattTKO (Punches and Soccer Kicks)314:32Catchweight 59 kg Ryuji Horiodef. Kunitaka FujiwaraDecision (Unanimous)39:00KickboxingBantamweight 61 kg Erson Yamamotodef. Tim EschtruthKO (Elbow and Punches)12:04Catchweight 63 kg Taiju Shiratoridef. Hiroto YamaguchiDecision (Unanimous)39:00KickboxingCatchweight 59 kg Takaki Soyadef. Namiki KawaharaKO (Punch and Soccer Kick)14:05Catchweight 60 kg Kan Nakamuradef. IttoKO (Head Kick)23:18KickboxingCatchweight 56 kg Seiki Ueyamadef. KengoTKO (3 Knockdown Rule)12:42KickboxingCatchweight 69 kg Yuyadef. Yuki TanakaTKO (3 Knockdown Rule)12:45Kickboxing
Rizin 17 - Saitama
Rizin 17 - Saitama was a Combat sport event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on July 28, 2019 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Background Daiki Watabe was due to fight Kevin Ross in a kickboxing bout, but the American fighter withdrew due to a hand injury. Watabe instead faced the Bolivian fighter Hideki, who stepped in on 3 weeks notice for this encounter.
Results Rizin 17 Weight Class Method Round T.Time NotesLightweight 70 kg Mikuru Asakuradef. Yusuke YachiDecision (Unanimous)315:00Bantamweight 61 kg Shintaro Ishiwataridef. Ulka SasakiSubmission (North-South Choke28:57Bantamweight 61 kg Hiromasa Ougikubodef. Yuki MotoyaDecision (Split)315:00Light Heavyweight 93 kg Ivan Shtyrkov def. Hoon KimTKO (Punches)29:05Catchweight 62 kg Taigadef. Hikaru MachidaDecision (Unanimous)39:00Kickboxing IntermissionLightweight 71 kg Johnny Casedef. Satoru KitaokaTKO (Retirement)15:00Lightweight GP Qualifying RoundLightweight 71 kg Tatsuya Kawajiridef. Ali AbdulkhalikovDecision (Unanimous)315:00Lightweight GP Qualifying RoundLightweight 71 kg Roberto de Souzadef. Mizuto HirotaKO (Punches)13:04Lightweight GP Qualifying RoundLight Heavyweight 93 kg Jake Heun def. Vitaly ShemetovTKO (Cut)312:20Super Atomweight 49 kg Seo Hee Hamdef. Tomo MaesawaTKO (Knees)13:12Catchweight 63 kg Stephanie Eggerdef. Reina MiuraDecision (Unanimous)315:00Catchweight 67 kg Hidekidef. Daiki WatabeDecision (Majority)39:00Kickboxing
Rizin 18 - Nagoya
Rizin 18 - Nagoya was a Combat sport event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on August 18, 2019 at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya, Japan.
Background Marcos de Souza, was set to fight at RIZIN 18, but his debut was pushed back because of an injury.
Kazuma Sone was expected to face Erson Yamamoto, But plans have changed for undisclosed reasons. That forced the fight to be cancelled. Justin Scoggins has stepped in as a replacement.
Results Rizin 18 Weight Class Method Round T.Time NotesBantamweight 61 kg Kai Asakuradef. Kyoji HoriguchiKO (Punches)11:07Super Atomweight 49 kg Ayaka Hamasakidef. Suwanan BoonsornSubmission (Armbar)13:20Bantamweight 61 kg Victor Henrydef. Trent GirdhamSubmission (Inverted Triangle Choke)312:14Bantamweight 61 kg Manel Kapedef. Takeya MizugakiKO (punch)26:35Catchweight 75 kg Danilo Zanolinidef. John Wayne ParrDecision (Split)39:00Kickboxing IntermissionSuper Atomweight 49 kg Kanna Asakuradef. Alesha ZappitellaDecision (Split)315:00Strawweight 53 kg Haruo Ochivs. Jarred BrooksNo Contest (Accidental Headbutt)10:11Lightweight 71 kg Hiroto Uesakodef. Yves LanduTKO (Punches)28:45Lightweight GP Qualifying RoundBantamweight 61 kg Justin Scogginsdef. Kazuma SoneDecision (Unanimous)315:00Catchweight 59 kg Takaki Soyadef. Yutaro MuramotoTKO (Punches)26:27Super Atomweight 49 kg Ai Shimizudef. Tabatha WatkinsDecision (Unanimous)315:00Strawweight 53 kg Kazuki Osakidef. Shota TakiyaDecision (Unanimous)39:00KickboxingFlyweight 57 kg Ryuji Horiodef. Uchu SakuraiDecision (Unanimous)39:00Kickboxing
Rizin 19 - Osaka
Rizin 19 - Osaka was a Combat sport event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on October 12, 2019 at the Edion Arena in Osaka, Japan.
Background Rena Kubota's original opponent, Shawna Ram suffered a concussion during training. Alexandra Alvare steps in to face Kubota.
Shintaro Matsukura originally supposed to face Takuma Konishi but he suffered an eye injury. His teammate, Hiroya, will be the replacement to face Konishi.
Results Rizin 19 Weight Class Method Round T.Time NotesCatchweight 100 kg Jiří Procházkadef. Fábio MaldonadoTKO (Punches)11:49Bantamweight 61 kg Kai Asakuradef. Ulka SasakiTKO (Doctor Stoppage)10:54Super Atomweight 49 kg Seo Hee Hamdef. Miyuu YamamotoTKO (Punches)29:42Catchweight 51 kg Rena Kubotadef. Alexandra AlvareTKO (Punches)10:20 IntermissionLightweight 71 kg Johnny Casedef. Roberto de SouzaTKO (Punches)11:15Lightweight Grand Prix Quarter-FinalsLightweight 71 kg Patricky Freiredef. Tatsuya KawajiriTKO (Knee and Punches)11:10Lightweight Grand Prix Quarter-FinalsLightweight 71 kg Luiz Gustavodef. Hiroto UesakoTKO (Doctor Stoppage)13:55Lightweight Grand Prix Quarter-FinalsLightweight 71 kg Tofiq Musayevdef. Damien BrownTKO (Punches)14:14Lightweight Grand Prix Quarter-FinalsWelterweight 77 kg Keita Nakamuradef. Marcos de SouzaTKO (Punches)11:18Catchweight 62 kg Taiju Shiratoridef. TaigaDecision (Unanimous)39:00KickboxingWelterweight 77 kg Takuma Konishidef. Hiroya TKO (Knee)11:20KickboxingOpenweight Shoma Shibisaidef. Chang Hee KimSubmission (Kimura)11:09Catchweight 56 kg Seiki Ueyamadef. Taisei UmeiDecision (Unanimous)39:00Kickboxing
Rizin 20 - Saitama
Rizin 20 - Saitama was a Combat sport event by Rizin Fighting Federation that took place on December 31, 2019 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Background Kyoji Horiguchi was scheduled to defend his RIZIN Bantamweight Championship against Kai Asakura on this card. However, Horoguchi pulled out of the fight in mid-November citing a knee injury that is expected to keep him out of action for approximately 10 – 12 months. In turn, his bantamweight title has been vacated.
Results