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 Maruzen Intec Arena Osaka, Japan 9,987 2 Rizin Landmark 5 Yoyogi National Gymnasium Tokyo, Japan 13,837 3 Rizin 42 Ariake Arena Tokyo, Japan 14,930 4 Rizin 43 – Sapporo Makomanai Ice Arena Sapporo, Japan 8,510 5 Super Rizin 2: Rizin X Bellator Saitama Super Arena Saitama, Japan 24,264 6 Rizin 44 Saitama Super Arena Saitama, Japan 11,681 7 Rizin Landmark 6 Dolphins Arena Nagoya, Japan 7,017 8 Rizin Landmark 7 National Gymnastics Arena Baku, Azerbaijan 9 Rizin 45 Saitama Super Arena Saitama, Japan 23,013
Title fights
Rizin 41 – Osaka
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.
Results Rizin 41 Weight Class Method Round T.Time NotesBantamweight 61 kg Ryusei Ashizawa def. KouziDecision (Split) 3 3:00 Kickboxing rulesFeatherweight 66 kg Vugar Karamovdef. Yoshinori HorieSubmission (Rear-Naked Choke) 2 3:21 Welterweight 77 kg Keita Nakamura def. Kiichi KunimotoKO (Punches and Soccer Kick) 2 0:49 Flyweight 57 kg Makoto Takahashidef. Daichi KitakataTechnical Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)2 1:17 IntermissionFeatherweight 66 kg Kyohei Hagiwara def. Kyle AguonDecision (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 UsamiSubmission (Rear-Naked Choke) 1 3:33 Flyweight 57 kg Mehman Mamedov def. Yusaku NakamuraKO (Punches) 1 0:23 Bantamweight 61 kg Shun Onishidef. MotokiKO (Punch) 1 1:37 Kickboxing rulesCatchweight 66,5 kg Sota Kimura def. Shingeki no YuukiTKO (Body Punch) 3 1:32 Kickboxing rules Opening BoutsCatchweight 57,5 kg Asatarodef. Shin SakuraiDecision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 Kickboxing rulesCatchweight 57,5 kg Daichi Akahira def. Yuto MiwaKO (Right straight) 1 2:47 Kickboxing rules
Rizin Landmark 5
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, while a featherweight bout between another former Rizin featherweight champion Yutaka Saito and Ren Hiramoto was booked as the co-main event.
Results Rizin Landmark 5 Weight Class Method Round T.Time NotesFeatherweight 66 kg Mikuru Asakura def. Juntaro Ushiku Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00 Featherweight 66 kg Yutaka Saitodef. Ren HiramotoDecision (Split) 35:00 Bantamweight 61 kg Shinobu Ota def. Kazuma KuramotoKO (Punch)1 0:27 IntermissionLightweight 71 kg Luiz Gustavo def. Koji TakedaDecision (Split) 3 5:00 W.Super Atomweight 49 kg Kanna Asakuradef. Mei YamaguchiDecision (Unanimous) 3 5:00 W.Catchweight 51 kg Claire Lopez def. Rena KubotaSubmission (Kneebar) 34:21 Heavyweight 120 kg Tsuyoshi Sudariodef. Roque MartinezDecision (Unanimous) 3 5:00 Featherweight 66 kg Masanori Kaneharadef. Sora Yamamoto Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00 Lightweight 71 kg Ali Abdulkhalikov def. Tatsuya SaikaKO (Punch) 1 3:30
Rizin 42
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.
Results Rizin 42 Weight Class Method Round T.Time NotesBantamweight 61 kg Kai Asakuradef. Yuki Motoya KO (Knee to the Body) 3 2:25Bantamweight 61 kg Juan Archuletadef. Naoki Inoue Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00Lightweight 71 kg Roberto Satoshi Souza (c)def. Spike Carlyle Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00Non-title bout.Catchweight 70 kg Buakaw Banchamekdraw. Rukiya Anpo Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00Kickboxing rules IntermissionFeatherweight 66 kg YA-MANdef. Kota Miura KO (Knee and Punches) 1 3:13Special rulesFlyweight 57 kg John Dodsondef. Tatsuki Saomoto Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00Featherweight 66 kg Kazumasa Majimadef. 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 Kolesnikdef. Atsushi Kishimoto TKO (Leg Kick) 2 2:57Flyweight 57 kg Erson Yamamoto def. Yuki Ito Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00Featherweight 66 kg Takeji Yokoyamadef. Takuya Yamamoto Submission (Armbar) 1 1:24 Flyweight 57 kg Ramazonbek Temirovdef. Yuta HamamotoTKO (Punches) 1 4:06Catchweight 69 kg Sota Kimuradef. Yasuhiro KidoDecision (Unanimous) 3 3:00Kickboxing rules
Rizin 43 – Sapporo
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. 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.
Results
Super Rizin 2: Rizin X Bellator
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.
As with the previous Super Rizin & Rizin 38 and Rizin 40 & Rizin vs Bellator events in 2022, Super Rizin 2 was split between two cards. Matches on the Bellator card were fought inside a cage, while Super Rizin 2 took place in the traditional ring.
Outside of Japan, the Bellator card aired live on Showtime in the United States, while Super Rizin 2 was distributed via PPV on FITE.▷ Super Rizin 2 - Official PPV Live Stream - FITE
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. On July 18, 2023 it was announced that Asakura withdrew from the event and would be replaced by Hiromasa Ougikubo.
Results Part 2: Super Rizin 2 Weight Class Method Round T.Time NotesFeatherweight 66 kg Vugar Karamov def. Mikuru Asakura Submission (rear-naked choke)12:41For the vacant Rizin Featherweight Championship.Bantamweight 61 kg Juan Archuletadef. Hiromasa Ougikubo Decision (unanimous)35:00For the vacant Rizin Bantamweight Championship.W.Super Atomweight 49 kg Seika Izawa (c)def. Claire LopezSubmission (ninja choke)11:04For the Rizin Women's Super Atomweight Championship. IntermissionCatchweight 70 kg Chihiro Suzuki def. Patrício PitbullKO (punch)12:32 Lightweight 71 kg Tofiq Musayevdef. Akira OkadaKO (punches)21:11Bantamweight 61 kg Shinobu Ota def. Kenta Takizawa TKO (punches)14:54 Middleweight 84 kg Igor Tanabe def. Daichi Abe Submission (heel hook)14:34 Catchweight 58 kg Yuki Itodef. Hiroya KondoDecision (split)35:00 Part 1: Bellator MMA x Rizin 2Lightweight Patricky Pitbull def. Roberto Satoshi Souza TKO (leg kick)30:49Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix Quarter-Final bout.Flyweight Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Makoto TakahashiNo Contest (accidental eye poke)10:25For the inaugural Bellator Flyweight World Championship. Women's Flyweight Kana Watanabe def. Veta ArteagaDecision (unanimous)35:00 Bantamweight Magomed Magomedov def. Danny SabatelloSubmission (guillotine choke)13:55 Welterweight Andrey Koreshkov def. Lorenz LarkinDecision (split)35:00
Rizin 44
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.
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.
Results Rizin 44 Weight Class Method Round T.Time NotesFeatherweight 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 Horiedef. Spike Carlyle Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00 IntermissionCatchweight 70 kg Rukiya Anpodef. Sho Patrick Usami Decision (Unanimous) (29–27, 29–26, 29–26) 3 3:00 Featherweight 66 kg Yoshiki Nakaharadef. Rikuto Shirakawa Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00 Catchweight 66,2 kg Kazumasa Majima def. Takeji Yokoyama Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00 Flyweight 57 kg Ryuya Fukudadef. 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 Temirovdef. Takaki Soya KO (Punches) 1 3:15
Rizin Landmark 6
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.
Results Rizin Landmark 6 Weight Class Method Round T.Time NotesBantamweight 61 kg Alan Yamaniha def. Hideo Tokoro Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00 Catchweight 63 kg Shoko Sato def. Shinobu OtaDecision (Split) 3 5:00 Heavyweight 120 kg Tsuyoshi Sudario def. Lim Dong-hwanTKO (Punches) 3 2:10 Flyweight 57 kg Yuki Itodef. Topnoi KiwramDecision (Split) 3 5:00 Catchweight 61,5 kg Genji Umenodef. Yuto SaitoDecision (Majority) 3 3:00 IntermissionCatchweight 58 kg Yusaku Nakamuradef. Hiroya KondoDecision (Split) 3 5:00 Middleweight 84 kg Igor Tanabedef. Animal☆KojiSubmission (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 MuramotoDecision (Unanimous) 3 5:00 Featherweight 66 kg Viktor Kolesnikdef. 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 Gotodef. Junya Hibino Submission (Twister) 2 2:00 Opening BoutsCatchweight 68 kg Shogo Otadef. Ginji HaraSubmission (armbar) 1 1:52 Flyweight 57 kg Genki Takenodef. Ryota NaitoDecision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 Bantamweight 61 kg Ryuki Kirishimadef. Masanari Yamada Decision (Unanimous) 2 5:00
Rizin Landmark 7
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.
A Rizin Featherweight Championship bout between reigning champion Vugar Karamov and challenger Chihiro Suzuki headlined the event.
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.
Another lightweight bout between former AMC Fight Nights Lightweight champion Nariman Abbasov and Ali Abdulkhalikov took place at the event.
Results