The year 2021 was the seventh year in the history of the Rizin Fighting Federation, a mixed martial arts promotion based in Japan. Rizin events are broadcast through a television agreement with Fuji Television. In North America and Europe, Rizin events are available via PPV on LIVENow.
Background Nobuyuki Sakakibara announced that Rizin is planning to work in copromotion with new Japanese promotion MEGA.
He also announced that they will work with Scott Coker to bring the Bellator Bantamweight World Champion Juan Archuleta in Japan to face the winner of the Rizin Bantamweight Championship bout between Kai Asakura and Kyoji Horiguchi.
List of events
Rizin Fighting Federation # Event Date Venue Location Attendance 1 Rizin 27 – Nagoya Nippon Gaishi Hall Nagoya, Japan 4,558 2 Rizin 28 – Tokyo Tokyo Dome Tokyo, Japan 9,317 3 Rizin 29 – Osaka Maruzen Intec Arena Osaka, Japan 4,796 4 Rizin 30 - Saitama Saitama Super Arena Saitama, Japan 7,580 5 Rizin Landmark Vol.1 Tokyo, Japan 6 Rizin 31 - Yokohama Pia Arena Yokohama, Japan 4,866 7 Rizin 32 - Okinawa Okinawa Arena Okinawa, Japan 8 Rizin Trigger 1 World Memorial Hall Kobe, Japan 9 Rizin 33 - Saitama Saitama Super Arena Saitama, Japan 22, 499
Grand Prix On March 26, 2021, it was announced that a Bantamweight Grand Prix will be held during the year: beginning in Rizin 28 – Tokyo and ending in the Rizin New Year's Eve event. The winner will receive ¥10,000,000 and the second place will net ¥5,000,000.
Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix 2021 bracket
Rizin 27 – Nagoya
Rizin 27 – Nagoya was initially scheduled to be a combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on March 14, 2021, at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. However, in February it was announced that the event was postponed to take place at Nippon Gaishi Hall in Nagoya, Japan, on March 21, 2021.
Background A Rizin Women's Super Atomweight Championship rematch bout between current two-time champion Ayaka Hamasaki and Kanna Asakura is expected to headline this event. The pairing met previously at Rizin 14 on December 31, 2018, where Hamasaki won via armbar in the second round to capture the inaugural Rizin Women's Super Atomweight title.
The co-main event featured a lightweight bout between the brazilian grappler Roberto de Souza and the former lightweight King of Pancrase Kazuki Tokudome.
Riki Sakurai missed weight limit ahead of his fight against Riku Yoshida, Sakurai was 1.95 kilograms over the limit. The fight will proceed, Sakurai started the fight with minus 2 points and the bout was declared no contest because he win.
Tsuyoshi Sudario was fined after he landed punches after the referee stops the fight, he has been fined 25 percent of his purse.
Results Rizin 27 Weight Class Method Round T.Time NotesW.Super Atomweight 49 kg Ayaka Hamasaki (c)def. Kanna AsakuraDecision (Split)35:00For the Rizin Women's Super Atomweight ChampionshipLightweight 71 kg Roberto de Souzadef. Kazuki TokudomeSubmission (Triangle Choke)11:44Lightweight 71 kg Koji Takedadef. Takasuke KumeDecision (Unanimous)315:00Featherweight 66 kg Kleber Koike Erbstdef. Kazumasa MajimaSubmission (Triangle Choke)28:02Heavyweight 120 kg Tsuyoshi Sudariodef. Kazushi MiyamotoKO (Punches)10:08 IntermissionCatchweight 61 kg Taigadef. Kanta MotoyamaDecision (Unanimous)39:00KickboxingFeatherweight 66 kg Yoshinori Horiedef. Tetsuya SekiTKO (Punches)311:16Bantamweight 61 kg Hiroki Yamashitadef. Kazuma SoneKO (Punches)10:27Bantamweight 61 kg Shooto Watanabedef. Takumi TamaruSubmission (Rear-Naked Choke)29:13Flyweight 57 kg Yutaro Muramotodef. Seigo YamamotoKO (Punches)12:37Catchweight 53 kg Syuto Sato - Masayoshi KunimotoDraw (Majority)39:00KickboxingCatchweight 66 kg Riki Sakurai - Riku YoshidaNo Contest (Sakurai missed weight)10:43KickboxingCatchweight 55 kg Ryota Naitodef. HirokiDecision (Unanimous)39:00KickboxingFlyweight 57 kg Yuki Itodef. Kohei SugiyamaTKO (Punches)10:33
Rizin 28 – Tokyo
Rizin 28 – Tokyo was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on June 13, 2021, at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.
Background The event featured the one time RIZIN Featherweight title challenger Mikuru Asakura who made his tenth RIZIN appearance against the former KSW Featherweight Champion Kleber Koike Erbst as the event headliner.
Roberto de Souza and Tofiq Musayev battled for the inaugural Rizin Fighting Federation Lightweight Championship.
This event also hosted the first half of Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix Opening round fights. The event was originally scheduled to take place on May 23, however due to a State of Emergency being declared between April 25 to May 9, the event was postponed to June 13. Due to the ticketing system, the event numbers will stay as they are. This will be the first MMA event in the Tokyo Dome in 18 years and they are hoping to hold at least 50% capacity for the venue, equaling about 25,000 spectators.
RIZIN Featherweight champion Yutaka Saito fought Vugar Keramov in a non-title bout.
A heavyweight bout between Tsuyoshi Sudario and Shoma Shibisai was announced for the event.
RISE Welterweight champion BeyNoah made his mixed martial arts debut against Satoshi Yamasu in a 73 kg catchweight bout.
Results Rizin 28 Weight Class Method Round T.Time NotesFeatherweight 66 kg Kleber Koike Erbstdef. Mikuru AsakuraTechnical Submission (Triangle Choke)21:51 Tenshin Nasukawa - Koki OsakiTime Expired33:00Special Standing Bout Hiroya Kawabe Hideo Tokoro IntermissionLightweight 70 kg Roberto de Souzadef. Tofiq MusayevSubmission (Triangle Choke)11:12For the inaugural Rizin Lightweight Championship.Bantamweight 61 kg Kai Asakuradef. Shooto WatanabeTKO (Punches)13:22Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix 2021 Opening RoundBantamweight 61 kg Naoki Inouedef. Shintaro IshiwatariKO (Soccer Kick)11:58Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix 2021 Opening RoundBantamweight 61 kg Hiromasa Ougikubodef. Takeshi KasugaiDecision (Unanimous)35:00Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix 2021 Opening RoundBantamweight 61 kg Yuki Motoyadef. Ryo OkadaDecision (Unanimous)35:00Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix 2021 Opening RoundFeatherweight 66 kg Yutaka Saito (c)def. Vugar KeramovDecision (Split)35:00Non-title bout.Heavyweight 120 kg Shoma Shibisaidef. Tsuyoshi SudarioSubmission (Rear-Naked Choke)31:38Catchweight 73 kg Satoshi Yamasudef. BeyNoahDecision (Split)35:00
Rizin 29 – Osaka
Rizin 29 – Osaka was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on June 27, 2021, at the Maruzen Intec Arena in Osaka, Japan. The event was originally scheduled for May 23, but was subsequently postponed due to a state of emergency declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background This event is expected to host the second half of Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix initial round fights. The event will be held with 50% capacity, equaling about 5000 spectators.
A four-man 60 kg kickboxing tournament was announced for this event, featuring Ryo Takahashi, Koji, Genji Umeno and Taiju Shiratori.
Two additional kickboxing bouts were scheduled for the event: Seiki Ueyama was set to fight Jyosei Izumi at flyweight, while Yuma Yamahata was scheduled to fight Kiyoto Takahashi in a catchweight bout.
It was announced that the Shooto Lightweight champion Yuki Kawana would fight Yusuke Yachi, while Rikuto Shirakawa would fight Jin Aoi at featherweight.
Two more bouts were announced on May 28: a flyweight bout between the former Pancrase champion Daichi Kitakata and the former DEEP flyweight champion Yusaku Nakamura, as well as a flyweight kickboxing bout between the former Lumpinee and Rajadamnern champion Nadaka Yoshinari and Chikai.
Results Rizin 29 Weight Class Method Round T.Time NotesBantamweight 61 kg Taiju Shiratoridef. KojiDecision (Unanimous)33:00Rizin KICK Tournament FinalBantamweight 61 kg Yuto Hokamuradef. Kuya ItoDecision (Unanimous)35:00Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix 2021 Opening RoundBantamweight 61 kg Takafumi Otsukadef. Hiroki YamashitaDecision (Unanimous)35:00Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix 2021 Opening RoundBantamweight 61 kg Kenta Takizawadef. Masakazu ImanariDecision (Unanimous)35:00Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix 2021 Opening RoundBantamweight 61 kg Alan Yamanihadef. Kazuma KuramotoDecision (Unanimous)35:00Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix 2021 Opening RoundLightweight 71 kg Yusuke Yachidef. Yuki KawanaDecision (Unanimous)35:00Featherweight 66 kg Rikuto Shirakawadef. Jin AoiDecision (Unanimous)35:00Bantamweight 61 kg Taiju Shiratoridef. Ryo TakahashiKO (Punches)11:37Rizin KICK Tournament Semi FinalBantamweight 61 kg Koji - Genji UmenoNo Contest (Accidental Headbutt)10:43Rizin KICK Tournament Semi FinalStrawweight 52 kg Nadaka Yoshinaridef. Chikai TKO (Doctor Stoppage)13:00KickboxingFlyweight 57 kg Seiki Ueyama def. Jyosei Izumi TKO (Three Knockdowns)21:55KickboxingCatchweight Yuma Yamahata - Kiyoto Takahashi Draw (Majority)33:00Kickboxing
Rizin 30 - Saitama
Rizin 30 - Saitama was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on September 19, 2021, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Background The event would also feature the quarterfinal bouts of the bantamweight Grand Prix.
Ayaka Hamasaki was scheduled to face Emi Fujino in a non-title bout in the co-main event.
Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling silver medalist Shinobu Ota and former K-1 Welterweight champion Yuta Kubo were scheduled to fight in a featherweight bout.
KNOCK OUT 65 kg champion Chihiro Suzuki was scheduled to face the 18-year mixed martial arts veteran Shoji Maruyama in a featherweight bout.
Koji Takeda and Yusuke Yachi were scheduled to face each other in a featherweight bout.
Two UFC veterans, Yoshinori Horie and Ulka Sasaki were scheduled to face each other in a featherweight bout.
A women's atomweight kickboxing bout between Panchan Rina and Momoka Mandokoro was scheduled for the event. It was the first women's kickboxing bout in Rizin history.
Results Rizin 30 Weight Class Method Round T.Time NotesBantamweight 61 kg Kai Asakuradef. Alan Yamaniha Decision (Unanimous)35:00Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix QuarterfinalsBantamweight 61 kg Naoki Inouedef. Yuto Hokamura Decision (Unanimous)35:00Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix QuarterfinalsBantamweight 61 kg Hiromasa Ougikubodef. Takafumi OtsukaDecision (Unanimous)35:00Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix QuarterfinalsBantamweight 61 kg Kenta Takizawadef. Yuki Motoya TKO (Punches)12:27Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals IntermissionW.Super Atomweight 49 kg Ayaka Hamasaki (c)def. Emi FujinoDecision (Unanimous)35:00Non-Title boutLightweight 70 kg Yusuke Yachidef. Koji TakedaDecision (Unanimous)35:00Featherweight 66 kg Yoshinori Horiedef. Ulka SasakiDecision (Unanimous)35:00Featherweight 66 kg Shinobu Otadef. Yuta KuboDecision (Unanimous)35:00Featherweight 66 kg Shoji Maruyamadef. Chihiro SuzukiKO (Punches)10:20Atomweight 47 kg Panchan Rinadef. Momoka MandokoroDecision (Unanimous)33:00Kickboxing
Rizin Landmark Vol.1
Rizin Landmark vol.1 was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on October 2, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.
Background The event was headlined by a 68 kg catchweight bout between Mikuru Asakura and Kyohei Hagiwara.
On August 21, 2021, Rizin announced two bantamweight bouts were announced for the event: Masakazu Imanari would face Takeshi Kasugai, while Shooto Watanabe would face Kuya Ito. Ito later withdrew from his bout with Watanabe due to COVID-19 protocols, and was replaced by Nobutaka Naito.
Results Rizin Weight Class Method Round T.Time NotesCatchweight 68 kg Mikuru Asakuradef. Kyohei HagiwaraDecision (Unanimous)35:00Lightweight 70 kg Hiroaki Suzukidef. Keisuke OkudaTKO (Knee and Punches)11:42Bantamweight 61 kg Masakazu Imanaridef. Takeshi KasugaiSubmission (Armbar)12:50Bantamweight 61 kg Shooto Watanabedef. Nobutaka NaitoTechnical Submission (D’Arce Choke)11:33
Rizin 31 - Yokohama
Rizin 31 - Yokohama was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on October 24, 2021, at the Pia Arena in Yokohama, Japan.
Background