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.[1]
Nobuyuki Sakakibara announced that Rizin will do 5 events in 2018: May, July, August, September and the December 31st show.[2]
| Event | Date | Venue | Location | Attendance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7,910 | |||||
| 2 | Rizin 11 - Saitama | 17,912 | ||||
| 3 | Rizin 12 - Aichi - Ken | Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium |  Nagoya, Japan | 5,567 | ||
| 4 | Rizin 13 - Saitama | Saitama, Japan | 27,208 | |||
| 5 | Rizin - Heisei's Last Yarennoka! | Saitama, Japan | 7,498[3] | |||
| 6 | Rizin 14 - Saitama | Saitama, Japan | 29,105[4] |
| Title fights in 2018 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | T.Time | Event | Notes | |||||
| 1 | Super Atomweight 49 kg | Ayaka Hamasaki | def. | Kanna Asakura | Submission (Armbar) | 2 | 9:34 | Rizin 14 - Saitama | For the inaugural Rizin Women's Super Atomweight Championship | |
| 2 | Bantamweight 61 kg | def. |  Darrion Caldwell | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 3 | 11:13 | Rizin 14 - Saitama | For the inaugural Rizin Bantamweight Championship | ||
| Promotion: | Rizin Fighting Federation |
| Rizin 10 - Fukuoka | |
| Date: | May 6, 2018 |
| City: | Fukuoka, Japan |
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.
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.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7]
| Rizin 10 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | T.Time | Notes | ||||
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Kyoji Horiguchi | def. | Ian McCall | KO (Punch) | 1 | 0:09 | ||
| Flyweight 57 kg | Tenshin Nasukawa | def. | Yusaku Nakamura | TKO (3 Knockdowns Rules) | 2 | 4:42 | Kickboxing bout | |
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Kanna Asakura | def. |  Melissa Karagianis | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | ||
| Lightweight 70 kg | Yusuke Yachi | def. |  Diego Nunes | Decision (Split) | 3 | 15:00 | ||
| Lightweight 70 kg | Daron Cruickshank | def. | Koshi Matsumoto | KO (Head Kick) | 1 | 3:52 | ||
| Strawweight 51.5 kg | Issei Ishii | def. | Daishin Sakai | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing bout | |
| Catchweight 59 kg | Kai Asakura | def. | Manel Kape | Decision (Split) | 3 | 15:00 | ||
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Ayaka Hamasaki | def. | Alyssa Garcia | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | ||
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Ante Delija | def. | Ricardo Prasel | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | ||
| Heavyweight 120 kg |  Jairzinho Rozenstruik | def. |  Andrey Kovalev | Decision (Split) | 3 | 15:00 | ||
| Strawweight 53 kg | Kanako Murata | def. | Lanchana Green | Submission (Anaconda Choke) | 1 | 4:54 | ||
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Tomohiro Kitai | vs. | Kurogi Darvish | Draw (Split) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing bout | |
| Rizin 11 - Saitama | |
| Promotion: | Rizin Fighting Federation |
| Date: | July 29, 2018 |
| Venue: | Saitama Super Arena |
| City: | Saitama, Japan |
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.
After a 9-second knockout victory, Kyoji Horiguchi made a quick turnaround, in a long-awaited rematch against fellow Japanese champion Hiromasa Ogikubo.[8] 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.[9]
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.
| Rizin 11 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | T.Time | Notes | |||
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Kanna Asakura | def. | Rena Kubota | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Catchweight 60 kg | Kyoji Horiguchi | def. | Hiromasa Ougikubo | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 | |
| Light Heavyweight 93 kg |  Jiří Procházka | def. | Bruno Cappelozza | KO (Punches) | 1 | 1:41 | |
| Catchweight 74 kg | Takanori Gomi | def. | Melvin Guillard | KO (Punches) | 1 | 2:33 | |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Diego Brandao | def. | Satoru Kitaoka | KO (Punches) | 1 | 1:30 | |
| Openweight | Unurjargal Boldpurev | def. | Shoma Shibisai | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Kaito Ono | def. | Yoshiya Uzatsuyo | KO (knee) | 2 | 4:22 | Kickboxing bout |
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Miyuu Yamamoto | def. | Saori Ishioka | Decision (split) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Catchweight 59 kg |  Topnoi Thanongsaklek | def. | Tadaaki Yamamoto | KO (Punch) | 1 | 1:06 | |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Daron Cruickshank | def. | Tom Santos | TKO (Elbows) | 3 | 14:11 | |
| Promotion: | Rizin Fighting Federation |
| Rizin 12 - Nagoya | |
| Date: | August 12, 2018 |
| Venue: | Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium |
| City: | Nagoya, Japan |
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.
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.[10] 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.[11]
| Rizin 12 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | T.Time | Notes | ||||
| Lightweight 70 kg | Luiz Gustavo | def. | Yusuke Yachi | KO (Punch) | 2 | 7:32 | ||
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Yuki Motoya | def. | Kazuma Sone | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 2 | 9:31 | ||
| Welterweight 77 kg | Kiichi Kunimoto | def. | Ryuichiro Sumimura | Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) | 1 | 4:59 | ||
| Featherweight 65 kg | Kaitlin Young | def. | Reina Miura | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | ||
| Catchweight 59 kg | Daiki Naito | def. | Hannya Hashimoto | TKO (Leg Kicks) | 2 | 4:53 | Kickboxing bout | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Mikuru Asakura | def. | Hatsu Hioki | KO (Head Kick and Punches) | 1 | 3:45 | ||
| Heavyweight 120 kg |  Roque Martinez | def. | Kiyoshi Kuwabara | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 4:37 | ||
| Featherweight 65 kg | Kaito Ono | def. | Sho Ogawa | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing bout | |
| Strawweight 53 kg | Kanako Murata | def. |  Angela Magana | Submission (Von Flue choke) | 2 | 8:52 | ||
| Catchweight 59 kg | Ryuki | def. | NAOYA | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing bout. | |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Shintaro Matsukura | def. | Takahiro Okuyama | KO (Punch) | 2 | 5:30 | Kickboxing bout | |
| Catchweight 53 kg | Shota Takiya | def. | Syuto Sato | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing bout | |
| Promotion: | Rizin Fighting Federation |
| Rizin 13 - Saitama | |
| Date: | September 30, 2018 |
| City: | Saitama, Japan |
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.
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.[12]
| Rizin 13 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | T.Time | Notes | ||||
| Light Heavyweight 93 kg | Jiří Procházka | def. | Jake Heun | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 4:29 | ||
| Featherweight 66 kg | Mikuru Asakura | def. |  Karshyga Dautbek | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | ||
| Lightweight 70 kg | Daron Cruickshank | def. | Diego Brandao | KO (Flying Knee) | 2 | 5:17 | ||
| Flyweight 57 kg | Tenshin Nasukawa | def. | Kyoji Horiguchi | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing bout | |
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Miyuu Yamamoto | def. | Andy Nguyen | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | ||
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Mirko Filipovic | def. | Roque Martinez | TKO (Cut) | 1 | 4:58 | ||
| Openweight | Bob Sapp | def. |  Osunaarashi | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Special Rules bout | |
| Strawweight 53 kg | Haruo Ochi | def. | Mitsuhisa Sunabe | KO (Soccer Kicks) | 3 | 12:51 | ||
| Catchweight 59 kg | Kai Asakura | def. | Topnoi Thanongsaklek | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | ||
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Ayaka Hamasaki | def. | Mina Kurobe | Submission (Kimura) | 1 | 4:45 | ||
| Catchweight 59 kg | Taiga | Kento Haraguchi | Draw (Majority) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing bout | ||
| Catchweight 58 kg | Manel Kape | def. | Yusaku Nakamura | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 3 | 14:27 | ||
| Promotion: | Rizin Fighting Federation |
| Rizin - Heisei's Last Yarennoka! | |
| Date: | December 31, 2018 |
| City: | Saitama, Japan |
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.
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.
| Rizin Heisei's Last Yarennoka | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | T.Time | Notes | ||||
| Lightweight 70 kg | Satoru Kitaoka | def. | Tatsuya Kawajiri | Decision (Split) | 3 | 15:00 | ||
| Catchweight 68 kg | Mikuru Asakura | def. | Takeshi Inoue | TKO (Flying Knee and Punch) | 2 | 7:39 | ||
| Flyweight 57 kg | Kana Watanabe | def. | Shizuka Sugiyama | TKO (Punch) | 1 | 0:11 | ||
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Kai Asakura | def. |  Jae Hoon Moon | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | ||
| Catchweight 64 kg | Taiju Shiratori | def. | Yoshiya Uzatsuyo | TKO (Flying Knee) | 3 | 7:43 | Kickboxing bout | |
| Catchweight 92 kg | Yuta Uchida | def. | Takuma Konishi | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing bout | |
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Ai | def. | Nanaka Kawamura | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 3:01 | ||
| Promotion: | Rizin Fighting Federation |
| Rizin 14 - Saitama | |
| Date: | December 31, 2018 |
| City: | Saitama, Japan |
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.
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.[13] The match was controversial and drew accusations of match-fixing from both fans and pundits alike.[14] [15]
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.
| Rizin 14 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | T.Time | Notes | ||||
| Catchweight 66.6 kg | def. | Tenshin Nasukawa | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | 1 | 2:19 | Exhibition boxing match | ||
| Bantamweight 61 kg | def. | Darrion Caldwell | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 3 | 11:13 | For the inaugural Rizin Bantamweight Championship | ||
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Ayaka Hamasaki | def. | Submission (Armbar) | 2 | 9:34 | For the inaugural Rizin Super Atomweight Championship | ||
| Light Heavyweight 93 kg | Jiří Procházka | def. | Brandon Halsey | Submission (Punches) | 1 | 6:30 | ||
| Catchweight 102.5 kg | Gabi Garcia | def. | Barbara Nepomuceno | Submission (Keylock) | 1 | 2:35 | ||
| Lightweight 70 kg |  Damien Brown | def. | Daron Cruickshank | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 1 | 4:10 | ||
| Catchweight 51 kg | def. | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | ||||
| Featherweight 65 kg | Kazuyuki Miyata | def. | Erson Yamamoto | Submission (Hammerlock) | 2 | 8:23 | ||
| Lightweight 70 kg | def. | Yusuke Yachi | TKO (Cut) | 2 | 9:47 | |||
| Catchweight 60 kg | Yuki Motoya | def. | Justin Scoggins | Submission (Teepee Choke) | 1 | 3:28 | ||
| Catchweight 59 kg | Ulka Sasaki | def. | Manel Kape | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | ||
| Flyweight 57 kg |  Justyna Haba | def. | Shinju Nozawa Auclair | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 2 | 8:41 | ||
| Lightweight 70 kg |  Tofiq Musayev | def. | Nobumitsu Osawa | TKO (Punches) | 2 | 6:19 | ||