Tag: Hiromasa Ogikubo

Rizin FF 33: Hiromasa Ogikubo avenges loss to Kai Asakura, wins 2021 bantamweight grand prix

Hiromasa Ogikubo came up big as an underdog to win the Rizin FF bantamweight grand prix.

[autotag]Hiromasa Ogikubo[/autotag] came up big as an underdog to win the Rizin FF bantamweight grand prix.

Ogikubo (25-5-2) had to go through some early adversity in his semifinals bout against Naoki Inoue, but “The Ultimate Fighter 24” finalist rallied to win the final two rounds and advance to the Rizin FF 33 finals at Saitama Super Arena on Friday.

On the other side of the bracket, [autotag]Kai Asakura[/autotag] (19-4) knocked down and outstruck Kenta Takizawa, setting him up with a finals rematch against Ogikubo, who he knocked out with a soccer kick at Rizin FF 23 in 2020.

With the odds stacked against him once again on the night, Ogikubo came out strong against Asakura. Ogikubo chopped away with leg kicks, landing an early takedown on Asakura. He was able to briefly get full mount, transitioning to Asakura’s back, who managed to stay out of any major submission threats.

In Round 2, Asakura was crisp with his jab, landing a solid left hook. But Ogikubo didn’t back down from the striking exchanges, finding a home for his overhand right on numerous occasions. After a competitive round on the feet, Ogikubo ended the round with a flurry and a takedown.

Asakura showed good takedown defense in Round 3, but Ogikubo’s overwhelming pace was too much as the 34-year-old managed to avenge his loss to Asakura and win the 2021 Rizin FF bantamweight grand prix.

In the co-main event, lightweight champion [autotag]Roberto de Souza[/autotag] (13-1) notched his first title defense when he submitted Yusuke Yachi (23-12) with a slick armbar in Round 2. After his win, Souza asked for a Bellator champion as he eyes titles in two different promotions.

The Rizin FF 33 results include:

  • Hiromasa Ogikubo def. Kai Asakura via unanimous decision – bantamweight grand prix finals
  • Roberto de Souza def. Yusuke Yachi via submission (armbar) – Round 2, 3:30 to retain lightweight title
  • Mikuru Asakura def. Yutaka Saito via unanimous decision
  • Tenshin Nasukawa vs. Takanori Gomi – special rules bout ends in a draw
  • Si Woo Park def. Rena Kubota via unanimous decision
  • Seika Izawa def. Ayaka Hamasaki via TKO (elbows and punches) – Round 2, 2:50
  • Koji Takeda def. Noah Bey via submission (armbar) – Round 2, 4:12
  • Hideki Sekine def. Shoma Shibisai via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:09
  • Kyohei Hagiwara def. Hiroaki Suzuki via unanimous decision
  • Shinobu Ota def. Kazuma Sone via TKO (soccer kick and stomps) – Round 2, 3:55
  • Yuki Motoya def. Yuto Hokamura via unanimous decision – bantamweight grand prix reserve bout
  • Hiromasa Ogikubo def. Naoki Inoue via unanimous decision – bantamweight grand prix semifinals
  • Kai Asakura def. Kenta Takizawa via unanimous decision – bantamweight grand prix semifinals

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Rizin FF announces 16-man bantamweight grand prix, opening round matchups

Sixteen fighters will partake in the Rizin FF bantamweight grand prix, including former champ Kai Asakura.

Sixteen fighters are set for action in the Rizin FF bantamweight grand prix, but only one will pocket the grand prize.

On Monday, the promotion announced details of the 135-pound tournament, which includes a host of Rizin’s top names, including former champion [autotag]Kai Asakura[/autotag], leg lock legend [autotag]Masakazu Imanari[/autotag] and former finalist of “The Ultimate Fighter,” [autotag]Hiromasa Ogikubo[/autotag].

The first round will take place across two Rizin FF events in May, with subsequent rounds through the year culminating in the tournament finale, with the winner set to pocket ¥10,000,000 JPY (approximately $91,000). The runner-up will earn ¥5,000,0000 JPY (approximately $45,000).

The eight opening-round matchups were set in a live draw that was streamed on YouTube. The first-round matchups include:

  • [autotag]Takafumi Otsuka[/autotag] (28-17-2) vs. [autotag]Hiroki Yamashita[/autotag] (billed as “Shian”) (8-8)
  • [autotag]Kuya Ito[/autotag] (10-8-1) vs. [autotag]Yuto Hokamura[/autotag] (billed as “Kintaro”) (13-9-2)
  • [autotag]Yuki Motoya[/autotag] (27-9) vs. [autotag]Ryo Okada[/autotag] (17-4-3)
  • Kai Asakura (16-3) vs. [autotag]Shooto Watanabe[/autotag] (22-5-6)
  • [autotag]Kenta Takizawa[/autotag] (11-7) vs. Masakazu Imanari (38-19-2)
  • [autotag]Kazuma Kuramoto[/autotag] (8-1) vs. [autotag]Alan Yamaniwa[/autotag] (17-8-4)
  • [autotag]Takeshi Kasugai[/autotag] (26-7-1) vs. Hiromasa Ogikubo (21-5-2)
  • [autotag]Naoki Inoue[/autotag] (15-2) vs. [autotag]Shintaro Ishiwatari[/autotag] (26-8-4)

After the matchups were set, Asakura was given the opportunity, as a former Rizin FF champion, to swap places with any other fighter in the draw. He declined the offer and kept his originally-drawn matchup.

The eight opening-round fights will be split between two events. Four of the bouts will be part of the fight card at Rizin FF 28, which takes place Sunday, May 23 at the Tokyo Dome, which has an event capacity between 42,000 and 55,000 spectators. Currently, the arena has a permitted capacity of 10,000 due to COVID restrictions, but Rizin FF officials are hopeful the arena capacity could be increased to 50 percent of its full capacity by the day of the fights.

The remaining four fights will be contested at Rizin FF 29, which takes place Sunday, May 30 at Maruzen Intech Arena in Osaka.

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Rizin FF 25 live results

Follow the results as they happen as the vacant featherweight title is put up for grabs in the main event of Rizin FF 25 in Osaka, Japan.

The Rizin FF ring lands in Osaka, Japan, with the promotion’s featherweight title up for grabs in the main event.

The 145-pound strap will be contested between two explosive contenders as [autotag]Mikuru Asakura[/autotag] (13-1), brother of current Rizin FF bantamweight champion Kai, will look to add a second title to the family collection when he takes on former two-time Shooto featherweight champion [autotag]Yutaka Saito[/autotag] (18-4-2).

The fight card in Japan features six MMA bouts in total, with bantamweight contenders [autotag]Hiromasa Ogikubo[/autotag] (20-5-2) and [autotag]Kenta Takizawa[/autotag] (11-5) set to face off in the co-main event looking to earn a shot at the title in 2021, while former ONE lightweight champion [autotag]Kotetsu Boku[/autotag] (26-15-2) returns to action against [autotag]Rikuto Shirakawa[/autotag] (8-8-1).

Rizin FF 25 takes place Saturday, Nov. 21 at Osaka-Jo Hall in Osaka, Japan. The event streams live via online pay-per-view. Stay up to date with our live results below.

Rizin FF 23 free fight: Kai Asakura smashes Hiromasa Ogikubo with soccer kicks to win 135-pound title

Recap the action as Kai Asakura and Hiromasa Ogikubo faced off for the bantamweight title in the main event of Rizin FF 23 in Yokohama.

After losing his first shot at the Rizin FF bantamweight title, Japan’s [autotag]Kai Asakura[/autotag] had no intention of letting history repeat itself when he returned for a second crack at the gold.

Asakura (15-2) took on “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 24 finalist [autotag]Hiromasa Ogikubo[/autotag] in the main event of Rizin FF 23 at the Pia Arena in Yokohama, and he didn’t waste his chance as he demolished Ogikubo (20-5-2) inside a round to claim the title in impressive style.

Asakura found his groove early on and let fly with some flashy, powerful strikes, including a thumping body kick and a flying knee as he attacked Ogikubo’s midsection early.

He then switched his attention to Ogikubo’s chin and connected with a peach of an uppercut that briefly wobbled his opponent. Sensing victory was near, Asakura cut off the cage and loaded up with strikes as his power began to tell.

Then, in the second half of the first round, Asakura found the breakthrough as he landed another huge uppercut, then followed up with a flying knee that sent Ogikubo to the canvas.

Asakura then unloaded a barrage of heavy-handed ground strikes, then connected with two huge soccer kicks as he forced the first-round stoppage and claimed the vacant belt in devastating style.

Recap Asakura’s blistering performance at Rizin FF 23 via the video above.

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Rizin FF 23 live results

Follow the results as they happen with MMA Junkie’s live coverage of Rizin FF 23 in Yokohama, Japan.

The lights come back on at Yokohama’s Pia Arena as the venue hosts its second event in successive days, with Rizin FF 23 completing the promotion’s double-header as they return with their second post-COVID-19 event, taglined “Calling Over.”

The main event features a battle for the vacant Rizin FF bantamweight title, as former title challenger [autotag]Kai Asakura[/autotag] gets a second successive shot at the vacant 135-pound belt against [autotag]Hiromasa Ogikubo[/autotag].

Asakura’s first attempt ended in a knockout defeat to Manel Kape, who has since departed the promotion to sign for the UFC. It means the strap is up for grabs once again, and the door has reopened for Asakura (14-2), who will now face Ogikubo (20-4-2), who booked his place in the title fight with a pair of split-decision victories over fellow contenders [autotag]Yuki Motoya[/autotag] and Shintaro Ishiwatari last year at Rizin FF 17 and 20 respectively.

With the title on the line in the main event, the co-headliner features a pair of contenders who will look to position themselves as the next man in line to fight for the belt.

Motoya was narrowly edged out by Ogikubo last year in a highly-competitive fight, and suffered a first-round submission loss to Bellator’s Patchy Mix at Rizin FF 20. But the 30-year-old rebounded with a decision win at DEEP 94 Impact in March to send him into Monday’s fight night in winning form.

He’ll take on [autotag]Mamoru Uoi[/autotag], (billed in Japan as Uoi Fullswing), who is looking to bounce back into the win column following back to back defeats for Japanese promotion Shooto.

His last appearance in the Rizin FF ring brought success, however, with a soccer kick KO giving him an eye-catching knockout victory at Rizin FF 16 last June. Now Uoi returns to Rizin hoping to rediscover that form and catapult himself into title contention in the process.

Rizin FF 23 live results include:

  • Kai Asakura vs. Hiromasa Ogikubo (for vacant bantamweight title)
  • Mamoru Uoi vs. Yuki Motoya
  • Kazumasa Majima vs. Yutaka Saito
  • Jin Aoi vs. Kotetsu Boku
  • Seiichiro Ito vs. Makoto Shinryu
  • Yusaku Nakamura vs. Tatsuki Saomoto

RIZIN FF announces arena return with August double-header in Yokohama

RIZIN FF 22 and 23 will take place in Yokohama with a half-filled arena as the Japanese promotion returns to fan-attended events.

Japanese promotion RIZIN FF is returning to action in August with a double-header in Yokohama and a pair of title fights already booked.

RIZIN FF 22 and RIZIN FF 23 – dubbed “Starting Over” and “Calling Over” respectively – will take place at the Pia Arena in Yokohoma. The events will take place with fans in attendance, with the arena operating at 50% capacity to allow for social distancing.

The headline fight of the weekend will see [autotag]Kai Asakura[/autotag] take on [autotag]Hiromasa Ogikubo[/autotag] for the vacant bantamweight title. The fight represents Asakura’s second consecutive shot at the bantamweight bout after he was knocked out by Manel Kape in their battle for the vacant belt at RIZIN FF 20. Kape has since departed RIZIN to join the UFC, leaving the title up for grabs once again, and Asakura is determined to take full advantage.

He’ll take on 33-year-old Ogikubo, who defeated Shintaro Ishiwatari via split decision in a thriller at RIZIN FF 20 to position himself for a shot at the title. The former Shooto flyweight champion and finalist of The Ultimate Fighter Season 24 “Tournament of Champions” is now competing 10 pounds heavier and hoping to capture the RIZIN title in only his third fight for the promotion.

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Set to star at RIZIN FF 22 is Brazilian grappler [autotag]Roberto Satoshi Souza[/autotag], who will take on the [autotag]Yachi Yusuke[/autotag] in a lightweight showcase bout.

Souza’s last MMA outing saw hm finished by America’s Johnny Case in the first round of their quarterfinal clash in the RIZIN lightweight grand prix. He has since showcased his submission skills in a one-versus-five elimination challenge at RIZIN FF 21.

Now he returns to action against Yusuke, who rebounded from a three-fight skid with a resounding soccer-kick KO victory over Hrito Uesako at the co-promoted Bellator 237 event in Saitama last December.

RIZIN FF 22 bouts include:

  • Robert Satoshi Souza vs. Yusuke Yachi
  • Kanna Asakura vs. Mizuki Furuse
  • Naokei Inoue vs. Shooto Watanabe
  • Tetsuya Seki vs. Yojiro Uchimura

RIZIN FF 23 bouts include:

  • Kai Asakura vs. Hromasa Ogikubo
  • Yuki Motoya vs. Mamoru Uoi
  • Kazumasa Majima vs. Yuyaka Saito
  • Seiichiro Ito vs. Makoto Takahashi

Kai Asakura vs. Manel Kape booked for vacant Rizin belt, additional Bellator 237 bouts announced

Japan’a Rizin FF has confirmed a clutch of new matchups for their end-of-year event, as well as their contributions to Bellator 237.

Japanese promotion Rizin FF has confirmed a clutch of new matchups for their end-of-year event, as well as their contributions to Bellator 237.

Rizin FF 20 takes place Dec. 31 at Saitama Super Arena in Japan. In the night’s headliner, [autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag] (14-4) has been added to face the previously announced [autotag]Kai Asakura[/autotag] (14-1) for the Rizin bantamweight title recently vacated by the injured Kyoji Horiguchi.

That brings the total number of Rizin title fights on the card to three.

A host of other fight bookings has also been made for the event, with Russia’s [autotag]Vitaly Shemetov[/autotag] (23-10) vs. EFC light heavyweight champion [autotag]Simon Biyong[/autotag] (6-1), [autotag]Jake Heun[/autotag] (14-9) vs. Olympic gold medalist [autotag]Satoshi Ishii[/autotag] (22-10-1) and former Pancrase bantamweight champion [autotag]Shintaro Ishiwatari[/autotag] (26-7-4) will take on “The Ultimate Fighter 24” runner-up [autotag]Hiromasa Ogikubo[/autotag] (19-4-2) in a bantamweight title eliminator, with the winner set to face the winner of the Asakura-Kape matchup early in 2020.

Rizin also announced a pair of new matchups for their co-promoted Dec. 29 event, Bellator 237, with 2017 Rizin grand prix champion [autotag]Kanna Asakura[/autotag] (15-4) set to face [autotag]Jayme Hinshaw[/autotag] (4-3), while heavyweights are set to collide as Japan’s [autotag]Shoma Shibisai[/autotag] (5-2) takes on Russia’s [autotag]Sergey Shemetov[/autotag] (9-6).

Rizin FF 20 confirmed fights include:

  • Kai Asakura vs. Manel Kape – for vacant bantamweight title
  • Champ Jiri Prochazka vs. C.B. Dollaway – for light heavyweight title
  • Champ Ayaka Hamasaki vs. Seo Hee Ham – for super atomweight title
  • Johnny Case vs. Tofiq Musaev – lightweight grand prix semifinal
  • Patricky “Pitbull” Freire vs. Luiz Gustavo – lightweight grand prix semifinal
  • Patrick Mix vs. Yuki Motoya
  • Mikuru Asakura vs. John Teixeira
  • Simon Biyong vs. Vitaly Shemetov
  • Jake Heun vs. Satoshi Ishii
  • Rena Kubota vs. Lindsey Vanzandt
  • Shintaro Ishiwatari vs. Hiromasa Ogikubo

* * * *

Bellator 237 confirmed fights include:

MAIN CARD

  • Fedor Emelianenko vs. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson
  • Michael Chandler vs. Benson Henderson
  • Lorenz Larkin vs. Keita Nakamura
  • Ilara Joanne vs. Kana Watanabe
  • Daron Cruickshank vs. Goiti Yamauchi

POSTLIMS

  • Andy Nguyen vs. Ai Shimizu
  • Ryuichiro Sumimura vs. Jon Tuck
  • Jarred Brooks vs. Haruo Ochi
  • Hiroto Uesako vs. Yusuke Yachi
  • Kanna Asakura vs. Jayme Hinshaw
  • Sergey Shemetov vs. Shoma Shibisai