Vugar Karamov Defeated Mikuru Asakura by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) r1, 2:41
The main event and battle for the Featherweight title commenced with Asakura looking to bait a reaction from the explosive Karamov. A high IQ fighter, Asakura blocked kicks and slipped punches while getting a read on his opponent. Karamov seized a single leg and rattled off 2 straight hands before taking his adversary down. Progressing straight to mount Karamov rained down vicious elbows and punches. Asakura turned to escape the onslaught and stood against the ropes. The Japanese star was to get no respite however as Karamov locked in a tight rear naked choke with no “hooks”. While Asakura was flat against the ropes to avoid his back being taken Karamov muscled enough squeeze from the angle to get the tap. As the choke was on tight under the neck, perfect position was not needed, especially given the Azerbaijani’s raw power.
Typically a slow starter who works his way into fights, Asakura will be bitterly disappointed at being unable to mount any offence and failing at the final hurdle once again. For Karimov, running through the Rizin superstar, and top contender will have catapulted his already elevated status. Yet to be finished as a professional, a showdown with former Featherweight champion Kleber Koike Erbst would appear to be on the horizon!
Juan “Spaniard” Archuleta Defeated Hiromasa Ogikubo by Unanimous Decision (3-0)
The first round got underway as Archuleta unloaded with punch combinations with the intention of closing the range. Ogikubo struck back with a low kick before being hoisted into the air by the powerful American. Off his back Ogikubo kept safe with underhooks looking to elevate and get back to his feet. Archuleta was content to stay in guard. Both peppered with short blows to the head as they reached an impasse. Ogikubo kicked off against the ropes and returned standing. Archuleta took him right back to the canvas after eating some shots on the feet where he held him until the round finished.
A fired up Ogikubo kept the “Spaniard” moving back at the beginning of the 2nd stanza. Inside kicks, outside kicks, high kicks, Ogikubo was hitting and moving to avoid getting cornered. In the grappling department they switched back and forth between offence and defence, jockeying for position against the ropes. Body kicks landed by the advancing Ogikubo, who made good use of knees when they clinched. Archleta was able to get the fight to the ground but could not secure position as Ogikubo kept returning to the feet. Damage was mounting on Archuleta who had absorbed some 1-2 combinations from the BW GP winner.
The Final round and the evenly matched battle of willpower and determination continued. Ogikubo leg go with an inside kick and Archuleta hit a takedown, only for his opponent to spring right back up. They both wrestled for position against ropes with Ogikubo doing a surprisingly good job of handling the bigger, stronger wrestler. Ogikubo dived for a single leg but Archuleta sprawled and stretched out and they ended up stalled on the ground. Ogikubo let go the leg and Archuleta took over, taking top position and back, shutting down any of his opponents attempts to grab and elbow and roll. The final few minutes played out a lot like a wrestling match as Archuleta “rode” the back of Ogikubo, prioritising control with both hands clenched around the body.
While very little strikes were landed, Archuleta’s control time and positional superiority won him a hard earned unanimous decision victory. For Ogikubo, the late notice 125lb fighter stepped up to the challenge and, while his stamina and tenacity held up he was largely out-muscled for significant portions of the fight. It was not pretty but Archuleta, facing a change of opponent and having a lot to lose, got the job done and ensured a win above all costs. He becomes Rizin’s first champion that was not “home grown”.
Seiza Izawa Defeated Claire Lopez by Submission (Guillotine), R1, 1:04
Both fighters tested the waters with leg kicks until Izawa drops and powers forward to put Lopez against the ropes. A takedown by Izawa as Lopez looked to establish guard. From 1/2 guard, hooking her arm around the back of the neck, Izawa let Lopez roll through to stand in order to lock up a front naked choke guillotine. With the “power guillotine” on tight Lopez tapped and, as the referee waved the fight off fell to the ground unconscious.
One of Rizin’s brightest stars, Izawa always fights to finish and, inevitably, she gets it. Lopez, dropping down in weight, had a significant power advantage and, on paper, appeared to be a threat to Izawa. Finding the next opponent for the standout grappler will be difficult!
Chihiro Suzuki Defeated Patricio “Pitbull” Friere by KO (Right Hook) 1R, 2:32
Suzuki came out guns blazing, fearlessly taking the fight to the Bellator Knockout artist. A right straight followed by left hook were the weapons of choice for the Japanese kickboxer, who repeated the same basic combination with pin point accuracy and power. “Pitbull”, unable to match the speed and catch his prey with his feared counter hooks, targeted the calves with low kicks. As the low kicks stacked up Suzuki’s resolve intensified. Suzuki fought off a takedown and clipped the Brazilian slugger with a left. Pursuing, he timed a right hand over the top of a “Pitbull” left that hit his temple, stiffening the Bellator FW champions legs. A follow up beat Pitbull to the punch and landed flush on the chin, dropping the legend who slumped into, and down, the ropes and on to the mat. The Japanese underdog hammered 2 follow ups just to be sure, but “Pibull” was finished. The referee leapt in at 2:32 of the opening stanza!
2 strikers with reputations for knockouts collided head to head, both with knockouts on the agenda. Suzuki shocked the world with one of the biggest upsets in recent memory. “Pitbull” was full of praise for the Japanese fighter, stating that he could not stand and it was the first time to ever be Knocked out in his career! He also pointed out that Suzuki absorbed punches as he threw his own. Fighting fire with fire rarely works against the “Pitbull” brothers. In this case Suzuki’s “do or die” attitude earned him the biggest win of his career!
Tofiq Musayev Defeated Akira Okada by KO (Left Hook) R2, 1:11
Musayev dwarfed Akira when it came to size and his strength was undeniable. Straight right hands and body kicks found their mark and the sound of the blows echoed around the arena. Southpaw Akira tried to wade forward, looking to absorb a strike in order to get one back. The rock solid Japanese fighter landed his own straight, following up with a thudding right hook. Akira was playing with fire and then some, barely getting his guard up in time and coming really close to taking murderous kicks on the chin. The long right straight from Musayev landed, again and again until one of the bombs finally it put Akira down down. Shaking his head through the opening round Akira endured a worrying amount of damage.
Unwavering, Akira entered the 2nd round winging hooks while surging forward. Larger and also longer Musayev had advantage on outside with a heat seaking missile of a right straight. After both brawled, Musayev clipped Akira coming in with a knee and a short left. The Azerbaijan fighter started a vicious combination of left and right hook, then 2 right hands as Akira tried to exit before a final flurry ended in a left hook that put the incredibly durable Akira down for good.
Musayev who is built like a tank and hits like a freight train, has a staggering 91% finishing rate and will continue to be a problem for the division, especially in the striking department. Coming off a devastating loss where Musayev maintained that he could not continue due to groin strike only to have the fight changed to a loss due to body strike (both hit together), the Rizin LW GP winner rebounded in emphatic fashion.
Shinobu Obu Defeated Kenta Takizawa by TKO (Referee Stoppage) R1, 4:54
Karate stylish Takizawa stance switched continually, using lateral movement to not present an easy target for a takedown. Olympic silver medalist in wrestling Ota shot for the legs but it was from too far out and the circling Takizawa easily avoided. Takizawa keeping his unleashed his karate with a jump spinning back kick to the chin. Ota, unbelievably, ate it and seized a leg to get to the clinch! Another spinning kick combined with stepping in side kicks from Takizawa kept the wrestler at bay until Ota wrapped his arms around his opponent. After being dropped repeatedly Takizawa went to the corner to lean his weight forward and prevent being taken for another ride. As the grappling unfolded Takizawa’s head went out of the ropes and referee reset. The situation repeated itself, this time the Olympian let go and blasted a knee and left hands to the head. With his back turned Takizawa moved his head to escape and it went through the ropes. Even though the Karate stylist was defending the referee made the contentious decision to stop the match with just 6 seconds left in the round.
Olympic wrestler Ota, who is targeting the 125lbs division, has now won back to back fights by T/KO, if fact 3 of his 4 wins have come by way of strikes. Ota has grounded every opponent he has faced, combined with his work ethic, adaptability, progression in the sport and natural power in his striking, Ota is championship material. As for Takizawa, his frustration is understandable yet he lost in almost the exact same manner he beat Yuki Motoya.
Igor Tanabe Defeated Daiichi Abe by Submission (Inverted Heelhook) R1, 4:34
Arguably Japan’s best grappler, Tanabe stepped up to the challenge for his 3rd MMA match against a dangerous veteran. A rangy striker known for his precision and power Abe put the pressure on Tanabe from the get-go, sending him to the canvas with a blistering 1-2. Tanabe repeatedly threw the jab, acting as if he would engage in a striking battle. Once Abe committed again and the distance was closed Tanabe took the fight to his domain. On the mat the BJJ Black belt worked for the head and arm choke, electing to smoothly take the back when Abe rolled out. Tanabe worked for the rear naked choke as Abe scrambled and went through the ropes. On restart Abe deftly managed to take the top position with Tanabe slipping off the back and into guard. As Tanabe went to a triangle choke Abe, whose defense was on point, pulled out and the fight resumed standing. Abe found range with his straight punches, with the straight landing flush as Tanabe backed out. Just as things appeared to be going Abe’s way Tanabe dropped to his back and latched onto a leg. From a calf slicer position Tanabe had his legs wrapped around his opponent and an arm behind the knee, to ensure extra control. Abe tried to pull the leg out and reposition on the opposite side of Tanabe’s body. Before Abe could get his weight down Tanabe angled and dropped, simultaneously wrenching a nasty inverted heel hook for a lightning fast tap as Abe fell back in pain. The official time was 4 minutes and 34 seconds of the opening stanza.
Born in Brazil and raised in Japan, Tanabe demonstrated why he is one of the worlds best, and most feared, grapplers. Clearly able to absorb damage from a heavy hitter, Tanabe will need to continue to brush up his striking skills, on the ground though he will be unparalleled.
Yuki Ito Defeated Hiroya Kondo bt Split Decision (2-1)
Ito, fighting out of the Southpaw stance loaded up big and threw hard as Hiroya ducked under for a brief takedown. From a single leg Hiroya worked to the back of Ito where he repeatedly attempted to take the match to the ground. Ito escaped and a technical, highly entertaining war of scrambles ensued. Ito locked in a tight defensive guillotine but Hiroya expertly tackled him to the canvas side on, nullifying the hold while improving position. The sequence continued as Hiroya looked for single legs while Ito landed heavy body punches, knees and swung for the fences on the feet.
Ito continued the straight hands and left kicks to the body and head into the 2nd round. Before long though Hiroya engaged in grappling against the ring ropes. Both fighters were stringing together multiple sequences of attacks, reversals and scrambles, alternating who came out on top. With about 2 minutes left, Ito had taken the fight to his realm, standing he threw combinations with fight ending intentions. The momentum had started favoring Ito by the end of the round as he finished on top blasting with strikes.
When the final round got underway Ito was firing on all cylinders, throwing combinations involving straights to the body, hooks, uppercuts and knees. When the hit the ground it was Ito on top, and Hiroya appeared to be in trouble, especially after his back was taken. The grappling specialist Hiroya executed a slick reversal though, to turn the tables and secure back mount on Ito! Lifting and slamming his opponent, Hiroya was in his element but could not force a mistake and find an opening, Ito was well schooled enough to keep up with the elite grappler. Ito endured some dicey positions to escape back to the feet where he looked for a fight ending knee on the shooting Hiroya. The strike glanced past Hiroya who latched a single leg as Ito attacked again with a guillotine. Hiroya fought free and started pouring down ground and pound as round ended.
In a razor close fight, 2 of the judges sided with Ito’s striking, with hooks, knees, uppercuts and consistent body blows doing their damage. The dissenting judge favoured the grappling heavy attack of Hiroya, as he hit a German supplex, single legs and racked up control time.
*All photography courtesy of Stefan Nilsson
