Once again the RIZIN Fighting Federation has delivered another great night of action. We saw a little bit of everything, including comebacks and upsets.
As far as spectacles go, it’s hard to beat a RIZIN event. This time though, everything was straight to the point as the show took place in a smaller arena than usual, the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya.
With 12 bouts on tap, the action was off and running from the get-go.
In the night’s second of five kickboxing matches, we saw lightweights Shintaro Matsukara do battle with Takahiro Okuyama.
The fight started out competitive but Matsukara would eat a big shot as the round was closing that hurt him very badly. Okuyama attempted to capitalize but couldn’t put him away.
In the following round, Matsukara would regain his wits and close the show in spectacular fashion after a big overhand right knockdown that really could have been all that was needed for a stoppage.
Result: Matsukara via RD2 TKO (Punch)
https://twitter.com/Maldobabo/status/1028536776116383744
The very first MMA fight of the night was between the strawweights as the super talented rising prospect, Kanako Murata welcomed the veteran, Angela Magana to RIZIN.
This was Magana’s first fight since her last UFC bout at UFC 218 when she suffered defeat to Amanda Cooper. Looking to turn things around in Japan, Magana was given no easy opponent.
Starting comfortably on the feet, Magana would soon be taken down and controlled by the wrestler, Murata. The 25-year old essentially had her way on the ground with The Ultimate Fighter season 20 alum all the way up until she found the Von Flue choke submission finish.
Result: Murata via RD2 Submission (Von Flue choke)
https://twitter.com/Maldobabo/status/1028545860664213504
Kanako Murata Wins Sub R2#RIZIN #RIZINFF #RIZIN12 pic.twitter.com/6SkCJx0zVW
— Jonnyboy (@JBNeverDies) August 12, 2018
In the heaviest bout of the night, we got an all-out brawl as anticipated.
Roque Martinez fought Kiyoshi Kuwabara aka “Samurai Mark Hunt” and boy did things get insane quickly.
As soon as the fight started, the two began to just throw with complete and utter reckless abandon for a full minute straight. After Samurai absorbed the seemingly harder of the blows at more volume, he began to slow down but remained in it.
Martinez didn’t stop though and continued to be the more effective of the two Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em robot-like fighters which eventually got him the early victory.
Result: Martinez via RD1 TKO (Punches)
RIZIN as always delivering the goods, sloppy spastic heavyweight action. #RIZIN #RIZINFF #RIZIN12 pic.twitter.com/mjtBLV20bj
— Jonnyboy (@JBNeverDies) August 12, 2018
Roque Martinez Wins TKO R1#RIZIN #RIZINFF #RIZIN12 pic.twitter.com/qH9yOAAogQ
— Jonnyboy (@JBNeverDies) August 12, 2018
The second of the three UFC vets to compete on this night was the featherweight Hatsu Hioki.
Attempting to snap a two-fight losing streak, Hioki faced the hot prospect Mikuru Asakura.
Staying somewhat competitive early, Hioki wouldn’t be able to overcome the young-gun as Asakura figured him out and landed a gnarly head kick that put the 43-fight veteran away.
Result: Asakura via RD1 KO (Head kick and punches)
RIP HATSU HIOKI #RIZIN #RIZINFF #RIZIN12 pic.twitter.com/Lrv3yMuuky
— Jonnyboy (@JBNeverDies) August 12, 2018
The last of the former UFC fighters to compete was Kiichi Kunimoto who was making his sophomore RIZIN appearance.
Standing in his way was Ryuichiro Sumimura who told Kunimoto he was a boring ground fighter prior to the fight. Well…karma reared it’s ugly head here in this one.
Almost instantly, Kunimoto hit a perfect double leg takedown that got Sumimura down and that’s where he would stay.
Searching for an arm triangle and rear-naked-choke when presented, Kunimoto couldn’t quite latch them on. That was until a scramble was created to where he could capitalize and he could follow Sumimura while he was open. Thus leading to the originally searched for the arm triangle that would put Sumimura out just in the nick of time.
Result: Kunimoto via RD1 Submission (arm triangle)
https://twitter.com/Maldobabo/status/1028582954484867073
Undoubtedly the biggest lightweight star in Japan is Yusuke Yachi. The 28-year old Krazy Bee product had finally come into his own after joining RIZIN and riding a super impressive six-fight winning streak, the sky was the limit.
Originally scheduled to face off with veteran grappling ace Bruno Carvalho, Carvalho would be forced out of the bout just roughly a week prior to the end. So in stepped his teammate, the young and undefeated “Killer” Luiz Gustavo.
Riding an impressive eight-fight win streak of his own with all consisting of finishes (five submissions, three KO/TKOs), Gustavo was ready to make some noise on his biggest stage yet.
Channeling his mentor and cornerman Wanderlei Silva, Gustavo was pedal to the metal right as the fight started.
He walked Yachi down for the entirety of the fight as the two exchanged blows. Early on, Gustavo would find himself on top of Yachi and firmly in control of the fight. Yachi would pick up some steam in the second half of the first round but Gustavo remained a game opponent as he always had something to offer.
In the second, a wild combo from Gustavo would cause a nasty cut right over Yachi’s eye that the commentators feared would end the fight. Nope, the action continued and immediately after Gustavo would shock the entire crowd as he caught Yachi with a big right hand that put him away. Thus making Gustavo only the second man to finish Yachi via strikes in his 27 fight career.
Result: Gustavo via RD2 KO (Punch)
#RIZIN12 pic.twitter.com/iEnE8Efl6G
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) August 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/Maldobabo/status/1028594403416461312
Check out the rest of the night’s results below:
Yuki Motoya defeated Kazuma Sone via RD2 Submission (rear naked choke)
Kaitlin Young defeated “King” Reina Miura via unanimous decision
Taiki Naito defeated Hannya Hashimoto via RD2 TKO (leg kicks)
Kaito Ono defeated Sho Ogawa via unanimous decision
Ryuki defeated Naoyo via unanimous decision
Takiya Shoto defeated Syuto Sato via unanimous decision
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 8/12/2018