https://www.scmp.com/rss/506882/feed Rizin FF (or Rizin Fighting Federation) is a Japanese MMA (mixed martial arts) promotion created in 2015 by the former PRIDE Fighting Championships and Dream Stage Entertainment president Nobuyuki Sakakibara. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Floyd Mayweather handed Japanese MMA fighter Mikuru Asakura the first knockout loss of his career at the Super Rizin event in Saitama on Sunday afternoon – after a local politician caused a storm by “disrespecting” him before the fight. The undefeated American legend, 45, caught Asakura – who has a 16-3 record in MMA – with a right hand just before the end of the second round of their catchweight exhibition boxing bout. “Money” – who retired from professional boxing in 2017 with a 50-0 record... https://www.scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3193736/floyd-mayweather-knocks-out-mma-fighter-mikuru-asakura-japanese-fans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3193736/floyd-mayweather-knocks-out-mma-fighter-mikuru-asakura-japanese-fans?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Sep 2022 07:41:26 +0000 On Friday night, in the main event of Bellator 272 inside the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, Sergio Pettis and Kyoji Horiguchi will collide to crown the true king of the promotion’s bantamweight division. Heading into the fight, both men know the comfort of the bantamweight throne well. The 28-year-old American Pettis is the current owner of that coveted seat, thanks to a decision win over Juan Archuleta in May, but Horiguchi has sat in it before, having captured the belt with a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3158395/sergio-pettis-and-kyoji-horiguchi-fight-crown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3158395/sergio-pettis-and-kyoji-horiguchi-fight-crown?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Dec 2021 12:39:10 +0000 Despite mounting concerns from the Japanese government over a new Covid-19 Omicron variant, Rizin Fighting Federation will return to the Saitama Super Arena, the mecca of combat sports in Japan, for its annual New Year’s Eve extravaganza. A handful of the promotion’s top fighters have been announced for Rizin 33, including a tantalising match up between former champion Kai Asakura and Kenta Takizawa in a bantamweight grand prix semi-final. Former UFC contender Naoki Inoue (15-2) will square off... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3158154/rizin-33-confirmed-japans-saitama-arena-new?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3158154/rizin-33-confirmed-japans-saitama-arena-new?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Dec 2021 10:00:23 +0000 Kyoji Horiguchi has joined Bellator, the US-based promotion announced on Thursday, but will keep his Rizin bantamweight title and return to Japan when he can. The 30-year-old Horiguchi (29-3) reclaimed the belt from Kai Asakura in the main event of the Japanese promotion’s Rizin 26 card on New Year’s Eve, but has been stuck in the US unable to compete in his home country since because of Covid-19 restrictions. The Japanese fighter trains in Floria at American Top Team, which revealed in its... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3148313/kyoji-horiguchi-signs-bellator-and-says-i?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3148313/kyoji-horiguchi-signs-bellator-and-says-i?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Sep 2021 08:59:06 +0000 Retired boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jnr said he is working with UFC president Dana White and Rizin CEO Nobuyuki Sakikabara on “a huge deal”, although it is unclear whether it signifies a ring return or a debut in the mixed martial arts cage. “Money” Mayweather (professional boxing record 50-0) has not fought since humiliating Japanese kick-boxer Tenshin Nasukawa via first-round TKO in an exhibition bout overseen by MMA promotion Rizin on New Year’s Eve in 2018. The 44-year-old’s last... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3129098/floyd-mayweather-working-huge-deal-ufc-boss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3129098/floyd-mayweather-working-huge-deal-ufc-boss?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Apr 2021 06:20:48 +0000 Bellator bantamweight champ Juan Archuleta has been itching to fight Kyoji Horiguchi for almost two years. Now the stars may finally have aligned for “Spaniard” (25-2) to get his dream match. Making his comeback on New Year’s Eve, Horiguchi (29-3) spectacularly knocked out Kai Asakura in the first round to win back his Rizin title. With the Japanese promotion announcing a show at the iconic Tokyo Dome in March for Rizin 27, the 30-year-old Horiguchi revealed his intention to get his other belt... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3120350/bellators-juan-archuleta-sees-mma?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3120350/bellators-juan-archuleta-sees-mma?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Feb 2021 06:47:36 +0000 There’s an unmistakable romance about watching Japanese mixed martial arts on New Year’s Eve. If, of course, your idea of romance is watching a hoard of Rizin’s finest glide towards a ring on a wave of spotlights, seeking to soccer kick each other into oblivion in front of 10,000 socially distanced spectators at the Saitama Super Arena. Stemming from the glory days of K-1 and the now defunct Pride FC, the fabled end-of-year showpiece has consistently delivered spectacular cards and plenty of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3116089/rizin-26-kyoji-horiguchi-reigns-supreme-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3116089/rizin-26-kyoji-horiguchi-reigns-supreme-and?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Jan 2021 06:15:49 +0000 Rizin 26 has officially come and gone and with that came yet another flawless victory for Tenshin Nasukawa on New Year’s Eve at the Saitama Super Arena. Japan’s 22-year-old kick-boxing megastar stretched his professional record to 40-0 in Thursday evening’s co-main event with a unanimous decision against Thailand’s Kumandoi Petcharoenvit, a Muay Thai specialist with over 100 bouts to his name. Despite his tender years, Nasukawa – who is also 4-0 in MMA – has looked simply unbeatable, with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3116081/rizin-26-tenshin-nasukawa-sets-takeru-segawa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3116081/rizin-26-tenshin-nasukawa-sets-takeru-segawa?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Jan 2021 05:10:12 +0000 While the coronavirus pandemic put paid to so many major sporting events in 2020, MMA in Asia and Asia’s legion of fighters found a way to soldier on. What’s more, there were opportunities for people to turn a coin when other athletes were cooling their heels at home, thinking of brighter days. Many people have seen their careers basically put on hold for 12 months – and that’s been the case for fighters, too, just that there always seemed hope for so many that there could be a place on a card... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3115086/rizins-horiguchi-asakura-blockbuster-bring?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3115086/rizins-horiguchi-asakura-blockbuster-bring?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Dec 2020 01:00:11 +0000 Kai Asakura is one of the biggest stars in Asian MMA and the 26-year-old capped off a remarkable return to action for Rizin as he won the vacant bantamweight title with a first-round TKO win over Hiromasa Ogikubo. With their iconic walkouts and love of soccer kicks, Rizin holds a special place in the hearts of MMA fans around the world. But because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it had been six long and uncertain months since they were last able to hold a live event. With Rizin 22: Starting Over and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3096793/rizin-23-kai-asakura-wins-bantamweight-title?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3096793/rizin-23-kai-asakura-wins-bantamweight-title?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Aug 2020 12:51:22 +0000