Tag: Kanna Asakura

2024 MMA retirement tracker: A list of those who hung up the gloves

Here’s a list of every notable retirement announced by fighters from the UFC, PFL, Bellator, and more in 2024.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

MMA is a constantly evolving sport with a revolving door of athletes entering and exiting. Currently, fighters from the era who helped make the sport so popular are beginning to trickle away from competition and hang up their gloves in order to move on to the next chapter in life.

If there’s one thing that’s well known about combat sports retirements, though, it’s that they often don’t last long. The urge to compete, and perhaps more importantly get a payday, will continue to drive fighters back even well beyond their expiration dates.

2024 has already seen a number of notable fighters announcing they are done with the sport, and we have a list of those who have opted to walk away this year (the list will update as new retirements are announced).

Rizin FF 27: Ayaka Hamasaki edges split-decision verdict to retain super atomweight title in Nagoya

Super atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki held on to her title by the slimmest of margins after earning a split-decision win at Rizin FF 27.

[autotag]Ayaka Hamasaki[/autotag] was pushed to the limit in her rematch against [autotag]Kanna Asakura[/autotag], but did just enough to earn the split-decision verdict from the ringside judges as she retained her Rizin FF super atomweight title by the slimmest of margins in Nagoya, Japan.

Hamasaki’s title bout with Asakura was the main event of Rizin FF 27, and saw the champion hang on to title after a grueling three round battle at Nippongaishi Hall.

After the fight was paused in the opening seconds for an accidental low blow, the action resumed with both women engaging in a wild exchange that eventually saw the action move to the canvas, with the champion on top.

Hamasaki (22-3) landed a pair of powerful knees to her downed opponent, but Asakura (18-5) showed her grit by battling to her feet, before picking up the champion and slamming her powerfully into the canvas.

Round 2 saw Asakura push the pace as she forced Hamasaki onto her back and set to work from the champion’s guard. But Hamasaki defended well and threatened with an armbar off her back before eventually escaping and returning to her feet. Asakura wouldn’t be denied, however, and after taking Hamasaki to the mat again, the challenger moved into mount and rained down a salvo of strikes as the bell sounded to save the champion from a TKO defeat.

After a cagey start to the final round, Asakura landed a takedown and pushed for a finish, but Hamasaki had successes of her own through the final stanza, as she attempted to snatch a final-round submission from the challenger with a standing armbar in the corner.

Neither athlete could make the crucial breakthrough, however, as the bout went to the judges, with Hamasaki hanging on to her title via split decision.

Rizin FF 27 live results

The women’s super atomweight title is on the line as Ayaka Hamasaki looks to defend her title at Rizin FF 27 in Nagoya, Japan.

The women’s super atomweight title is on the line as Japanese promotion Rizin FF returns for Rizin FF 27 in Nagoya, Japan.

Defending champion [autotag]Ayaka Hamasaki [/autotag]wil take center stage in the main event when she puts her title on the line against challenger [autotag]Kanna Asakura[/autotag]. Two-time champ Hamasaki (21-3) captured the promotion’s vacant 108-pound title by defeating Asakura at Rizin FF 14 on New Year’s Eve, 2018, but lost her title to South Korea’s Seo Hee Ham in her third title defense at Rizin FF 20 a year later.

Hamasaki bounced back with a submission victory over Tomo Maesawa at Rizin FF 22 to set up another shot at the vacant title at Rizin FF 26, where she submitted Miyuu Yamamoto in the first round via leg scissors to reclaim the title.

Now Hamasaki will take on Asakura (18-4) once again, with the challenger heading into the rematch riding a four-fight winning streak.

Since her defeat to Hamasaki in 2018, Asakura has defeated Alesha Zappitella, Jayme Hinshaw, Mizuki Furuse and Ai Shimizu to push her back to the top of the contender list at 108 pounds.

The co-main event features Japan-based Brazilian grappler [autotag]Roberto de Souza[/autotag] (10-1), who will take on Japanese veteran and former lightweight King of Pancrase [autotag]Kazuki Tokudome[/autotag] (20-10-1).

Rizin FF 27 results include:

  • Champ Ayaka Hamasaki vs. Kanna Asakura – for women’s super atomweight title
  • Roberto de Souza vs. Kazuki Tokudome
  • Takasuke Kume vs. Koji Takeda
  • Kleber Koike Erbst def. Kazumasa Majima via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 3:02
  • Tsuyoshi Sudario def. Kazushi Miyamoto via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 0:08
  • Yoshinori Horie def. Tetsuya Seki via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:16
  • Hiroki Yamashita def. Kazuma Sone via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 0:27
  • Shooto Watanabe def. Takumi Tamaru via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:13
  • Yutaro Muramoto def. Seigo Yamamoto via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 2:37
  • Yuki Ito def. Kohei Sugiyama via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:33

Rizin FF 27: Ayaka Hamasaki, Kanna Asakura set for title rematch in Nagoya

A battle for the women’s super atomweight title tops the list of confirmed fights at Rizin FF 27 in Nagoya, Japan.

Japanese promotion Rizin FF has announced eight bouts for its next event, with a battle for the women’s super atomweight title at the top of the card.

Rizin FF 27 takes place Sunday, March 21 at Nippon Gaishi Hall in Nagoya, Japan. The event streams live via Rizin Live PPV.

Topping the list of confirmed bouts is a super atomweight title rematch between defending champion [autotag]Ayaka Hamasaki[/autotag] and former foe [autotag]Kanna Asakura[/autotag].

Two-time champ Hamasaki (21-3) captured the promotion’s vacant 108-pound title by defeating Asakura at Rizin FF 14 on New Year’s Eve, 2018, but lost her title to South Korea’s Seo Hee Ham in her third title defense at Rizin FF 20 a year later.

Hamasaki bounced back with a submission victory over Tomo Maesawa at Rizin FF 22 to set up another shot at the vacant title at Rizin FF 26, where she submitted Miyuu Yamamoto in the first round via leg scissors to reclaim the title.

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Now Hamasaki will take on Asakura (18-4) once again, with the challenger heading into the rematch riding a four-fight winning streak.

Since her defeat to Hamasaki in 2018, Asakura has defeated Alesha Zappitella, Jayme Hinshaw, Mizuki Furuse and Ai Shimizu to push her back to the top of the contenders list at 108 pounds.

Also set for action on the card include Japan-based Brazilian grappler [autotag]Roberto de Souza[/autotag] (10-1), who will take on Japanese veteran and former lightweight King of Pancrase [autotag]Kazuki Tokudome[/autotag] (20-10-1).

Confirmed bouts for Rizin FF 27 include:

  • Champ Ayaka Hamasaki vs. Kanna Asakura – for super atomweight title
  • Roberto Souza vs. Kazuki Tokudome
  • Takasuke Kume vs. Koji Takeda
  • Kleber Koike vs. Kazumasa Majima
  • Yutaro Muramoto vs. Seigo Yamamoto
  • Kazushi Miramoto vs. Tsuyoshi Sudario
  • Keisuke Horie vs. Tetsuya Seki
  • Takumi Tamaru vs. Shooto Watanabe
  • Kazuma Sone vs. Hiroki Yamashita
  • Yuki Ito vs. Kohei Sugiyama

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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