After weeks of rumors and questions without any real answers, it has finally been confirmed that RIZIN Fighting Federation has canceled their RIZIN 22 show slated for April 19. Along with that came the confirmation that they have canceled RIZIN 23, set for May 17, as well.
Both events will be re-booked for future dates, but nothing specific has been announced.
幻に終わったRIZIN.22のポスタービジュアルです。本当に残念です。我々RIZINスタッフ一同は、この苦難の時期にただ耐えるのでは無く、終息した後にパワーアップして皆さんをお迎えする為の準備期間にしたいと思います！“真夏の格闘技の祭典”を共に創造し、必ず実現させましょう！ pic.twitter.com/VrHQkY9vLQ
— 榊󠄀原信行 Nobuyuki Sakakibara (@nobu_sakakibara) April 2, 2020
With the cancellation of RIZIN 22 came the official previously unreleased event poster.
Two fights that were set to take place at the Yokohama Arena had been reported for some time. This of course being the bantamweight title fight between Manel Kape and Hiromasa Ogikubo, as well as the lightweight fight between Mikuru Asakura and former ONE champion Kotetsu Boku.
The poster includes a handful of names that were news to most, this includes Lightweight Grand-Prix champion Tofiq Musaev, former bantamweight title-challenger Kai Asakura, and Luiz Gustavo.
Making the news even worse for the promotion, it comes just two days after Manel Kape leaving the promotion to sign with the UFC. This, of course, leaves the bantamweight title vacant. Though not confirmed, a new light heavyweight champion was rumored to be crowned at RIZIN 22 before the show faced cancellation. This due to the fact former champion Jiri Prochazka vacated his title to sign with the UFC, much like Kape.
RIZIN 23 was slated to be the promotion’s debut in the Sendai regional of Japan next month. No fights were announced for that show, but it will no longer take place.