Rizin 2017, April 16, in Yokohama

rizin FF 2017
The Rizin ring will be back in April at the Yokohama Center in Yokohama, Japan, with a Flywieght main event featuring a UFC vet.

The events feature attraction will see Japan’s Kyoji Horiguchi against China’s Yuki Motoya. Horiguchi will be making his promotional debut after a 3 year, 8-fight, 7-1 in that stint, with the UFC. Horiguchi’s lone loss came to pound fro pound number 1 and UFC Flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson. Since the loss Horiguchi has won 3 straight decisions over Chico Camus, Neil Seery, and Ali Bagautinov. Undefeated in his last 11, Motoya is on a 3 fight win streak, coming off a split decision win over Allan Nascimento at Rizin 3. Motoya has fought most of his career in the Deep promotion and has 6 of his 11 stoppage wins by submission.

In a battle of UFC vets, former MFC Bantamweight champion Anthony ”El Toro” Birchak, moves up a weight class to tangle with Tatsuya “The Crusher” Kawajiri. Birchak has won 7 of his last 9, but after a 2-2 mark in 4 trips into the octagon, even coming off a split decision win over Dileno Lopes, he was not offered a 2nd contract with the promotion. Following a 3-3 mark in the octagon and on a 2 fight skid, Kawajiri asked for an was granted his release from the promotion. Kawajiri debut at Rizin 4, getting submitted in the 2nd round by Krin Gracie.
At Heavyweight former Judo Olympian and Bellator vet Satoshi Ishii faces 44-fight vet Heath “The Texas Crazy Horse” Herring. Ishii will be looking to end a 3 fight skid, while Herrig is coming off losing a unanimous decision to Amir Aliakbari at Rizin 3, which was his first fight in over 8 years.

Additionally Daron “The Detroit Superstar” Cruickshank faces Yusuke Yachi. Cruickshank is 2-1 in Rizin having defeated Shinji Sasaki (tko) at Rizin 1 and Andy Souwer (sub) at Rizin 2, before losing to Satoru Kitaoka (sub) at Rizin 3. Yachi has won 2 straight, coming off a Rizin 3, promotional debut TKO or Marico Sismundo.

RIZIN MMA Rule (Elbow Permit) (120.0kg): Satoshi Ishii vs. Heath Herring
RIZIN MMA Rule (70.3kg): Yusuke Yachi vs. Daron Cruickshank
RIZIN MMA Special Rule 3min. 3R (56.7kg):Tenshin Nasukawa vs. Francesco Ghigliotti
RIZIN MMA Rule (Elbow Permit) (65.8kg):Tatsuya Kawajiri  vs. Anthony Birchak
RIZIN Woman MMA Rule (48.0kg): Saori Ishioka vs. Bestare Kicaj
RIZIN Woman MMA Rule (48.0kg): Kanna Asakura vs. Alexander Toncheva
RIZIN Woman MMA Rule (90.0kg): King Reina vs. Jazzy Gabert
RIZIN MMA Rules (58.0kg): Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Yuki Motoya

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