Finally, RIZIN 17 is here!
This stacked offering from RIZIN Fighting Federation is sure to be one of the biggest shows of the summer as the Japanese-based juggernaut returns to the Saitama Super Arena with a stacked twelve-fight offering.
This morning, the weigh-ins took place and all fighters are on-weight and ready to compete.
In the main event, a lightweight grudge match. Bad blood will boil over as RIZIN stars Yusuke Yachi and Mikuru Asakura face-off after months of anticipation and heated trash talk. In what should be a double-co-main event, a batch of bantamweight match-ups in an unofficial tournament of sorts to see who may be next for the great Kyoji Horiguchi. Former Pancrase king, Shintaro Ishiwatari returns to face UFC veteran Ulka Sasaki, and Yuki Motoya meets The Ultimate Fighter veteran Hiromasa Ogikubo, current Shooto champion.
Unbeaten Russian powerhouse Ivan Shtyrkov makes his RIZIN debut against ultra-tough South Korean fighter Hoon Kim immediately following the return of former K-1 champion TAIGA, as he faces a relative unknown in Hikaru Machida.
Prior to the sole intermission of the night, many fantastic names will compete as well. This includes the legends Satoru Kitaoka and Tatsuya Kawajiri, Johnny Case, jiu-jitsu wizard Roberto de Souza, UFC veteran Mizuto Hirota, and ROAD FC title-holder Seo Hee Ham. The card will also feature a classic, and always interesting, Russia vs. America match-up. In one of the most highly-anticipated RIZIN debuts of all time, Vitaly Shemetov faces Jake Heun at light heavyweight.
Check out the full card below, as it will be updated with live results as the event progresses. And, of course, be sure to order the pay-per-view on FITE. You do not want to miss this one!
Mikuru Asakura def. Yusuke Yachi via Unanimous Decision
Shintaro Ishiwatari def. Ulka Sasaki via Submission (North-South Choke) in Round 2
Hiromasa Ogikubo def. Yuki Motoya via Split Decision
Ivan Shtyrkov def. Hoon Kim via TKO (Punches) in Round 2
TAIGA def. Hikaru Machida via Unanimous Decision
— INTERMISSION —
Johnny Case def. Satoru Kitaoka via TKO (Corner Stoppage) in Round 1
Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Ali Abdulkhalikov via Unanimous Decision
Roberto Satoshi Souza def. Mizuto Hirota via KO (Punches) in Round 1
Jake Heun def. Vitaly Shemetov via TKO (Cut) in Round 3
Seo Hee Ham def. Tomo Maesawa via TKO (Knees) in Round 1
Stephanie Egger def. King Reina via Unanimous Decision
HIDEKI def. Daiki Watabe via Split Decision