2020 in Rizin Fighting Federation
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The year 2020 was the sixth year in the history of the Rizin Fighting Federation, a mixed martial arts promotion based in Japan. The year began with Rizin 21 in Hamamatsu on February 22, 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic would put the promotion on hiatus until Rizin 22 on August 9.
Rizin events are broadcast through a television agreement with Fuji Television. In North America and Europe, Rizin events were available via PPV on FITE TV. Beginning with Rizin 26, events have been streaming on LIVENow in North America and Europe.
List of events
| # | Event | Date | Venue | Location | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rizin 21 – Hamamatsu | February 22, 2020 | Hamamatsu Arena | Japan Hamamatsu, Japan | 6,832 |
| 2 | Rizin 22 – Starting Over | August 9, 2020 | Pia Arena MM | Japan Yokohama, Japan | 2,805 |
| 3 | Rizin 23 – Calling Over | August 10, 2020 | Pia Arena MM | Japan Yokohama, Japan | 4,410 |
| 4 | Rizin 24 – Saitama | September 27, 2020 | Saitama Super Arena | Japan Saitama, Japan | 5,000 |
| 5 | Rizin 25 – Osaka | November 21, 2020 | Osaka-jō Hall | Japan Osaka, Japan | 5,487 |
| 6 | Rizin 26 – Saitama | December 31, 2020 | Saitama Super Arena | Japan Saitama, Japan | 9,978 |
Rizin 21 – Hamamatsu
Rizin 21 – Hamamatsu was a Combat sport event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on February 22, 2020 at the Hamamatsu Arena in Hamamatsu, Japan.
Results
| Rizin 21 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | T.Time | Notes | |||
| Catchweight 68 kg | Japan Mikuru Asakura | def. | Mexico Daniel Salas | TKO (Head Kick and Punches) | 2 | 7:34 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | United States Victor Henry | def. | Japan Masanori Kanehara | TKO (Punches) | 2 | 5:45 | |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Guam Roque Martinez | def. | Japan Hideki Sekine | TKO (Soccer Kicks) | 1 | 4:04 | |
| Catchweight 79 kg | Brazil Marcos de Souza | def. | Portugal Falco Neto | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 1:27 | |
| Intermission | |||||||
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Yuto Hokamura | def. | Japan Kenji Kato | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 4:21 | |
| Exhibition | Brazil Roberto de Souza | def. | Japan Yuki Nakai | Submission (Triangle Choke) | 1 | 8:05 | Jiu Jitsu Elimination Match |
| Japan Hiroshi Shinagawa | Submission (Triangle Choke) | ||||||
| Japan Edison Kagohara | Submission (Choke) | ||||||
| Japan Koji Shigemizu | Submission (Armbar) | ||||||
| Japan Yuna Kimura | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | ||||||
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Naoki Inoue | def. | Australia Trent Girdham | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Azerbaijan Vugar Karamov | def. | Guam Kyle Aguon | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Japan Kousuke Jitukata | def. | Japan Ryo Sakai | KO (Punches) | 1 | 1:28 | Kickboxing |
| Flyweight 57 kg | Japan Kenichi Takeuchi | def. | Japan Naoya | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Opening Fight | |||||||
| Catchweight 60 kg | Bolivia Henrry Cejas | def. | Japan Seido | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Japan Yuya | def. | Japan Kouki | KO (Punch) | 1 | 2:30 | Kickboxing |
| Catchweight 59 kg | Japan Masaji Tozuka | - | Japan Masahiro Ozawa | Draw (Majority) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
Rizin 22 – Starting Over
Rizin 22 – Starting Over was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on August 9, 2020 at the Pia Arena MM in Yokohama, Japan.
Background
The event was initially planned to be held on April 19, 2020 at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan However, the event was cancelled on April 2, 2020, due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.
Results
| Rizin 22 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | T.Time | Notes | |||
| Lightweight 71 kg | Brazil Roberto de Souza | def. | Japan Yusuke Yachi | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 1:52 | |
| W.Strawweight 52 kg | Japan Ayaka Hamasaki | def. | Japan Tomo Maesawa | Submission (Kimura) | 2 | 6:26 | |
| W.Super Atomweight 49 kg | Japan Kanna Asakura | def. | Japan Mizuki Furuse | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 1:35 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Naoki Inoue | def. | Japan Shooto Watanabe | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 1:40 | |
| Catchweight 56 kg | Japan Rui Ebata | def. | Japan Seiki Ueyama | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Catchweight 50.8 kg | Japan Nadaka Yoshinari | def. | Japan Yuushin | TKO (Referee Stoppage) | 2 | 8:08 | Kickboxing |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Japan Tetsuya Seki | def. | Japan Kouya Kanda | TKO (Punches) | 2 | 8:47 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Japan Kyohei Hagiwara | def. | Japan Rikuto Shirakawa | TKO (Punches) | 3 | 14:40 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Kenji Kato | def. | Japan Erson Yamamoto | KO (Punch) | 1 | 3:32 |
Rizin 23 – Calling Over
Rizin 23 – Calling Over was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on August 10, 2020 at the Pia Arena MM in Yokohama, Japan.
Background
A Rizin Bantamweight Championship bout for the vacant title between former title challenger Kai Asakura and Hiromasa Ougikubo served as the event headliner. Former Rizin Bantamweight champion Manel Kape announced on March 30, 2020 that he would be relinquishing the bantamweight title and announce he has signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC.
Results
| Rizin 23 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | T.Time | Notes | |||
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Kai Asakura | def. | Japan Hiromasa Ougikubo | TKO (Soccer Kicks) | 1 | 4:31 | For the vacant Rizin Bantamweight Championship |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Yuki Motoya | def. | Japan Mamoru Uoi | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 3 | 12:19 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Japan Yutaka Saito | def. | Japan Kazumasa Majima | TKO (Knees and Elbow) | 2 | 5:24 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Kento Haraguchi | def. | Japan Taiga Kawabe | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 2:50 | Kickboxing |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Japan Jin Aoi | def. | Japan Kotetsu Boku | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Catchweight 59 kg | Japan Makoto Shinryu | def. | Japan Seiichiro Ito | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 2 | 9:30 | |
| Catchweight 73 kg | Japan Kaito Ono | def. | Democratic Republic of the Congo Daryl Lokoku | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Flyweight 58 kg | Japan Tatsuki Saomoto | def. | Japan Yusaku Nakamura | KO (Punches) | 1 | 4:06 | |
| Catchweight 73 kg | Japan Shintaro Matsukura | def. | Japan Koji Mori | KO (Punches) | 1 | 1:28 | Kickboxing |
Rizin 24 – Saitama
Rizin 24 – Saitama was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on September 27, 2020 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Background
The first two fights announced for Rizin 24 was a bantamweight bout between Kai Asakura and Shoji Maruyama, as well as a women's strawweight bout between Rena Kubota and Emi Tomimatsu. A fight between two MMA veterans was announced as well, as Takasuke Kume took on Satoru Kitaoka. The main event was a kickboxing fight between Tenshin Nasukawa and Koji.
Results
| Rizin 24 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | T.Time | Notes | |||
| Catchweight 58.5 kg | Japan Tenshin Nasukawa | def. | Japan Koji | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Kai Asakura | def. | Japan Shoji Maruyama | TKO (Punches and Soccer Kick) | 1 | 2:37 | Non-title bout. |
| Lightweight 71 kg | Japan Koji Takeda | def. | Japan Yuki Kawana | Decision (Split) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Lightweight 71 kg | Japan Takasuke Kume | def. | Japan Satoru Kitaoka | Decision (Split) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Catchweight 60 kg | Japan Taishi Hiratsuka | def. | Japan Yuuki Kitagawa | KO (Punch) | 2 | 3:27 | Kickboxing |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Kenta Takizawa | def. | Japan Yuto Hokamura | Decision (Split) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| W. Strawweight 52 kg | Japan Rena Kubota | def. | Japan Emi Tomimatsu | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Japan Takahiro Ashida | def. | Japan Kyohei Hagiwara | Submission (Triangle Choke) | 2 | 9:25 | |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Japan Sudario Tsuyoshi | Def. | New Zealand Dylan James | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | 1 | 5:00 | |
| Catchweight 55 kg | Japan Mutsuki Ebata | def. | Japan Rasta | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Lightweight 71 kg | Japan Juri Ohara | def. | Japan Yusuke Yachi | Decision (Split) | 3 | 15:00 |
Rizin 25 – Osaka
Rizin 25 – Osaka was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on November 21, 2020 at the Osaka-jō Hall in Osaka, Japan.
Background
During the press conference prior to Rizin 25, Rizin CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara confirmed that nine fights were finalized for the card.
Rizin standout Mikuru Asakura will fight the former Shooto Lightweight champion Yutaka Saito for the inaugural featherweight title. Former Bantamweight title challenger Hiromasa Ougikubo is scheduled to fight Kenta Takizawa. Former strawweight King of Pancrase Daichi Kitakata is scheduled to face the ZST Flyweight champion Tatsuki Saomoto.
Two additional MMA bouts were announced: Yojiro Uchimura vs. Kyohei Hagiwara in the featherweight division and Ryuichiro Sumimura vs. Gota Yamashita in the welterweight division. The remaining four fights are kickboxing bouts: Taiga Kawabe will fight Yuma Yamahata, Yuma Yamaguchi is scheduled to fight Shohei Asahara, Hidenori Ebata will take on Isami Sano and Jin Mandokoro is set to go up against Syuto Sato. A fight between Kotetsu Boku and Rikuto Shirakawa was later added to the card.
Results
| Rizin 25 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | T.Time | Notes | |||
| Featherweight 66 kg | Japan Yutaka Saito | def. | Japan Mikuru Asakura | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | For the inaugural Rizin Featherweight Championship |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Hiromasa Ougikubo | def. | Japan Kenta Takizawa | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Welterweight 77 kg | Japan Ryuichiro Sumimura | def. | Japan Gota Yamashita | Decision (Split) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Flyweight 57 kg | Japan Tatsuki Saomoto | def. | Japan Daichi Kitakata | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Exhibition | Brazil Roberto de Souza Japan Kleber Koike Erbst | Japan Hari Sakamoto Japan Misaki Akita | Grappling Demonstration | ||||
| Intermission | |||||||
| Featherweight 66 kg | Japan Kyohei Hagiwara | def. | Japan Yojiro Uchimura | KO (Punches and Foot Stomp) | 1 | 0:22 | |
| Catchweight 60.5 kg | Japan Taiga Kawabe | def. | Japan Yuma Yamahata | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Catchweight 83 kg | Japan Isami Sano | def. | Japan Hidenori Ebata | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Japan Rikuto Shirakawa | def. | Japan Kotetsu Boku | TKO (Punches and Soccer Kick) | 3 | 14:19 | |
| Catchweight 53 kg | Japan Jin Mandokoro | def. | Japan Syuto Sato | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Catchweight 63 kg | Japan Shohei Asahara | def. | Japan Yuma Yamaguchi | TKO (Punches) | 3 | 8:59 | Kickboxing |
Rizin 26 – Saitama
Rizin 26 – Saitama was a combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on December 31, 2020 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Background
The card was headlined by a rematch for the Rizin bantamweight championship, in his first title defense the reigning bantamweight champion Kai Asakura has met the former champion Kyoji Horiguchi. The two met previously in a non-title bout, with Asakura winning by knockout.
Olympic silver medalist Shinobu Ota, has signed with Rizin Fighting Championship, he made his MMA debut against the veteran Hideo Tokoro.
Former RIZIN Super Atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki was set to fight Miyuu Yamamoto for the vacant Super Atomweight title.
Tenshin Nasukawa was scheduled to fight Kumandoi Phetjaroenvit, while Takanori Gomi was scheduled to fight Koji under special standup rules. Gomi's weight limit was 75 kg and Koji's 65 kg. The rules of the bout forbid grappling and kicking, while both fighters wore 12oz gloves.
Sakura Mori missed weight for her atomweight bout with Eru Takebayashi by 1.7 kg.
Results
| Rizin 26 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | T.Time | Notes | |||
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Kyoji Horiguchi | def. | Japan Kai Asakura (c) | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 2:48 | For the Rizin Bantamweight Championship |
| Catchweight 57 kg | Japan Tenshin Nasukawa | def. | Thailand Kumandoi Petcharoenvit | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Catchweight 68 kg | Japan Mikuru Asakura | def. | Japan Satoshi Yamasu | KO (Head Kick and Punches) | 1 | 4:20 | |
| Catchweight 75 kg | Japan Takanori Gomi | def. | Japan Koji Tanaka | Decision (Majority) | 3 | 9:00 | Special Standing Bout Rules |
| W.Super Atomweight 49 kg | Japan Ayaka Hamasaki | def. | Japan Miyuu Yamamoto | Submission (Head Scissors Choke) | 1 | 1:42 | For the Vacant Rizin Super Atomweight Championship |
| Intermission | |||||||
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Naoki Inoue | def. | Japan Yuki Motoya | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 3:00 | |
| Catchweight 67 kg | Japan Kleber Koike Erbst | def. | United States Kyle Aguon | Technical Submission (Brabo Choke) | 1 | 4:21 | |
| Catchweight 68 kg | Japan Kyohei Hagiwara | def. | Japan Ren Hiramoto | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | 2 | 1:29 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Hideo Tokoro | def. | Japan Shinobu Ota | Submission (Armbar) | 2 | 2:23 | |
| Intermission | |||||||
| Catchweight 50 kg | Japan Nadaka Yoshinari | def. | Thailand Phetmalai Phetjaroenvit | KO (Elbow) | 1 | 2:19 | Kickboxing |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Japan Ulka Sasaki | def. | Japan Kenta Takizawa | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| W.Super Atomweight 49 kg | Japan Kanna Asakura | def. | Japan Ai Shimizu | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Openweight | Japan Atsushi Saito | def. | Japan Hiroya Kawabe | Submission (Armbar) | 2 | 6:00 | Special Rules originally a draw was overturned by Rizin officials |
| Catchweight 63 kg | Japan Kazuma Kuramoto | def. | Japan Taiyo Nakahara | KO (Soccer Kicks) | 1 | 2:12 | |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Japan Tsuyoshi Sudario | def. | Japan Ikuhisa Minowa | TKO (Leg Injury) | 1 | 3:17 | |
| W.Catchweight 52.7 kg | Japan Sakura Mori | - | Japan Eru Takebayashi | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 1:37 | No Contest due to Mori missing weight by 1.7 kg. |
See also
- 2020 in UFC
- Bellator MMA in 2020
- 2020 in ONE Championship
- 2020 in Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki
- 2020 in Absolute Championship Akhmat
- 2020 in Road FC