RIZIN CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara has responded to some recent comments from Spike Carlyle, and laid out plans for a Featherweight Grand Prix.<\/p>\n
Carlyle was recently released by the UFC after going 1-2 in the promotion’s featherweight division. After his release, he expressed interest<\/a> in migrating to RIZIN because he’s always wanted to fight in Japan, where the promotion is based.<\/p>\n \u201cThe UFC was a great experience and great opportunity,\u201d Carlyle said. \u201cI loved it. But people who truly know me know that my heart\u2019s desire has always been to fight in Japan, [and] that is my goal. I think God maybe ordained everything to happen as so because who knows if I would\u2019ve won my next fight\u2014which I know I would\u2019ve won my next fight\u2014or if I would\u2019ve stayed with the UFC, I might never have the opportunity to go to Japan.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m no longer a UFC fighter. I\u2019m a free agent,\u201d Carlyle added. \u201cMy dream and No. 1 desire is to fight for RIZIN, possibly Bellator because they co-host events and that way I can do the best of both worlds. The goal is to become a Japanese champion and fight the American champion, a RIZIN-Bellator combination so hopefully it comes together.”<\/p>\n In a statement to BJPENN.com’s Tom Taylor<\/a>, Sakakibara responded to this interest from Carlyle. He admitted that he didn’t know much about Carlyle, but added that the American could be a good fit for RIZIN based on his interesting personality.<\/p>\n Sakakibara also peppered plans for a Featherweight Grand Prix into his statement.<\/p>\n Former UFC featherweight Spike Carlyle says he wants to sign with Rizin. <\/p>\n I asked Rizin CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara if he'd be interested in signing Carlyle. <\/p>\n Here's his answer: pic.twitter.com\/zoGeDVKozZ<\/a><\/p>\n — Tom Taylor (@TomTayMMA) February 9, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n