Rizin Fighting Federation
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Private | |
Industry | Mixed martial arts promotion |
Founded | 2015 |
Founder | Nobuyuki Sakakibara |
Headquarters | Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan |
Key people
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Nobuyuki Sakakibara Nobuhiko Takada |
Parent | Dream Factory Worldwide |
Website | jp |
Rizin Fighting Federation (stylised in all caps and also known as Rizin FF) is a Japanese mixed martial arts organization created in 2015 by the former Pride Fighting Championships and Dream Stage Entertainment president Nobuyuki Sakakibara.[1][2]
Founded to be the spiritual successor of Pride FC and Dream, Rizin carries much of the philosophy and ambition of its two predecessors: its events are promoted as larger-than-life events with elaborate opening ceremonies and fighter entrances, its matches are fought in a roped ring and it has a ruleset inherited from Pride and Dream. The organization also promotes "Grand Prix", single-elimination tournaments where fighters have to fight multiple opponents in the same night.[3][4] Rizin is considered Japan's top MMA promotion.[5]
Rizin has also promoted kickboxing matches, with two "Grand Prix" tournaments in 2017[6] and 2021.[7]
The promotion's name is a combination of "Raijin", the Japanese god of lightning; the word "rising", meaning "to prosper and thrive"; and the letter, 'Z', meaning "ultimate".[8]
Contents
History
Background and formation
In 1997, Pride Fighting Championships was founded in Japan, promoted by Dream Stage Entertainment. The organization quickly rose up to become the world's most popular MMA promotion and helped to popularize the sport in Japan and in the world. Pride differentiated itself from the UFC with its focus on spectacle and entertainment, as well a more permissive ruleset.[9] By 2007, a scandal alleging its ties to the yakuza caused a financial decline that lead to the promotion folding. Dream Stage Entertainment was bought by Zuffa—UFC's holding company—which initially promised to keep the event running. However, Zuffa would lay off most of Pride's staff with several Pride fighters moving to the UFC.[9]
After Pride folded, most of DSE's former staff, fighters and executives joined Fighting and Entertainment Group, the promoters of K-1, to organize a successor, which became known as Dream.[10] However, FEG would have its own financial issues and went bankrupt in 2012. As a result, Dream became defunct.[11]
Three years after Dream folded, rumors began circulating that Pride and Dream founder Nobuyuki Sakakibara would return to the industry after an interview with Bellator MMA President Scott Coker was released.[12] On September 19, 2015, during Bellator MMA & Glory: Dynamite 1, it was announced that Sakakibara had signed former Pride Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko to headline a New Year's Eve Show in Tokyo for his new MMA promotion.[13] Sakakibara held a press conference on October 8, 2015, with Nobuhiko Takada and other former Pride FC employees to formally announce the launch of "Rizin Fighting Federation".[14] Initial signees included Kazushi Sakuraba, Shinya Aoki, as well as female competitors Gabi Garcia and Rena Kubota.[15]
A Grand Prix tournament was announced (held at 100 kg or roughly 220 lbs), with champions and competitors from Bellator, KSW, Jungle Fight,[16] BAMMA, and King of Kings. Most notably, King Mo was announced to represent Bellator in the tournament.[17] The 8-man bracket was officially finalized on November 30, 2015, with other bouts also being announced shortly thereafter.[18][19][20][21] Kron Gracie (whose father Rickson competed at the inaugural PRIDE event) was announced to participate against Asen Yamamoto.[22] Amongst the veterans in the Japanese scene, Tsuyoshi Kosaka would face James Thompson,[23] and Akebono Tarō would face Bob Sapp.[24]
Initial plans were to do at least four events per year, as opposed to the more frequent scheduling of other promotions, in order to build up the excitement and anticipation.[25] Rizin's presentation is modeled after major sporting events, such as the UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup.[26]
2016 – present
In 2018, it was announced that the main event for the traditional New Year's Eve card (Rizin 14) was going to be a boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and undefeated Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa.[27] The match ended up with Nasukawa knocked out two minutes into the first round.[28]
On November 11, 2021, Rizin broke the tradition of Pride and Dream by for the first time holding an event in a cage instead of the traditional roped ring at the Rizin Trigger 1st event.[29]
On December 31, 2022, as the traditional New Year's Eve event, Rizin hosted the crossover Bellator MMA vs. Rizin FF card with Bellator MMA as part of Rizin 40.[30] The card saw fighters from each promotion fight each other.[31] The card saw Bellator MMA fighters Gadzhi Rabadanov, former champions A.J. McKee, Juan Archuleta and Kyoji Horiguchi, and current champion Patricio Freire, fighting against Rizin representatives Koji Takeda, Soo Chul Kim, Hiromasa Ougikubo and champions Kleber Koike Erbst and Roberto de Souza. The result was a victory by all Bellator fighters.[32] In the middle of the event, former boxing world champion Manny Pacquiao made a public announcement that he had signed with Rizin for a boxing exhibition match against an yet-unannounced opponent.[33]
Broadcasting and coverage
Rizin's inaugural event was broadcast in North America on Spike TV.[34] Other broadcasters have included SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, Fuji Television, Fox Sports Brazil, Kix and Match TV.[35] From 2017 to 2020, Rizin events have been streaming on FITE TV in North America and Europe.[36] Rizin 26 to Rizin 37 would stream on LIVENow in Europe and North America.[37]
In 2022, due to several controversies, Rizin would be dropped by Fuji by May of that year.[38][39] Rizin would since begin broadcasting on events via PPV on their streaming service, RIZIN STREAM PASS, and various other streaming platforms in Japan.[40]
Starting with Super Rizin & Rizin 38 in 2022,[41][42] Integrated Sports would produce English-language PPVs of Rizin events for FITE.[43]
Weight classes
Weight class name | Upper limit | Gender |
---|---|---|
Atomweight | 47 kg (104 lb) | Female |
Super Atomweight | 49 kg (108 lb) | Female |
Light Flyweight | 53 kg (117 lb) | Female |
Flyweight | 57 kg (126 lb) | Male |
Bantamweight | 61 kg (134 lb) | Male |
Featherweight | 66 kg (146 lb) | Male |
Lightweight | 71 kg (157 lb) | Male |
Welterweight | 77 kg (170 lb) | Male |
Middleweight | 85 kg (187 lb) | Male |
Light Heavyweight | 95 kg (209 lb) | Male |
Heavyweight | 120 kg (265 lb) | Male |
Openweight | No weight restriction | Male / Female |
Rules
Mixed martial arts
The rules in Rizin FF have been adopted from Pride FC with some slight modifications over the years. Matches are three rounds in length. Prior to May 2018, the first round of men's matches spanned 10 minutes, while the final two rounds lasted five minutes each. Since then matches have been three rounds of five minutes each. Victory can be attained by knockout, submission, technical knockout by referee stoppage, or by judges' decision.
All strikes, throws and chokes are permitted, with the exception of headbutts and strikes to the back of the head, medulla oblongata, spinal cord or genitals.[44] Soccer kicks, knees and stomps to grounded opponents are also permitted. However, if there is a weight discrepancy of 15 kg (33 lb) or more, the lighter fighter is allowed to choose if such ground attacks are permitted.[44] Unlike Pride, Rizin allows the use of elbow strikes, including the 12–6 elbow.[45]
Judging criteria
Fights are judged on the following criteria:[44]
- Damage: when assessing damage, both striking and grappling are given the same weight. The judges will place value on the extent to which the effective striking or grappling 'influences the match' - in other words, whether there was such damage/advantage to the fighter which would have led to the fight being ended by the opponent tapping out or being knocked out.
- Aggressiveness: the judges will consider which fighter was more effective in delivering attacks which may end the fight in a finish. Note this element does not take into consideration the actual impact of damage caused by the fighter's strikes, throws or submission. Rather, the judges will place value on whether fighters were aggressive and proactive in their approach during the fight.
- Generalship: the judges will consider which fighter was more effective in dominating the pace, place and position of the fight. Judges will also consider the amount of time spent in a ground position or the standing position.
Although not outlined in the Rizin rules, scorecards published on the JMOC website suggest that damage, aggressiveness and generalship are scored 50, 30 and 20 points respectively. Where the fighter has not fulfilled the element, they are given a score of zero - there are no in-betweens.[45]
Kickboxing
Rizin kickboxing matches are three rounds of three minutes each. Victory can be attained by knockout, technical knockout by referee stoppage, or by judges' decision. If the match goes the distance, a 10-point system is used to judge.[44] Three knockdowns in a single round will result in a technical knockout.[44] All forms of elbow strikes are illegal.[44]
List of Rizin FF events
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Current champions
Division | Champion | Since | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|
Light Heavyweight | Vacant | ||
Lightweight | Roberto de Souza | June 13, 2021 | 2 |
Featherweight | Vugar Karamov | July 30, 2023 | 0 |
Bantamweight | Juan Archuleta | July 30, 2023 | 0 |
Women's Super Atomweight | Seika Izawa | April 17, 2022 | 1 |
Championship history
Light Heavyweight Championship
- Weight limit: 95 kg (209.4 lb)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Reign | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jiří Procházka def. Muhammed Lawal |
Rizin 15 Yokohama, Japan |
April 21, 2019 | Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. days | 1. def. C. B. Dollaway at Rizin 20 on Dec 31, 2019 |
Procházka vacated the title on January 15, 2020 after he signed with UFC.[49] |
Lightweight Championship
- Weight limit: 71 kg (156.5 lb)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Reign | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Roberto de Souza def. Tofiq Musayev |
Rizin 28 Tokyo, Japan |
June 13, 2021 | Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. (incumbent) |
1. def. Yusuke Yachi at Rizin 33 on December 31, 2021 |
Featherweight Championship
- Weight limit: 66 kg (145.5 lb)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Reign | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Yutaka Saito def. Mikuru Asakura |
Rizin 25 Osaka, Japan |
November 21, 2020 | Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. days | |
2 | Juntaro Ushiku | Rizin 31 Yokohama, Japan |
October 24, 2021 | 364 days | 1. def. Yutaka Saito at Rizin 35 on April 17, 2022 |
3 | Kleber Koike Erbst | Rizin 39 Fukuoka, Japan |
October 23, 2022 | 243 days | |
Koike was stripped of the title on June 23, 2023 after failing to make weight for his title defense against Chihiro Suzuki at Rizin 43.[50] | |||||
4 | Vugar Karamov def. Mikuru Asakura |
Super Rizin 2 Saitama, Japan |
July 30, 2023 | Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. (incumbent) |
Bantamweight Championship
- Weight limit: 61 kg (134.5 lb)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Reign | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kyoji Horiguchi def. Darrion Caldwell |
Rizin 14 Saitama, Japan |
December 31, 2018 | Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. days | |
Horiguchi vacated the title on November 14, 2019 after he was unable to defend the title due to injury.[51] | |||||
2 | Manel Kape def. Kai Asakura |
Rizin 20 Saitama, Japan |
December 31, 2019 | Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. days | |
Kape vacated the title on April 1, 2020 after he signed with the UFC.[52] | |||||
3 | Kai Asakura def. Hiromasa Ougikubo |
Rizin 23 Yokohama, Japan |
August 10, 2020 | Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. days | |
4 | Kyoji Horiguchi (2) | Rizin 26 Saitama, Japan |
December 31, 2020 | Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. days | |
Horiguchi vacated the title on December 31, 2022 after he moved down to Flyweight. | |||||
5 | Juan Archuleta def. Hiromasa Ougikubo |
Super Rizin 2 Saitama, Japan |
July 30, 2023 | Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. (incumbent) |
Women's Super Atomweight Championship
- Weight limit: 49 kg (108.0 lb)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Reign | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ayaka Hamasaki def. Kanna Asakura |
Rizin 14 Saitama, Japan |
December 31, 2018 | Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. days | 1. def. Jinh Yu Frey at Rizin 16 on June 2, 2019 |
2 | Seo Hee Ham | Rizin 20 Saitama, Japan |
December 31, 2019 | Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. days | |
On October 19, Seo Hee Ham vacated her title after being unable to agree on her next fight with the organization and signed with ONE Championship.[53] | |||||
3 | Ayaka Hamasaki (2) def. Miyuu Yamamoto |
Rizin 26 Saitama, Japan |
December 31, 2020 | Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | 1. def. Kanna Asakura at Rizin 27 on March 21, 2021 |
4 | Seika Izawa | Rizin 35 Chōfu, Japan |
April 17, 2022 | Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. | 1. def. Claire Lopez at Super Rizin 2 on July 30, 2023 |
Grand-Prix Champions
MMA
Kickboxing
Weight Class | Champion | Runner-Up | Event | Date | Tournament Bracket |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rizin Kick Flyweight 57 kg 2017 | Tenshin Nasukawa | Yamato Fujita | Rizin WGP 2017: Final Round | December 31, 2017 | Rizin Flyweight KB Tournament |
Rizin Kick Bantamweight 61 kg 2021 | Taiju Shiratori | Kouzi | Rizin 29 | June 27, 2021 |
Records
Most wins in title bouts
Title wins | Champion | Division | W | D | NC | L |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 | Ayaka Hamasaki | Super Atomweight | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
3 | Roberto de Souza | Lightweight | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2 | Kyoji Horiguchi | Bantamweight | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Juntaro Ushiku | Featherweight | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
Seika Izawa | Super Atomweight | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most consecutive title defenses
Defenses | Champion | Division | Period |
---|---|---|---|
2 | Roberto de Souza | Lightweight | June 13, 2021 – present |
1 | Ayaka Hamasaki | Women's Super Atomweight | December 31, 2018 – December 31, 2019 |
Jiří Procházka | Light Heavyweight | April 21, 2019 – January 15, 2020 | |
Ayaka Hamasaki | Women's Super Atomweight | December 31, 2020 – April 17, 2022 | |
Juntaro Ushiku | Featherweight | October 24, 2021 – October 23, 2022 | |
Seika Izawa | Women's Super Atomweight | April 17, 2022 – present |
Champions by nationality
The division champions include only linear and true champions. Interim champions who have never become linear champions will be listed as interim champions. Fighters with multiple title reigns in a specific division will also be counted once. Runners-up are not included in tournaments champions.
Country | Division champions |
Interim champions |
Tournaments champions |
Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
Japan | 7 | - | 4 | 11 |
Azerbaijan | 1 | - | 1 | 2 |
United States | 1 | - | 1 | 2 |
Brazil | 1 | - | - | 1 |
Angola | 1 | - | - | 1 |
Czech Republic | 1 | - | - | 1 |
South Korea | 1 | - | - | 1 |
Croatia | - | - | 1 | 1 |
Notable fighters
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- Floyd Mayweather Jr.
- Goran Reljić
- Mirko Filipović
- Jarred Brooks
- Bob Sapp
- Muhammed Lawal
- Tenshin Nasukawa
- Kyoji Horiguchi
- Kai Asakura
- Victor Henry
- Shintaro Ishiwatari
- Naoki Inoue
- Hiromasa Ougikubo
- Takafumi Otsuka
- Ulka Sasaki
- Shoji
- Justin Scoggins
- Ben Nguyen
- Diego Brandao
- Gabi Garcia
- Jairzinho Rozenstruik
- Daron Cruickshank
- Ren Hiramoto
- Amir Aliakbari
- Fedor Emelianenko
- Vadim Nemkov
- Jiří Procházka
- Tatsuya Kawajiri
- Satoru Kitaoka
- Takasuke Kume
- Daron Cruickshank
- Takanori Gomi
- Yusuke Yachi
- Let's Gota
- K-Taro Nakamura
- C.B. Dollaway
- Sudario Tsuyoshi
Affiliated organizations
Rizin FF is affiliated with the following organizations:[54]
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- Bellator MMA
- Invicta FC
- Fight Nights Global
- Russian MMA Union
- Jungle Fight
- Deep
- Shooto
- VTJ
- K-1
- Shoot boxing
- Road FC
- KSW
- Lithuania Bushido Federation
- Gladiator Championship Fighting
- Full Metal Dojo
See also
References
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- ↑ FEG's bankruptcy, May 17, 2012, Muay Thai TV
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- ↑ Fedor Emelianenko Returns To MMA On New Year’s Eve
- ↑ RIZIN Japan - What We Can Expect From The Newcomer
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- ↑ Video:Fedor: Return Of The Last Emperor
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- ↑ 天心vs武尊の仕掛け人RIZIN代表・榊原信行氏「反社交際音声」流出トラブル|NEWSポストセブン ; May 16, 2022
- ↑ MATCH】フジテレビが”放送中止”を発表「主催者側との契約に至らず」 - eFight【イーファイト】格闘技情報を毎日配信!; May 31, 2022
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ ▷ Floyd Mayweather vs Mikuru Asakura - Official PPV Replay - FITE
- ↑ ▷ RIZIN 38 - Official PPV Replay - FITE
- ↑ ▷ Integrated Sports Videos & Streams July 2023 - FITE
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External links
- Articles with short description
- Pages with broken file links
- Official website not in Wikidata
- Rizin Fighting Federation
- Mixed martial arts in Japan
- 2015 establishments in Japan
- Mixed martial arts organizations
- Sports organizations established in 2015
- Sports organizations of Japan
- Organizations based in Tokyo
- Minato, Tokyo