5 Bellator vs. Rizin Match-ups announced for end of Year Collaboration
Line ups for the Bellator-Rizin New Year’s double header are starting to come together.
On social media Bellator Present Scott Crocker recently revealed five fight posters. Three showing match-ups that will be part of Bellator: Fedor vs. Rampage, taking place December 29th at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. The other two match-ups are for Rizin 20 on December 31st in the same venue. All five are Bellator vs. Rizin bouts as both companies will battle for bragging rights.
In the welterweight division Lorenz “Moonsoon” Larkin (21-7) will square off with Keita Nakamura (35-10-2). Both men have previously competed in the UFC. Larkin is currently on a three-fight win streak, coming off a split decision win over Andres Koreshkov in the main event of Bellator 229. Nakamura made his Rizin debut in October, scoring a first-round knockout victory over Marcos de Souza.
In lightweight action Gotti Yamauchi (24-4) takes on Daron Cruickshank (22-12). Yamauchi has been competing in Bellator since 2013. The Brazilian is coming off submitting Saad Awad by armbar at Bellator 229. Cruickshank has been primarily competing in Rizin since parting ways with the UFC. The “Detroit Superstar” has racked up five finishes in Rizin, four by knockout.
In a women’s flyweight contest Brazil’s Ilara Joanne (9-4) meets Japan’s Kana Watanabe (8-0-1). Joanne is on a three-fight win streak coming off submitting Bec Rawlings at Bellator 213. Watanabe has five finishes, three by submission.
In the Rizin ring former King of the Cage champion, unbeaten Pat “Patchy” Mix faces Japan’s, Yuki Motoya. In less then one round in the Bellator cage Mix has submitted Ricky Bandejas & Isaiah Chapman. Motoya has four of his last five wins by stoppage, three by submission.
Lastly, Brazil’s John “Macapa” Teixeira tangles with Japans Mikuru Askura (11-1) in featherweight action. Askura is on a six-fight win streak that includes knocking out Hatsu Hioki. “Macapa” has won two in a row over Kevin Croom & Ashleigh Grimshaw.
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