No Winner. Floyd Mayweather Finished Mikuru Asakura (Referee Stoppage, 2R, 3:15)
Fans were on the edge of their seats for the highly anticipated main event between the king of Boxing, undefeated legend Floyd Mayweather and notorious underground street fighting star, mixed martial artist Mikuru Asakura.
Mayweather assumed wide, regular footing when squaring off against the southpaw Asakura. They tested the waters, pawing with jabs and attempting to gaude reactions to feints. Asakura caught on to Mayweathers timing and landed one of his left straights clean to the body. The hall of fame boxer was somewhat over reacting to the streetfighters’ twitches and feints, perhaps a strategy to avoid anything wild and unorthodox. Growing in confidence, a straight to the body and hook to the head partly landed for Asakura, angling out on the exit. Mayweather did not let his hands go much as he analysed and calculated. With no telegraphing or set up Mayweather honed in on a body blow as his fired up opponent called him on. In the last minute the boxing prodigy worked the body and began to commit to combinations. At the tail end of the round, the Rizin Featherweight contender came within a hair’s breadth of catching the king but Mayweather was slick as he bobbed and weaved. Both smiled as a tense round came to a close.
In the 2nd round the action really started to heat up. Asakura swung lead hooks and “shovel” uppercuts as he tried to measure Mayweather coming in. Mayweather was showing his immense knowledge and expertise, sneaking straight hands in at unexpected moments. When both fighters met, Asakura looked to rough the technician up with repetitive right hooks. Slowly inching forward Mayweathers class was showing, the right straight the weapon of choice, he tagged the MMA fighter with masterful timing. Asakura was game and not to be intimidated, a left hook and lead straight both found their home. As the crowd cheered, a 1-2 reached Mayweather who pulled back and smiled. After landing his cleanest blows of the fight the Japanese streetfighter punched in flurries, and while Mayweather deftly avoided most, some penetrated the legendary defense of the decorated boxer. With 20 seconds left an unfortunate low blow to Asakura caused him to wince and gesture to the referee. Instructing the fighters to “fight on”, Mayweather snuck in a deceptively powerful right. With arms by his side Asakura traded left hand for right with Mayweather who had his prey set up. A long left caught his opponent, spurring him on to contest straight hands with the superior Boxer. Mayweather was on point as he drilled his left hand to the side of Asakura`s skull. Dropping to the canvas Asakura appeared unhurt however, equilibrium gone, he could not stand or focus. The referee counted a devastated Asakura out at the end of an electrifying 2nd round.
No Winner. Koji “Kouzi” Tanaka Finished Ray “Jizzy” Sadeghi (TKO, 3R, 0:50)
With about a 20kg weight difference between the combatants, the smaller “Kouzi” was cautious early, circling and getting a read on the unorthodox “Jizzy”. Using his weight, as instructed by his corner, “Jizzy” spent extra time in the clinch, leaning on Tanaka. The strategy appeared to be to wear on the Japanese brawler while also resting and conserving energy.
In the 2nd round a wild right from Mayweather’s bodyguard seemed to get through, causing “Kouzi” to drop to a knee under the pressure. Sadeghi clubbed away on a flustered opponent with looping shots in close. During the 2nd stanza the notable difference in skill became apparent however as “Kouzi” took command of the match. The bodybuilder was slowing significantly, stalling in the clinch and turning his back to avoid the barrage of strikes targeting his body and head. Drilling hooks to the head, “Kouzi” ended the round in total control.
Worn out and tired, “Jizzy” gave it his all but could not stave off the inevitable as a straight right, right cross in succession sent him careering to the canvas. As he stood a brutal left hook to the body then head put the heavily muscled “Jizzy” down for good. Experience and technique trumped size and power, as a jovial “Kouzi” celebrated.
Nadaka Yoshinari defeated Bandasak So Trakunpet by TKO (Referee Stoppage. R1, 2:24)
Yoshinari wasted no time in getting down to business, as is customary for the Thai Boxing ace. With unprecedented power for his stature the striking sensation unloaded a straight left followed by a left crescent kicks to the body that dug deep. Winded, Bandasak backed up against the ropes before unleashing a heavy right straight on target, a warning that the Thai champion was still dangerous. Stepping up the tempo, Yoshinari showcased his power, versatility and technical acumen. Knees, body shots and a dynamite elbow stunned his foe as Yoshinari continued to pick him apart with surgical precision. With a full arsenal of weaponry on display Yoshinari targeted the legs, dropping his tough opponent with a single leg kick before doubling up on a right body head combination that dropped Bandasak. The brave Thai beat the count and soldiered on but appeared shell shocked as his Japanese opponent ripped the body with hands and knees. With Bandasak frozen against the ropes absorbing damage the referee mercifully stepped in. A household name in Thailand, Yoshinari is a truly exceptional striker, finding opponents for the 21 year old will continue to be difficult.
Kota Miura defeated Bunchuai Phonsungnoen by submission (Armbar, R1, 1:54)
As the Super Rizin PPV kicked off, Kota Miura stepped into the ring to face Thai Boxer/ Boxer Phonsungnoen. Miura has had a rocky time as of late, catching Covid-19 and having 2 Rizin bouts nixed. The son of famous Footballer Kazuyoshi Miura then gave up size and experience to face Muay Thai and Kickboxing legend Buakaw Banchamek just 3 weeks after contracting the virus. While the writing was on the wall, Miura was dug deep and held tough against the Thai legend, surviving until the 3rd round before the referee stepped in for a standing TKO.
While not as credentialed as Thai Boxing royalty Baukaw, Phonsungnoen was clearly a threat in the striking department. A check right hook landed for the Thai early, prompting Miura to pull guard. Short elbows from the top rattled the Japanese fighter creating distance for Phonsungnoen to disengage and invite him to stand. Returning to the feet, in hindsight cost the MMA debutant as Miura walked through a heavy body shot to score a bodylock takedown. A slick progression to mount, Miura wasted no time in snapping on a lightning fast armbar for the tap around the 2 minute mark. Given his celebrity status and impressive development in MMA, Rizin may well have a future superstar in Miura.
