2023 in Rizin Fighting Federation

2023 in Rizin Fighting Federation
Information
First date	April 1, 2023
Last date	December 31, 2023
Events
Total events	9
Fights
Total fights	117
Title fights	7
Chronology
2022 in Rizin Fighting Federation 2023 in Rizin Fighting Federation 2024 in Rizin Fighting Federation

The year 2023 was the ninth year in the history of the Rizin Fighting Federation, a mixed martial arts promotion based in Japan.

List of events

Rizin Fighting Federation
#	Event	Date	Venue	Location	Attendance
1	Rizin 41 – Osaka	April 1, 2023	Maruzen Intec Arena	Osaka, Japan	9,987 [1]
2	Rizin Landmark 5	April 29, 2023	Yoyogi National Gymnasium	Tokyo, Japan	13,837 [2]
3	Rizin 42	May 6, 2023	Ariake Arena	Tokyo, Japan	14,930 [3]
4	Rizin 43 – Sapporo	June 24, 2023	Makomanai Ice Arena	Sapporo, Japan	8,510
5	Super Rizin 2: Rizin X Bellator	July 30, 2023	Saitama Super Arena	Saitama, Japan	24,264 [4]
6	Rizin 44	September 24, 2023	Saitama Super Arena	Saitama, Japan	11,681
7	Rizin Landmark 6	October 1, 2023	Dolphins Arena	Nagoya, Japan	7,017
8	Rizin Landmark 7	November 4, 2023	National Gymnastics Arena	Baku, Azerbaijan
9	Rizin 45	December 31, 2023	Saitama Super Arena	Saitama, Japan	23,013

Title fights

Title fights in 2023
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Event	Notes
Featherweight	Kleber Koike Erbst	vs.	Chihiro Suzuki	No Contest (missed weight)	1	2:59	Rizin 43	[lower-alpha 1]
Super Atomweight	Seika Izawa (c)	def.	Claire Lopez	Submission (ninja choke)	1	1:04	Super Rizin 2	[lower-alpha 2]
Bantamweight	Juan Archuleta	def.	Hiromasa Ougikubo	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	Super Rizin 2	[lower-alpha 3]
Featherweight	Vugar Karamov	def.	Mikuru Asakura	Submission (rear-naked choke)	1	2:41	Super Rizin 2	[lower-alpha 4]
Featherweight	Chihiro Suzuki	def.	Vugar Karamov (c)	KO (upkick and punches)	1	1:28	Rizin Landmark 7	[lower-alpha 5]
Bantamweight	Kai Asakura	def.	Juan Archuleta	TKO (knee to the body and punches)	2	3:20	Rizin 45	[lower-alpha 6]
Flyweight	Kyoji Horiguchi	def.	Makoto Takahashi	Submission (rear-naked choke)	2	3:44	Rizin 45	[lower-alpha 7]

1. For the vacant Rizin Featherweight Championship (as Koike missed weight and was stripped of the title, only Suzuki was eligible). Originally a Submission (armbar) win for Koike; overturned due to Koike missing weight.
2. For the Rizin Super Atomweight Championship.
3. For the vacant Rizin Bantamweight Championship.
4. For the vacant Rizin Featherweight Championship.
5. For the Rizin Featherweight Championship.
6. For the vacant Rizin Bantamweight Championship (as Archuleta missed weight and was stripped the title, only Asakura was eligible).
7. For the inaugural Rizin Flyweight Championship.

Rizin 41 – Osaka

Rizin 41 – Osaka
Information
Promotion	Rizin Fighting Federation
Date	April 1, 2023
Venue	Maruzen Intec Arena
City	Osaka, Japan
Attendance	9,987

Rizin 41 – Osaka was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on April 1, 2023, at the Maruzen Intec Arena in Osaka, Japan.

Background

A bantamweight kickboxing bout between Ryusei Ashizawa and the one-time K-1 super featherweight title challenger Kouzi was scheduled as the event headliner. ^[5]

Results

Rizin 41
Weight Class				Method	Round	T.Time	Notes
Bantamweight 61 kg	Ryusei Ashizawa	def.	Kouzi	Decision (Split)	3	3:00	Kickboxing rules
Featherweight 66 kg	Vugar Karamov	def.	Yoshinori Horie	Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)	2	3:21
Welterweight 77 kg	Keita Nakamura	def.	Kiichi Kunimoto	KO (Punches and Soccer Kick)	2	0:49
Flyweight 57 kg	Makoto Takahashi	def.	Daichi Kitakata	Technical Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)	2	1:17
Intermission
Featherweight 66 kg	Kyohei Hagiwara	def.	Kyle Aguon	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Bantamweight 61 kg	Koichi Ishizuka	def.	Yuto Hokamura	Decision (Split)	3	5:00
Lightweight 71 kg	Kim Kyung-pyo	def.	Sho Patrick Usami	Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)	1	3:33
Flyweight 57 kg	Mehman Mamedov	def.	Yusaku Nakamura	KO (Punches)	1	0:23
Bantamweight 61 kg	Shun Onishi	def.	Motoki	KO (Punch)	1	1:37	Kickboxing rules
Catchweight 66,5 kg	Sota Kimura	def.	Shingeki no Yuuki	TKO (Body Punch)	3	1:32	Kickboxing rules
Opening Bouts
Catchweight 57,5 kg	Asataro	def.	Shin Sakurai	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00	Kickboxing rules
Catchweight 57,5 kg	Daichi Akahira	def.	Yuto Miwa	KO (Right straight)	1	2:47	Kickboxing rules

^[6]

Rizin Landmark 5

Rizin Landmark 5
Information
Promotion	Rizin Fighting Federation
Date	April 29, 2023
Venue	Yoyogi National Gymnasium
City	Tokyo, Japan
Attendance	13,837

Rizin Landmark 5 was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on April 29, 2023, at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.

Background

A featherweight bout between the former Rizin featherweight champion Juntaro Ushiku and Mikuru Asakura served as the event headliner, ^[7] while a featherweight bout between another former Rizin featherweight champion Yutaka Saito and Ren Hiramoto was booked as the co-main event. ^[8]

Results

Rizin Landmark 5
Weight Class				Method	Round	T.Time	Notes
Featherweight 66 kg	Mikuru Asakura	def.	Juntaro Ushiku	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Featherweight 66 kg	Yutaka Saito	def.	Ren Hiramoto	Decision (Split)	3	5:00
Bantamweight 61 kg	Shinobu Ota	def.	Kazuma Kuramoto	KO (Punch)	1	0:27
Intermission
Lightweight 71 kg	Luiz Gustavo	def.	Koji Takeda	Decision (Split)	3	5:00
W.Super Atomweight 49 kg	Kanna Asakura	def.	Mei Yamaguchi	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
W.Catchweight 51 kg	Claire Lopez	def.	Rena Kubota	Submission (Kneebar)	3	4:21
Heavyweight 120 kg	Tsuyoshi Sudario	def.	Roque Martinez	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Featherweight 66 kg	Masanori Kanehara	def.	Sora Yamamoto	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Lightweight 71 kg	Ali Abdulkhalikov	def.	Tatsuya Saika	KO (Punch)	1	3:30

Rizin 42

Rizin 42
Information
Promotion	Rizin Fighting Federation
Date	May 6, 2023
Venue	Ariake Arena
City	Tokyo, Japan
Attendance	14,930

Rizin 42 was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on May 6, 2023, at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

Background

A bantamweight bout between Yuki Motoya and the former Rizin Bantamweight champion Kai Asakura was booked as the event headliner. ^[9]

Results

Rizin 42
Weight Class				Method	Round	T.Time	Notes
Bantamweight 61 kg	Kai Asakura	def.	Yuki Motoya	KO (Knee to the Body)	3	2:25
Bantamweight 61 kg	Juan Archuleta	def.	Naoki Inoue	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Lightweight 71 kg	Roberto Satoshi Souza (c)	def.	Spike Carlyle	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00	Non-title bout.
Catchweight 70 kg	Buakaw Banchamek	draw.	Rukiya Anpo	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00	Kickboxing rules
Intermission
Featherweight 66 kg	YA-MAN	def.	Kota Miura	KO (Knee and Punches)	1	3:13	Special rules
Flyweight 57 kg	John Dodson	def.	Tatsuki Saomoto	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Featherweight 66 kg	Kazumasa Majima	def.	Takahiro Ashida	Technical Submission (Shoulder Choke)	1	4:43
Featherweight 66 kg	Ulka Sasaki	def.	Boyd Allen	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Lightweight 71 kg	Viktor Kolesnik	def.	Atsushi Kishimoto	TKO (Leg Kick)	2	2:57
Flyweight 57 kg	Erson Yamamoto	def.	Yuki Ito	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Featherweight 66 kg	Takeji Yokoyama	def.	Takuya Yamamoto	Submission (Armbar)	1	1:24
Flyweight 57 kg	Ramazan Temirov	def.	Yuta Hamamoto	TKO (Punches)	1	4:06
Catchweight 69 kg	Sota Kimura	def.	Yasuhiro Kido	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00	Kickboxing rules

Rizin 43 – Sapporo

Rizin 43 – Sapporo
Information
Promotion	Rizin Fighting Federation
Date	June 24, 2023
Venue	Makomanai Ice Arena
City	Sapporo, Japan
Attendance	8,510

Rizin 43 – Sapporo was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on June 24, 2023, at the Makomanai Ice Arena in Sapporo, Japan.

Background

A Rizin Featherweight Championship bout between Kleber Koike Erbst and Chihiro Suzuki headlined the event. ^[10] At the weigh-ins, Koike weighed in at 145.88 pounds, 0.88 pounds over the title limit. As a result, upon commencement of the fight, Koike was stripped of the title and only Suzuki is eligible to win it. ^[11]

Results

Main card
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Featherweight	Kleber Koike Erbst	vs.	Chihiro Suzuki	No Contest (missed weight)	1	2:59	[lower-alpha 1]
Lightweight	Yusuke Yachi	def.	Zach Zane	Submission (rear-naked choke)	1	2:50
Heavyweight	Mikio Ueda	def.	Hideki Sekine	TKO (punches and head kick)	1	0:22
Featherweight	Hiroaki Suzuki	def.	Taisei Nishitani	TKO (punches)	1	0:56
Catchweight (62.5 kg)	Hiroki Suzuki	def.	Genji Umeno	KO (flying knee)	2	2:43	[lower-alpha 2]
Intermission
Catchweight (73 kg)	Minoru Kimura	def.	Daryl Lokoku	KO (punch)	1	1:08	[lower-alpha 3]
Featherweight	Yuta Kubo	def.	Karate Kinoshita	Decision (split)	3	5:00
Women's Strawweight	Saori Oshima	def.	Haruka Hasegawa	Submission (scarf hold armlock)	1	1:16
Featherweight	Suguru Nii	def.	Tateo Iida	KO (punches)	1	2:32
Featherweight	Tetsuya Seki	def.	Raiki Endo	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Bantamweight	Joji Goto	def.	Trent Girdham	Submission (twister)	2	2:34
Women's Bantamweight	Aoi Kuriyama	def.	Marina Kumagai	KO (punch)	1	2:48
Catchweight (57.5 kg)	Kensei Yamakawa	def.	Ryoga Hirano	TKO (three knockdowns)	2	1:22	[lower-alpha 4]
Opening bouts
Lightweight	Toshiki Watanabe	def.	Kento Azumi	Submission (kneebar)	1	1:07	[lower-alpha 5]
Catchweight (55 kg)	Suguru Hayasaka	def.	Daiki Maruyama	Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke)	1	3:33	[lower-alpha 6]
Catchweight (61.5 kg)	Aito Tanimura	def.	Ryuya Koide	KO (punch)	1	0:55	[lower-alpha 7]
Catchweight (58 kg)	Shoki Hoshikubo	vs.	Kazuyuki Furukawa	No Contest (missed weight)	3	3:00	[lower-alpha 8]

1. For the vacant Rizin Featherweight Championship (as Koike missed weight and was stripped of the title, only Suzuki was eligible). Originally a Submission (armbar) win for Koike; overturned due to Koike missing weight.
2. Kickboxing rules
3. Kickboxing rules
4. Kickboxing rules
5. Special rules
6. Special rules
7. Kickboxing rules
8. Kickboxing rules. Originally a Decision (unanimous) win for Hoshikubo; overturned due to missed weight.

Super Rizin 2: Rizin X Bellator

Super Rizin.2: Rizin X Bellator
Information
Promotion	Rizin Fighting Federation Bellator MMA
Date	July 30, 2023
Venue	Saitama Super Arena
City	Saitama, Japan
Attendance	24,264 [4]

Super Rizin 2: Rizin X Bellator was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation and Bellator MMA on July 30, 2023 at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. ^{[12] [13] [14] [15]}

As with the previous Super Rizin & Rizin 38 and Rizin 40 & Rizin vs Bellator events in 2022, Super Rizin 2 was spilt between two cards. Matches on the Bellator card were fought inside a cage, while Super Rizin 2 took place in the traditional ring. ^{[12] [14]}

Outside of Japan, the Bellator card aired live on Showtime in the United States, while Super Rizin 2 was distributed via PPV on FITE. ^{[16] [17]}

Background

The event was originally supposed to be headlined by a Rizin Bantamweight Championship bout between former champion Kai Asakura and former Bellator MMA Bantamweight champion Juan Archuleta. ^[18] On July 18, 2023 it was announced that Asakura withdrew from the event and would be replaced by Hiromasa Ougikubo. ^[19]

Results

Part 2: Super Rizin 2
Weight Class				Method	Round	T.Time	Notes
Featherweight 66 kg	Vugar Karamov	def.	Mikuru Asakura	Submission (rear-naked choke)	1	2:41	For the vacant Rizin Featherweight Championship.
Bantamweight 61 kg	Juan Archuleta	def.	Hiromasa Ougikubo	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	For the vacant Rizin Bantamweight Championship.
W.Super Atomweight 49 kg	Seika Izawa (c)	def.	Claire Lopez	Submission (ninja choke)	1	1:04	For the Rizin Women's Super Atomweight Championship.
Intermission
Catchweight 70 kg	Chihiro Suzuki	def.	Patrício Pitbull	KO (punch)	1	2:32
Lightweight 71 kg	Tofiq Musayev	def.	Akira Okada	KO (punches)	2	1:11
Bantamweight 61 kg	Shinobu Ota	def.	Kenta Takizawa	TKO (punches)	1	4:54
Middleweight 84 kg	Igor Tanabe	def.	Daichi Abe	Submission (heel hook)	1	4:34
Catchweight 58 kg	Yuki Ito	def.	Hiroya Kondo	Decision (split)	3	5:00
Part 1: Bellator MMA x Rizin 2
Lightweight	Patricky Pitbull	def.	Roberto Satoshi Souza	TKO (leg kick)	3	0:49	Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix Quarter-Final bout.
Flyweight	Kyoji Horiguchi	vs.	Makoto Takahashi	No Contest (accidental eye poke)	1	0:25	For the inaugural Bellator Flyweight World Championship.
Women's Flyweight	Kana Watanabe	def.	Veta Arteaga	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Bantamweight	Magomed Magomedov	def.	Danny Sabatello	Submission (guillotine choke)	1	3:55
Welterweight	Andrey Koreshkov	def.	Lorenz Larkin	Decision (split)	3	5:00

Rizin 44

Rizin 44
Information
Promotion	Rizin Fighting Federation
Date	September 24, 2023
Venue	Saitama Super Arena
City	Saitama, Japan
Attendance	11,681

Rizin 44 was a combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on September 24, 2023 at the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

Background

A featherweight bout between former champion Kleber Koike Erbst (also former KSW Featherweight champion) and former Sengoku Featherweight champion Masanori Kanehara was scheduled to headline the event. ^[20]

A heavyweight bout between former sumo wrestler Tsuyoshi Sudario and UFC veteran Todd Duffee was expected to take place at the event. However, Duffee withdrew from the fight due to a problem with his passport. ^[21]

Results

Rizin 44
Weight Class				Method	Round	T.Time	Notes
Featherweight 66 kg	Masanori Kanehara	def.	Kleber Koike Erbst	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Featherweight 66 kg	Juntaro Ushiku	def.	Kyohei Hagiwara	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Lightweight 71 kg	Yoshinori Horie	def.	Spike Carlyle	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Intermission
Catchweight 70 kg	Rukiya Anpo	def.	Sho Patrick Usami	Decision (Unanimous) (29–27, 29–26, 29–26)	3	3:00	Kickboxing rules.
Featherweight 66 kg	Yoshiki Nakahara	def.	Rikuto Shirakawa	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Catchweight 66,2 kg	Kazumasa Majima	def.	Takeji Yokoyama	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00	Originally 66kg, Majima missed weight.
Flyweight 57 kg	Ryuya Fukuda	def.	Erson Yamamoto	TKO (Doctor Stoppage)	3	1:37
Bantamweight 61 kg	Taichi Nakajima	def.	Ryo Okada	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Heavyweight 120 kg	Shoma Shibisai	def.	Janos Csukas	Submission (Heel Hook)	1	2:27
Flyweight 57 kg	Ramazonbek Temirov	def.	Takaki Soya	KO (Punches)	1	3:15

Rizin Landmark 6

Rizin Landmark 6
Information
Promotion	Rizin Fighting Federation
Date	October 1, 2023
Venue	Dolphins Arena
City	Nagoya, Japan
Attendance	7,017

Rizin Landmark 6 was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on October 1, 2023 at the Dolphins Arena in Nagoya, Japan.

Background

A bantamweight bout between Dream Japanese Bantamweight Grand Prix 2011 winner Hideo Tokoro and Alan "Hiro" Yamaniha was scheduled to headline the event. ^[22]

Results

Rizin Landmark 6
Weight Class				Method	Round	T.Time	Notes
Bantamweight 61 kg	Alan Yamaniha	def.	Hideo Tokoro	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Catchweight 63 kg	Shoko Sato	def.	Shinobu Ota	Decision (Split)	3	5:00
Heavyweight 120 kg	Tsuyoshi Sudario	def.	Lim Dong-hwan	TKO (Punches)	3	2:10
Flyweight 57 kg	Yuki Ito	def.	Topnoi Kiwram	Decision (Split)	3	5:00
Catchweight 61,5 kg	Genji Umeno	def.	Yuto Saito	Decision (Majority)	3	3:00	Kickboxing rules.
Intermission
Catchweight 58 kg	Yusaku Nakamura	def.	Hiroya Kondo	Decision (Split)	3	5:00
Middleweight 84 kg	Igor Tanabe	def.	Animal☆Koji	Submission (Triangle Choke)	1	3:40
Women's Strawweight 52,5 kg	Machi Fukuda	def.	Ayaka Watanabe	Decision (Split)	3	5:00
Heavyweight 120 kg	Hidetaka Arato	def.	Takakenshin	TKO (Punches)	2	4:49
Flyweight 57 kg	Rogério Bontorin	def.	Yutaro Muramoto	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Featherweight 66 kg	Viktor Kolesnik	def.	Ryo Takagi	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Lightweight 71 kg	Yusaku Inoue	def.	Kohei Tokeshi	TKO (Flying Knee and Punches)	1	1:11
Bantamweight 61 kg	Joji Goto	def.	Junya Hibino	Submission (Twister)	2	2:00
Opening Bouts
Catchweight 68 kg	Shogo Ota	def.	Ginji Hara	Submission (armbar)	1	1:52
Flyweight 57 kg	Genki Takeno	def.	Ryota Naito	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00	Kickboxing rules.
Bantamweight 61 kg	Ryuki Kirishima	def.	Masanari Yamada	Decision (Unanimous)	2	5:00

Rizin Landmark 7

Rizin Landmark 7
Information
Promotion	Rizin Fighting Federation
Date	November 4, 2023
Venue	National Gymnastics Arena
City	Baku, Azerbaijan

Rizin Landmark 7 was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on November 4, 2023 at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Background

Rizin Landmark 7 was the promotion's first international event, and the first major MMA event to take place in Azerbaijan. ^[23]

A Rizin Featherweight Championship bout between reigning champion Vugar Karamov and challenger Chihiro Suzuki headlined the event. ^{[24] [25]}

A lightweight bout between Rizin Lightweight Grand Prix 2019 winner Tofiq Musayev and former Deep Lightweight champion Koji Takeda served as the co-main event. ^[26]

Another lightweight bout between former AMC Fight Nights Lightweight champion Nariman Abbasov and Ali Abdulkhalikov took place at the event. ^[27]

Results

Rizin Landmark 7
Weight Class				Method	Round	T.Time	Notes
Featherweight 66 kg	Chihiro Suzuki	def.	Vugar Karamov (c)	TKO (Upkick and Punches)	1	1:28	For the Rizin Featherweight Championship.
Lightweight 71 kg	Tofiq Musayev	def.	Koji Takeda	KO (Punches)	3	2:03
Lightweight 71 kg	Ali Abdulkhalikov	def.	Nariman Abbasov	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Catchweight 60 kg	Mehman Mamedov	def.	Ferit Göktepe	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Lightweight 71 kg	Kim Kyung-pyo	def.	Tural Ragimov	TKO (Punches)	1	0:21
Intermission
Strawweight 51 kg	Anastasiya Svetkivska	def.	Farida Abdueva	Submission (Triangle Armbar)	2	4:20
Featherweight 66 kg	Ilkhom Nazimov	def.	Jaures Dea	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Lightweight 71 kg	Vladislav Rudnev	def.	Iliyar Askhanov	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Heavyweight 120 kg	Shota Betlemidze	def.	Quentin Domingos	TKO (Retirement)	1	5:00
Light Heavyweight 93 kg	Hasan Mezhiev	def.	Konstantin Merkulov	Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)	1	2:32

Rizin 45

Rizin 45
Information
Promotion	Rizin Fighting Federation
Date	December 31, 2023
Venue	Saitama Super Arena
City	Saitama, Japan
Attendance	23,013

Rizin 45 was a combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on December 31, 2023, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. ^{[28] [29] [30]}

Background

A rematch for the inaugural Rizin Flyweight Championship between former Rizin and Bellator Bantamweight Champion Kyoji Horiguchi and current Deep Flyweight champion (also former Cage Fury FC Flyweight champion) Makoto Takahashi headlined the event. ^[31] The pairing previously met at Super Rizin 2 in July 2023, where the bout was declared a no contest after Horiguchi accidentally poked Takahashi in the eye. ^[32]

A Rizin Bantamweight Championship bout between then champion Juan Archuleta and former champion Kai Asakura served as the co-main event. ^[33] At the weigh-ins, Archuleta weighed in at 140.65 pounds, 5.65 pounds over the limit. As a result, Archuleta was stripped of the title and only Asakura will be eligible to win it. ^[34]

In the featherweight division, a clash between two former champions should took place at the event when Kleber Koike Erbst meets Yutaka Saito. ^[35]

A flyweight bout between 2021 Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix winner Hiromasa Ougikubo and current BKFC Flyweight champion John Dodson took place at the event. ^[36]

A 155-pound catchweight kickboxing bout between former K-1 Super Lightweight champion Rukiya Anpo and former K-1 Super Welterweight champion Minoru Kimura was expected to take place at the event. ^[37] However, the fight was cancelled after Kimura tested positive for a banned substance once again. ^[38] He was replaced by former K-1 Welterweight Champion Yuta Kubo in a MMA special rules bout. ^[39]

Results

Rizin 45
Weight Class				Method	Round	T.Time	Notes
Flyweight 57 kg	Kyoji Horiguchi	def.	Makoto Takahashi	Submission (rear-naked choke)	2	3:44	For the inaugural Rizin Flyweight Championship.
Bantamweight 61 kg	Kai Asakura	def.	Juan Archuleta	TKO (knee to the body and punches)	2	3:20	For the vacant Rizin Bantamweight Championship (as Archuleta missed weight and was stripped the title, only Asakura was eligible).
Featherweight 66 kg	Kleber Koike Erbst	def.	Yutaka Saito	Technical Submission (brabo choke)	3	1:22
Featherweight 66 kg	Ren Hiramoto	def.	YA-MAN	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Intermission
W.Super Atomweight 49 kg	Seika Izawa	def.	Miyuu Yamamoto	Submission (rear-naked choke)	2	0:37	Non-Title bout and Yamamoto retirement bout.
Heavyweight 120 kg	Mikio Ueda	def.	Tsuyoshi Sudario	TKO (knee and punches)	2	0:55
Flyweight 57 kg	Hiromasa Ougikubo	def.	John Dodson	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Bantamweight 61 kg	Vince Morales	def.	Yuki Motoya	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Bantamweight 61 kg	Shinobu Ota	def.	Ryusei Ashizawa	KO (punches)	1	2:21
Intermission
Catchweight 65 kg	Kouzi	def.	Kota Miura	TKO (punches and soccer kicks)	2	0:59	RIZIN MMA Special rules.
Welterweight 77 kg	Igor Tanabe	def.	Shinsho Anzai	Technical Submission (rear-naked choke)	1	1:32
Flyweight 57 kg	Hiroya Kondo	def.	Jo Arai	TKO (head kick and punches)	2	2:53
Catchweight 70 kg	Yuta Kubo	def.	Rukiya Anpo	Submission (rear-naked choke)	1	4:28	RIZIN MMA Special rules.
Opening Bouts
Featherweight 66 kg	Suguru Nii	def.	Satoshi Yamasu	KO (punch)	2	1:03
Catchweight 60 kg	Tatsuki Shinotsuka	def.	Daichi Tomizawa	Decision (unanimous)	3	3:00	Kickboxing rules.
Catchweight 54 kg	Ryujin Nasukawa	def.	Shin Jong-min	TKO (punches)	1	2:16
Bantamweight 61 kg	Joe Hiramoto	def.	Yushi	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00

See also

• List of current Rizin FF fighters
• 2023 in UFC
• 2023 in Bellator MMA
• 2023 in ONE Championship
• 2023 in Professional Fighters League
• 2023 in Absolute Championship Akhmat
• 2023 in Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki
• 2023 in Legacy Fighting Alliance
• 2023 in Brave Combat Federation
• 2023 in Road FC

References

1. "【試合詳細】4･1　RIZIN丸善インテックアリーナ大阪大会　皇治vs芦澤竜誠　萩原京平vsカイル・アグォン　中村K太郎vsストラッサー起一". battle-news.com. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
2. "【試合詳細】4･29　RIZIN LANDMARK国立代々木競技場大会　朝倉未来vs牛久絢太郎　平本蓮vs斎藤裕　倉本一真vs太田忍　武田光司vsルイス・グスタボ　浅倉カンナvsV.V Mei　RENAvsクレア・ロペス". battle-news.com. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
3. "RIZIN 5.6 有明アリーナ（レポ）：朝倉海、元谷友貴を3R KO。井上直樹下したアーチュレッタと7月にバンタム級王座決定戦。ブアカーオ、華麗テク魅せるも安保瑠輝也とドロー". boutreview.com. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
4. "Super Rizin 2 Results and More". sogo-kaku.com. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
5. "【RIZIN】芦澤竜誠が皇治に飛び蹴り! 「クソザコ!」「弱い!」大乱闘で会見中止に". oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
6. mmafighting.com. "RIZIN announces fights for first card of 2023 on April 1, including Kouzi vs. Ryusei Ashizawa, Makoto Shinryu vs. Daichi Kitakata". mmafighting. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
7. "【RIZIN】平本蓮「早くブレイキングダウンぶっ潰ればいい」朝倉未来「眼中にない」". nikkansports.com. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
8. ""声が出ない"平本蓮、記者会見で「通訳」越しに朝倉未来を挑発　通訳者もディス参加する前代未聞の事態に「皆さんが笑ってるのが不思議」". nlab.itmedia.co.jp. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
9. "バンタム級王座をめぐり朝倉海vs元谷友貴、井上直樹vsフアン・アーチュレッタ。勝った2人で7月末に王座戦【RIZIN.42】". tokyoheadline.com. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
10. "【ＲＩＺＩＮ】初の北海道大会で鈴木千裕がクレベル・コイケに挑戦「絶対にＫＯします」". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
11. "Kleber Koike misses weight for RIZIN 43, stripped of featherweight title". MMA Fighting. 2023-06-23. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
12. "AJ McKee vs. Patricky Pitbull to fight at Bellator x RIZIN event". Bloody Elbow. 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
13. Riddle, Mathew (2023-05-27). "Bellator x Rizin 2 Crossover Event Confirmed for July, McKee vs. Pitbull". Sports Illustrated MMA News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
14. "Bellator X Rizin 2 to feature AJ McKee vs. Patricky Freire, Kyoji Horiguchi in inaugural men's flyweight title fight". MMA Junkie. 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
15. Anderson, Jay (2023-05-27). "Kai Asakura vs. Juan Archuleta, Mikuru Asakura vs. Vugar Karamov Announced for Bellator X RIZIN 2". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
16. "Bellator x Rizin CO-Promotion Adds Two Incredible Fights for Event in Japan on July 30". Bellator.com. 2023-06-07. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
17. ▷ Super Rizin 2 - Official PPV Live Stream - FITE
18. Anderson, Jay (2023-05-27). "Kai Asakura vs. Juan Archuleta, Mikuru Asakura vs. Vugar Karamov Announced for Bellator X Rizin 2". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
19. Critchfield, Tristen (2023-07-18). "Ougikubo Replaces Asakura, Faces Archuleta for Bantamweight Title at Super Rizin 2". Sherdog. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
20. Guilherme Cruz (2023-08-10). "Eight fights announced for Rizin 44 including ex-champion Kleber Koike, UFC veteran Todd Duffee". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
21. "Rizin 9.24 さいたまスーパーアリーナ：トッド・ダフィーのパスポートトラブルでスダリオ剛戦中止、10.1 名古屋で実施向け調整". boutreview.com. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
22. "【RIZIN】所英男vs.アラン"ヒロ"ヤマニハがメインに、「明日は自分の力でヒロ選手から必ず一本をとります」（所）". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
23. "Rizin Landmark 7 in Azerbaijan on Nov. 4 to Serve as First Rizin Card Outside of Japan". Sherdog . Retrieved 2023-10-06.
24. "Chihiro Suzuki faces Vugar Karamov at Rizin Landmark 7". asianmma.com. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
25. "【Rizin】11・4アゼルバイジャンで王者ケラモフvs.挑戦者・鈴木千裕のタイトル戦が決定 写真撮影で大乱闘に". oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
26. Sobczak, Bartosz (September 14, 2023). "Rizin Landmark 7 – walka mistrzowska uświetni premierową galę Rizin w Azerbejdżanie!". mymma.pl (in Polish).
27. "Нариман Аббасов подерется с Али Абдулхаликовым 4 ноября на Rizin Landmark 7". sport-express.ru (in Russian). September 14, 2023.
28. Cruz, Guilherme (2023-10-26). "Juan Archuleta title defense, Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Makoto Shinryu 2 for vacant belt set for RIZIN NYE event". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
29. Benjamin, Andrew (2023-10-28). "Rizin 45 Fights Announced, John Dodson Returns". MMA Sucka.
30. King, Nolan (2023-10-26). "RIZIN 45 official with Kyoji Horiguchi, John Dodson, Juan Archuelta and more". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
31. "25秒でノーコンテストの堀口恭司と神龍誠がRIZIN初代フライ級王座をかけて再戦【RIZIN.45】". tokyoheadline.com (in Japanese). October 26, 2023.
32. Anderson, Jay (2023-07-30). "Inaugural Bellator Flyweight Title Fight Fizzles After Accidental Eye Poke". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
33. "【RIZIN】大晦日の一部カード発表　アーチュレッタ－朝倉海、堀口恭司－神龍誠などが決定". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). October 26, 2023.
34. Cruz, Guillherme (2023-12-30). "RIZIN 45 weigh-in results: Juan Archuleta misses weight, stripped of bantamweight title". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
35. "【ＲＩＺＩＮ】斎藤裕　大みそかにクレベルとの〝因縁対決〟決定「いろいろな思いもある」". tokyo-sports.co.jp (in Japanese). October 26, 2023.
36. "【RIZIN】扇久保博正、3連敗中での相手は元UFC強豪ドッドソン！「次が最後くらいの決意で」". eFight (in Japanese). October 26, 2023.
37. Faraaz, Nadeem (2023-11-13). "Rukiya Anpo and Minoru Kimura Will Face Off in a Lightweight Kickboxing Bout at RIZIN 45 on December 31". Beyond Kickboxing. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
38. "Minoru Kimura Tests Positive for Steroids Again, Fight Against Rukiya Anpo on New Year's Eve Is Off". Beyond Kickboxing. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
39. "【RIZIN】安保瑠輝也、大みそかで急きょMMAデビュー！ 対戦相手は元K-1王者・久保優太". ORICON NEWS. 10 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.

External links

• Official event