2017 in Rizin Fighting Federation
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The year 2017 was the third year in the history of the Rizin Fighting Federation, a mixed martial arts promotion based in Japan. The year began with Rizin 2017 in Yokohama: Sakura on April 16, 2017.
Rizin events are broadcast through a television agreement with Fuji Television. In North America and Europe, Rizin events became available on FITE TV.
Background
Nobuyuki Sakakibara announced that Rizin will do 5 events in 2017: April, July, October, and the usual December 29 and 31 show.
He also announced that they will do 2 Grand Prix this year. One is men, other is women. He stated the women grand prix will be at Atomweight due to the fact Rena Kubota will be in the grand prix. Kyoji Horiguchi will compete in the men tournament which take place at Bantamweight 61 kg.
Rizin's Bantamweight grand prix will begin on July 30 at the Saitama Super Arena, with the first four opening rounds bouts of the tournament bracket. The remaining four opening bouts will take place in the autumn. Similar to the last year GP, the quarterfinals are scheduled for Dec. 29. The semifinals and finals will be held on the same night, Dec. 31, at Saitama Super Arena.
16-Man bantamweight 61 kg GP participants
- Japan Kyoji Horiguchi
- Japan Hideo Tokoro
- Japan Erson Yamamoto
- Japan Takafumi Otsuka
- Japan Keita Ishibashi
- Germany Khalid Taha
- United States Anthony Birchak
- Japan Shintaro Ishiwatari
- Portugal Manel Kape
- Russia Akhmed Musakaev
- South Korea Jae Hoon Moon
- France Kevin Petshi
- United States Ian McCall
- Brazil Gabriel Oliviera
8-female super atomweight 49 kg GP participants
- Japan Rena Kubota
- Japan Kanna Asakura
- United States Andy Nguyen
- Japan Miyuu Yamamoto
- Brazil Maria Oliveira
- Poland Sylwia Juśkiewicz
- United States Alyssa Garcia
- Spain Irene Cabello Rivera
List of events
| # | Event | Date | Venue | Location | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rizin 2017 in Yokohama: Sakura | April 16, 2017 | Yokohama Arena | Japan Yokohama, Japan | 12,729 |
| 2 | Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: opening round part 1 | July 30, 2017 | Saitama Super Arena | Japan Saitama, Japan | 17,730 |
| 3 | Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: opening round part 2 | October 15, 2017 | Marine Messe Fukuoka | Japan Fukuoka, Japan | 7,732 |
| 4 | Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: 2nd round | December 29, 2017 | Saitama Super Arena | Japan Saitama, Japan | 15,539 |
| 5 | Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: final round | December 31, 2017 | Saitama Super Arena | Japan Saitama, Japan | 18,316 |
Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix 2017 bracket
| 1st Round Rizin WGP opening round part 1 & part 2 | 2nd Round | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||
| United States Ian McCall | |||||||||||||||
| BYE | |||||||||||||||
| United States Ian McCall | 1:48 | ||||||||||||||
| Portugal Manel Kape | TKO | ||||||||||||||
| Japan Erson Yamamoto | 1:10 | ||||||||||||||
| Portugal Manel Kape | TKO | ||||||||||||||
| Portugal Manel Kape | 14:28 | ||||||||||||||
| Japan Kyoji Horiguchi | SUB | ||||||||||||||
| Japan Kyoji Horiguchi | KO | ||||||||||||||
| Japan Hideo Tokoro | 1:49 | ||||||||||||||
| Japan Kyoji Horiguchi | KO | ||||||||||||||
| Brazil Gabriel Oliviera | 4:30 | ||||||||||||||
| Brazil Gabriel Oliviera | |||||||||||||||
| BYE | |||||||||||||||
| Japan Kyoji Horiguchi | TKO | ||||||||||||||
| Japan Shintaro Ishiwatari | 5:14 | ||||||||||||||
| Japan Keita Ishibashi | 4:51 | ||||||||||||||
| Germany Khalid Taha | KO | ||||||||||||||
| Germany Khalid Taha | 12:22 | ||||||||||||||
| Japan Takafumi Otsuka | SUB | ||||||||||||||
| Japan Takafumi Otsuka | DEC | ||||||||||||||
| United States Anthony Birchak | 15:00 | ||||||||||||||
| Japan Takafumi Otsuka | 15:00 | ||||||||||||||
| Japan Shintaro Ishiwatari | DEC | ||||||||||||||
| South Korea Jae Hoon Moon | 15:00 | ||||||||||||||
| France Kevin Petshi | DEC | ||||||||||||||
| France Kevin Petshi | 4:30 | ||||||||||||||
| Japan Shintaro Ishiwatari | KO | ||||||||||||||
| Japan Shintaro Ishiwatari | DEC | ||||||||||||||
| Russia Akhmed Musakaev | 15:00 |
Rizin Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix 2017 bracket
| 1st Round Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: opening round part 2 | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||
| Japan Rena Kubota | KO | |||||||||||||
| United States Andy Nguyen | 3:23 | |||||||||||||
| Japan Rena Kubota | TKO | |||||||||||||
| Spain Irene Cabello Rivera | 4:38 | |||||||||||||
| Japan Miyuu Yamamoto | 7:25 | |||||||||||||
| Spain Irene Cabello Rivera | SUB | |||||||||||||
| Japan Rena Kubota | 4:33 | |||||||||||||
| Japan Kanna Asakura | SUB | |||||||||||||
| United States Alyssa Garcia | 15:00 | |||||||||||||
| Brazil Maria Oliveira | DEC | |||||||||||||
| Brazil Maria Oliveira | 8:40 | |||||||||||||
| Japan Kanna Asakura | SUB | |||||||||||||
| Japan Kanna Asakura | DEC | |||||||||||||
| Poland Sylwia Juśkiewicz | 15:00 |
Rizin flyweight KB tournament
| Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
| Japan Tenshin Nasukawa | KO | ||||||||
| Japan Yuta Hamamoto | 4:58 | ||||||||
| Japan Tenshin Nasukawa | TKO | ||||||||
| Japan Yamato Fujita | 1:27 | ||||||||
| Japan Mitsuhisa Sunabe | 6:46 | ||||||||
| Japan Yamato Fujita | KO |
Rizin 2017 in Yokohama: Sakura
Rizin 2017 in Yokohama: Sakura was a mixed martial arts event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on April 16, 2017 at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan.
Results
| Fight Card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Featherweight 66 kg | Japan Tatsuya Kawajiri | def. | United States Anthony Birchak | Decision (unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 | |
| Openweight | Iran Amir Aliakbari | def. | Brazil Gerônimo Dos Santos | TKO (punches) | 1 | 3:34 | |
| Flyweight 58 kg | Japan Kyoji Horiguchi | def. | Japan Yuki Motoya | Decision (unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 | |
| Female Atomweight 48 kg | Japan Rena Kubota | def. | Hungary Dóra Perjés | KO (punch to the body) | 1 | 2:49 | |
| Flyweight 57 kg | Japan Tenshin Nasukawa | def. | Italy Francesco Ghigliotti | KO (head kick) | 1 | 1:07 | |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Japan Satoshi Ishii | def. | United States Heath Herring | Decision (unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 | |
| Female Catchweight 90 kg | Japan Reina Miura | def. | Germany Jazzy Gabert | Submission (armbar) | 2 | 9:54 | |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Japan Yusuke Yachi | def. | United States Daron Cruickshank | KO (punch) | 1 | 5:10 | |
| Female Atomweight 48 kg | Japan Saori Ishioka | def. | Switzerland Bestare Kicaj | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | 1 | 2:12 | |
| Female Atomweight 48 kg | Japan Kanna Asakura | def. | Bulgaria Aleksandra Toncheva | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Flyweight 58 kg | Japan Seiichiro Ito | def. | Japan Kizaemon Saiga | Decision (unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 |
Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: opening round part 1
Rizin World Grand Prix 2017 opening round part 1 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on July 30, 2017 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Results
| Fight Card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Kyoji Horiguchi | def. | Japan Hideo Tokoro | KO (punches) | 1 | 1:49 | Bantamweight Grand Prix 1st round |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Iran Amir Aliakbari | def. | United States Tyler King | TKO (punches) | 1 | 1:39 | |
| Female Openweight | Brazil Gabrielle Garcia | vs. | Russia Oksana Gagloeva | No contest (accidental eye poke) | 1 | 0:15 | |
| Female Openweight | Japan Reina Miura | def. | Tonga Lei'D Tapa | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Flyweight 57 kg | Japan Tenshin Nasukawa | def. | Japan Kizaemon Saiga | KO (punch) | 1 | 1:36 | Mix Rules |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Japan Yusuke Yachi | def. | Japan Satoru Kitaoka | TKO (punches) | 2 | 4:46 | |
| Atomweight 49 kg | Japan Miyuu Yamamoto | def. | United States Cassie Robb | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Takafumi Otsuka | def. | United States Anthony Birchak | Decision (split) | 2 | 15:00 | Bantamweight Grand Prix 1st round |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Germany Khalid Taha | def. | Japan Keita Ishibashi | KO (Grounded Knees and Punches) | 1 | 4:51 | Bantamweight Grand Prix 1st round |
| Female Flyweight 57 kg | United States Shinju Nozawa-Auclair | def. | United States Sheena Brandenburg | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 1:40 | |
| Light Heavyweight 93 kg | Sweden Karl Abrektsson | def. | Lithuania Teodoras Aukstuolis | Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) | 1 | 8:02 |
Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: opening round part 2
Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: opening round part 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on October 15, 2017 at the Marine Messe Fukuoka in Fukuoka, Japan.
Background
Dan Henderson supposed to face fellow MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba in a grappling match however, Henderson suffered a neck injury and Frank Shamrock step in as a replacement.
Kanna Asakura fought Saori Ishioka at DEEP JEWELS 17 in a Super Atomweight Grand Prix Qualification bout. Asakura won by Unanimous Decision.
Andy Nguyen missed weight.
Results
| Fight Card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Japan Rena Kubota | def. | United States Andy Nguyen | KO (punch to the body) | 1 | 3:23 | Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix 1st round |
| Flyweight 57 kg | Japan Tenshin Nasukawa | def. | Japan Yamato Fujita | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Middleweight 84 kg | Japan Kazushi Sakuraba | vs. | United States Frank Shamrock | Draw | 1 | 10:00 | Grappling Match |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Japan Akiyo Nishiura | def. | Netherlands Andy Souwer | Decision (unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 | |
| Catchweight 75 kg | Japan Reina Miura | def. | United States Crystal Stokes | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Catchweight 63 kg | Brazil Gabriel Oliveira | def. | Japan Tatsuya Kawajiri | KO (Knee) | 2 | 1:00 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Shintaro Ishiwatari | def. | Russia Akhmed Musakaev | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | Bantamweight Grand Prix 1st round |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | France Kevin Petshi | def. | South Korea Jae Hoon Moon | Decision (split) | 3 | 15:00 | Bantamweight Grand Prix 1st round |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Portugal Manel Kape | def. | Japan Erson Yamamoto | TKO (Head Kick and Punch) | 1 | 1:10 | Bantamweight Grand Prix 1st round |
| Openweight | Guam Roque Martinez | def. | France Jerome Le Banner | Submission (Scarf Hold Chest Choke) | 1 | 2:10 | |
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Brazil Maria Oliveira | def. | United States Alyssa Garcia | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix 1st round |
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Japan Kanna Asakura | def. | Poland Sylwia Juśkiewicz | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix 1st round |
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Spain Irene Cabello Rivera | def. | Japan Miyuu Yamamoto | Submission (armbar) | 2 | 7:25 | Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix 1st round |
| Catchweight 51 kg | Japan Jin Mandokoro | def. | Japan Issei Ishii | Decision (majority) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Catchweight 62 kg | Japan Yuki | vs. | Japan Kurogi Darvish | Draw (majority) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Catchweight 58 kg | Japan Yoshihisa Morimoto | def. | Japan Ryota Renseigym | TKO (punches) | 3 | 7:57 | Kickboxing |
Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: 2nd round
Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: 2nd round was a mixed martial arts event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on December 29, 2017 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Background
Seiichiro Ito was to face Kai Asakura at this event but had to withdraw due to a nasal fractures. He was replaced by Kizaemon Saiga.
Gabrielle Garcia was scheduled to face Shinobu Kandori at this event. However, Garcia missed weight by over 26 pounds and the bout was canceled.
Results
| Fight Card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Kyoji Horiguchi | def. | Brazil Gabriel Oliviera | TKO (punches) | 1 | 4:30 | Bantamweight Grand Prix quarter-finals |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Portugal Manel Kape | def. | United States Ian McCall | TKO (doctor Stoppage) | 1 | 1:48 | Bantamweight Grand Prix quarter-finals |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Shintaro Ishiwatari | def. | France Kevin Petshi | KO (punch) | 1 | 4:30 | Bantamweight Grand Prix quarter-finals |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Takafumi Otsuka | def. | Germany Khalid Taha | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 3 | 12:22 | Bantamweight Grand Prix quarter-finals |
| Light Heavyweight 93 kg | Czech Republic Jiří Procházka | def. | Sweden Karl Albrektsson | TKO (punches) | 1 | 9:57 | |
| Women's Lightweight 70 kg | Belgium Cindy Dandois | def. | Japan Reina Miura | Decision (split) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Japan Hiroyuki Takaya | def. | Mongolia Baataryn Azjavkhlan | Decision (unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | South Korea Jae Hoon Moon | def. | United States Anthony Birchak | Decision (split) | 3 | 15:00 | Bantamweight Grand Prix reserve bout |
| Catchweight 62.5 kg | Japan Kai Asakura | def. | Japan Kizaemon Saiga | TKO (Punches and Knee) | 2 | 7:36 | |
| Women's Flyweight 57 kg | Japan Kana Watanabe | def. | Japan Shizuka Sugiyama | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Catchweight 75 kg | Japan Kiichi Kunimoto | def. | Japan Satoru Kitaoka | Decision (unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 |
Rizin Fan Expo 2017
Rizin Fan Expo 2017 was an Expo event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on December 29-30-31,2017 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Background
This expo featured the Rizin 2017 jiu-jitsu tournament, a Grappling tournament, a high school Sambo tournament, an amateur Kickboxing tournament and an amateur Mixed martial arts tournament.
Fight card
Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: final round
Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: final round was a mixed martial arts event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on December 31, 2017, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Background
This event included the semi-finals and final of the Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix. The quarter-finals were held two days previous at Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: 2nd round. Also on the card are the semi-finals and final of the Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix.
Results
| Fight Card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Kyoji Horiguchi | def. | Japan Shintaro Ishiwatari | KO (punches) | 2 | 5:14 | Bantamweight Grand Prix final |
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Japan Kanna Asakura | def. | Japan Rena Kubota | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 4:33 | Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix final |
| Flyweight 57 kg | Japan Tenshin Nasukawa | def. | Japan Yamato Fujita | TKO (3 knockdowns) | 1 | 1:27 | Flyweight KB Tournament Final |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Croatia Mirko Cro Cop | def. | Japan Tsuyoshi Kohsaka | TKO (punches) | 1 | 1:02 | |
| Women's Flyweight 57 kg | United States Shinju Nozawa-Auclair | def. | United States Chelsea LaGrasse | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 4:47 | |
| Catchweight 72 kg | Japan Yusuke Yachi | def. | Japan Takanori Gomi | Submission (triangle choke) | 1 | 2:36 | |
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Japan Kanna Asakura | def. | Brazil Maria Oliveira | Submission (armbar) | 2 | 8:40 | Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix semi-finals |
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Japan Rena Kubota | def. | Spain Irene Cabello Rivera | TKO (punches) | 1 | 4:38 | Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix semi-finals |
| Flyweight 57 kg | Japan Yamato Fujita | def. | Japan Mitsuhisa Sunabe | KO (punch) | 3 | 6:46 | Flyweight KB Tournament Semi-Finals |
| Flyweight 57 kg | Japan Tenshin Nasukawa | def. | Japan Yuta Hamamoto | KO (flying knee) | 2 | 4:58 | Flyweight KB Tournament Semi-Finals |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Shintaro Ishiwatari | def. | Japan Takafumi Otsuka | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | Bantamweight Grand Prix semi-finals |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Kyoji Horiguchi | def. | Portugal Manel Kape | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | 3 | 14:28 | Bantamweight Grand Prix semi-finals |