Tag: Hiromasa Ougikubo

RIZIN 45 official with Kyoji Horiguchi, John Dodson, Juan Archuelta and more

RIZIN’s New Year’s Eve event features a handful of names notable to North American MMA fans.

RIZIN 45 is officially on the calendar, and it features a handful of names notable to American viewers.

The event takes place Dec. 31 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, the promotion announced at a news conference Thursday. Atop the billing will be two title fights.

An inaugural RIZIN flyweight title has been implemented as former Bellator bantamweight champion [autotag]Kyoji Horiguchi[/autotag] (31-5) battles [autotag]Makoto Shinryu[/autotag] (16-1-1). Additionally, RIZIN bantamweight champion [autotag]Juan Archuleta[/autotag] (29-4) looks to defend his title vs. Japanese star [autotag]Kai Asakura[/autotag] (20-4).

Also on the card, former UFC title challenger and current BKFC flyweight champion [autotag]John Dodson[/autotag] (24-13) takes on [autotag]Hiromasa Ougikubo[/autotag] (25-8-2).

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With Bellator’s future uncertain, Horiguchi makes another appearance for RIZIN, a promotion for which he previously carried a bantamweight title. It’s the first fight for Horiguchi since an inaugural Bellator flyweight title fight in July that ended in a no contest after he was accidentally poked in the eye by Shinryu. The Dec. 31 fight will be a rematch, though this time for RIZIN gold.

After years of asking for crossover fights in RIZIN, Bellator product Archuleta got that in December when he defeated Soo Chul Kim at Bellator x RIZIN 1. Archuleta returned to RIZIN in May when he defeated Naoki Inoue. In July, Archuleta captured RIZIN gold when he defeated the then-champion Ougikubo. His opponent, Asakura is one of the biggest combat sports stars in the region, with wins over Horiguchi, Ougikubo, and others.

Dodson makes his second RIZIN appearance as he continues to jump back and forth over from BKFC. Thus far in RIZIN, Dodson is 2-0 with wins over Hideo Tokoro and Tatsuki Saomoto.

The current RIZIN 45 lineup includes:

  • Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Hiromasa Ougikubo
  • Juan Arhculeta vs. Kai Asakura
  • Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Makoto Shinryu
  • Kleber Koike vs. Yutaka Saito

Rizin FF vs. Bellator results: Kyoji Horiguchi dominates Hiromasa Ougikubo to give Team Bellator series win

Former Bellator and Rizin FF champ Kyoji Horiguchi made it 3-0 for Team Bellator with a one-sided win win.

[autotag]Kyoji Horiguchi[/autotag] is building momentum once again.

The former Bellator champion and ex-UFC title challenger got his second win of 2022 right before the year’s end while notching another victory for Bellator in the promotion’s head-to-head clash against Rizin FF. Horiguchi defeated fellow Japanese veteran [autotag]Hiromasa Ougikubo[/autotag] in a unanimous decision on the main card of Saturday’s Rizin FF vs. Bellator event in Japan.

The event took place at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, near Tokyo. The main card airs on Showtime via tape delay at 8 p.m. ET.

Apart from a few moments, it was one-way traffic in favor of Horiguchi (31-5), as he dominated Ougikubo (25-7-2) from start to finish.

In Round 1, Horiguchi did big damage with calf kicks that immediately impaired Ougikubo’s mobility. And towards the end of the round, Horiguchi dropped him with a well-placed shot and finished the round with heavy ground-and-pound from top.

The second round started well for Horiguchi, but he would find himself on bottom halfway through the round. He was unable to get back to his feet, but he also didn’t take much damage. Horiguchi made up for lost time in Round 3, as he dropped Ougikubo in the first few seconds and then out grappled him and controlled him for the remainder of the round.

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With this result, Horiguchi is now on a two-fight wining streak since losing to Patchy Mix at Bellator 279 in April – a loss that saw him eliminated from the Bellator bantamweight grand prix. The Japanese star defeated Yuto Hokamura by technical submission in his bout prior to the Rizin FF vs. Bellator event. Horiguchi is 3-3 since losing the Bellator title in 2019.

Horiguchi’s victory made it 3-0 for Team Bellator at the event, joining Juan Archuleta and Gadzhi Rabadanov in the winner’s circle.

Official Rizin vs. Bellator results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Rizin FF 40: Rizin vs. Bellator.

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Rizin FF 40: Rizin vs. Bellator weigh-in results: Promotion vs. promotion fights official

Check out the results from the official Rizin FF 40 weigh-ins, which features fight Rizin vs. Bellator cross-promotional fights.

The stage is set for the final major MMA event of 2022 after official weigh-ins for Rizin FF 40: Rizin vs. Bellator went down Thursday night in Japan.

With five promotion vs. promotion fights set for the main card, which airs on Showtime via tape-delay on Saturday from Saitama Super Arena just outside Tokyo, all the notable athletes successfully made weight.

In the main event, Rizin FF lightweight champion [autotag]Roberto de Souza[/autotag] (14-1) will welcome former Bellator featherweight titleholder [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] (19-1) to his turf in a compelling matchup. The co-headliner wills see current Bellator featherweight champ [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (34-5) take on Rizin FF’s [autotag]Kleber Koike Erbst[/autotag] (31-5-1).

Check out the complete main card weigh-in results below:

  • A.J. McKee (154.7) vs. Roberto de Souza (156)
  • Kleber Koike Erbst (145.2) vs. Patricio Freire (145)
  • [autotag]Kyoji Horiguchi[/autotag] (124.8) vs. [autotag]Hiromasa Ougikubo[/autotag] (125.4)
  • [autotag]Juan Archuleta[/autotag] (134) vs. [autotag]Soo Chul Kim[/autotag] (133.8)
  • [autotag]Gadzhi Rabadanov[/autotag] (155.9) vs. [autotag]Koji Takeda[/autotag] (156)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Rizin FF 40: Rizin vs. Bellator.

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Kyoji Horiguchi: Hiromasa Ougikubo improved, but I should be able to ‘dominate him in every aspect’

“I should be able to control him and dominate him in every aspect.”

[autotag]Kyoji Horiguchi[/autotag] thinks he’ll have the edge over [autotag]Hiromasa Ougikubo[/autotag] everywhere in their trilogy bout.

Horiguchi (30-5) faces Ougikubo (25–6–2) on Saturday’s Rizin 40 card which takes place at Saitama Super Arena just outside Tokyo. The main card will air in the U.S. on Showtime via tape-delay and the fights will take place in Rizin’s ring under the promotion’s ruleset.

Horiguchi already holds two wins over Ougikubo – once by submission to capture the Shooto bantamweight title in 2013, then a second time by unanimous decision at Rizin 11 in 2018, and the Japanese star doesn’t see their trilogy going any differently.

“I think he’s improved his skills since our last fight,” Horiguchi said through an interpreter during the Rizin 40 pre-fight press conference. “But I should be able to control him and dominate him in every aspect.”

He continued, “I just need to control the match and if I do, then I should be able to finish the match. And my condition, I feel very great.”

Horiguchi, a former UFC flyweight title challenger, said he plans on speaking to Bellator president Scott Coker after the fight to ask for the addition of the 125-pound division to the promotion. Horiguchi will compete at flyweight on Saturday for the first time since parting ways with the UFC in 2016.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Rizin FF 40: Rizin vs. Bellator.

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VIDEO: Rizin vs. Bellator New Year’s Eve faceoffs – including Noboyuki Sakakibara vs. Scott Coker!

With the five Rizin vs. Bellator matchups for Rizin 40 announced, the events top stars faced off – and so did the men in charge.

With the four of the five Rizin vs. Bellator matchups for Rizin 40 announced, the events top stars faced off – and so did the men in charge.

That’s right, even Bellator president Scott Coker and Rizin president Noboyuki Sakakibara jumped in and had a faceoff of their own to help promote the event.

On Wednesday, the promotions announced matchups for the Dec. 31 card at Saitama Super Arena were four matchups, including the headliner where former Bellator champion [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] (19-1) and Rizin lightweight champion [autotag]Roberto de Souza[/autotag] (14-1) are set to clash.

Scroll below to check out the fighters squaring off for the first time Wednesday during a press conference in Japan.

Rizin vs. Bellator New Year’s Eve matchups announced: A.J. McKee, Patricio Freire among participants

Rizin and Bellator’s best will go head to head on New Year’s Eve in Japan.

Rizin and Bellator’s best will go head to head on New Year’s Eve.

During a press conference Wednesday in Japan, both promotions announced that Rizin 40 will take place Dec. 31 at Saitama Super Arena just outside Tokyo. The main card will air in the U.S. on Showtime and the fights will take place in Rizin’s ring under the promotion’s ruleset.

Former Bellator champion [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] (19-1) will meet Rizin lightweight champion [autotag]Roberto de Souza[/autotag] (14-1) in the night’s headliner, whereas reigning Bellator featherweight champion [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (34-5) will take on Rizin featherweight champ [autotag]Kleber Koike[/autotag] (31–5–1) in the co-main event.

Also announced for the card is a flyweight matchup between ex-Bellator bantamweight champ [autotag]Kyoji Horiguchi[/autotag] (30-5) and [autotag]Hiromasa Ougikubo[/autotag] (25–6–2), which will mark their third fight. Horiguchi defeated Ougikubo twice; once by submission to capture the Shooto bantamweight title in 2013, then a second time by unanimous decision at Rizin 11 in 2018.

The fourth fight announced is a bantamweight fight between former Bellator champ [autotag]Juan Archuleta[/autotag] (26-4) and South Korea’s [autotag]Kim Soo Chul[/autotag] (18-6-1).

The current Rizin 40 lineup includes:

  • A.J. McKee vs. Roberto de Souza
  • Patricio Freire vs. Kleber Koike
  • Juan Archuleta vs. Kim Soo Chul
  • Kyoji Horiguchi vs Hiromasa Ougikubo

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Kyoji Horiguchi returns at RIZIN 38 in September, same card as Floyd Mayweather vs. Mikuru Asakura

Kyoji Horiguchi will return in search of his first win of 2022.

[autotag]Kyoji Horiguchi[/autotag] will return in search of his first win of 2022.

The former Bellator titleholder and current Rizin champion has been booked to return to the ring. Horiguchi (29-5) is set to take on [autotag]Yuto Hokamura[/autotag] (14-11-2) in a bantamweight bout at Rizin 38, which is scheduled for Sept. 25 at Saitama Super Arena in Japan.

The promotion announced the news Tuesday. It did not specify if the bout between Horiguchi and Hokamura is a championship fight.

Horiguchi is on the heels of the worst streak of his 12-year-career. The Japanese star is on a two-fight skid and 1-3 in his past four outings. Horiguchi was last seen in April when he was eliminated from the Bellator bantamweight grand prix in a unanimous decision loss to Patchy Mix. This upcoming fight will be Horiguchi’s first with Rizin since December 2020.

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Additionally, the previously reported exhibition boxing bout between [autotag]Floyd Mayweather[/autotag] and [autotag]Mikuru Asakura[/autotag] will take place on the same card.

Other matchups that were also announced: [autotag]Kyohei Hagiwara[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Chihiro Suzuki[/autotag] at featherweight; [autotag]Juri Ohara[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Luiz Gustavo[/autotag] at lightweight; [autotag]Shoma Shibisai[/autotag] vs. Callyu Gibrainn at heavyweight, [autotag]Hiromasa Ougikubo[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Soo Chul Kim[/autotag] at bantamweight, and [autotag]Nadaka Yoshinari[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Bandasak So Trakunpet[/autotag] at strawweight (kickboxing).

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