RIZIN 20 bout order revealed, bantamweight title fight headlines 15-fight card
The RIZIN 20 fight card features three title fights, two rounds of the Lightweight Grand-Prix, a couple of pivotal kickboxing match-ups and so much more. And now the stacked show’s bout order has been made official.
Opening the night will be the semi-finals of the RIZIN Lightweight Grand-Prix featuring Johnny Case, Tofiq Musaev, Patricky “Pitbull” Freire, and Luiz Gustavo. The winner of each of these bouts will move onto the Grand-Prix finals as part of the tenth bout of the night, prior to the show’s lone intermission. Before that, though, there is plenty of fun to be had.
Jiri Prochazka will defend his light heavyweight title against UFC veteran C.B. Dollaway, Vitaly Shemetov returns against an EFC title-holder, the always-exciting Jake Heun will look to entertain the Japanese fans yet again when he takes on a local Olympic hero in the form of judo gold medalist Satoshi Ishii as well. We’re not done yet, though! Former King of Pancrase, and arguably the most underrated fighter on any roster, Shintaro Ishiwatari faces Shooto king Hiromasa Ogikubo, former DEEP champion Yuki Motoya will represent RIZIN against an undefeated Bellator fighter in the form of Patrick “Patchy” Mix, and kickboxing superstars Taiju Shiratori and TAIGA will rematch after their war at RIZIN 19.
That’s all happening before the first intermission, and we didn’t even mention the fantastic atomweight contest between Miyuu Yamamoto and Suwanan Boonsorn! Now, the main fights of the night!
After we return from intermission, Shoot Boxing queen RENA will face the woman who spoiled her Bellator debut by choking the Japanese star unconscious when she rematches Lindsey Vanzandt. Following this up will be lightweight star Mikuru Asakura as he represents Bellator against Bellator’s heavy-handed Brazilian veteran John “Macapa” Texeira. Then, in what will be the third meeting between the two, Ayaka Hamasaki looks to defend her atomweight crown against former ROAD FC title-holder and surging contender Seo Hee “Hamderlei Silva” Ham. In the night’s co-main event, Tenshin Nasukawa gets his toughest RIZIN bout to date when he takes on KING OF KNOCK OUT champ Rui Ebata in an incredibly intriguing kickboxing contest. Finally, in the night’s main event, the vacant bantamweight title is on the line when Kai Asakura takes on Manel Kape in a rematch nearly two years in the making.
Check out the full card below, and be sure to order RIZIN 20 on FITE TV. You do not want to miss this!
Kai Asakura vs. Manel Kape II (Vacant Bantamweight Title)
Tenshin Nasukawa vs. Rui Ebata (Kickboxing Special Rules)
Ayaka Hamasaki vs. Seo Hee Ham III (Super Atomweight Title)
Mikuru Asakura vs. John Macapa (RIZIN vs. Bellator)
Lindsey Vanzandt vs. RENA II
–INTERMISSION–
Case/Musaev winner vs. Pitbull/Gustavo winner (Grand-Prix Championship)
Jiri Prochazka vs. C.B. Dollaway (Light Heavyweight Title)
Vitaly Shemetov vs. Simon Biyong
Shintaro Ishiwatari vs. Hiromasa Ogikubo
Jake Heun vs. Satoshi Ishii
Yuki Motoya vs. Patrick Mix (RIZIN vs. Bellator)
Taiju Shiratori vs. TAIGA II (Kickboxing)
Miyuu Yamamoto vs. Suwanan Boonsorn
Luiz Gustavo vs. Patricky Pitbull (Grand-Prix Semi-Final)
Johnny Case vs. Tofiq Musaev (Grand-Prix Semi-Final)