Rizin Fighting Federation
Rizin Fighting Federation (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]
 | |
| Private | |
| Industry | Mixed martial arts promotion |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founder | Nobuyuki Sakakibara |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Nobuyuki Sakakibara Nobuhiko Takada |
| Parent | Dream Factory Worldwide |
| Website | jp |
History
Initial signees to Rizin include Fedor Emelianenko, Kazushi Sakuraba, Shinya Aoki, as well as female competitors Gabi Garcia and RENA.[3] Finally, the classic Grand Prix tournament was announced (held at 100kg or roughly 220lbs), with champions and competitors from Bellator, KSW, Jungle Fight[4], BAMMA, and King of Kings. Most notably, King Mo was announced to represent Bellator in the tournament.[5]
The 8-man bracket was officially finalized on November 30th, 2015, with other bouts also being announced shortly thereafter.[6][7][8][9] Kron Gracie (whose father Rickson competed at the inaugural PRIDE event) was announced to participate against Asen Yamamoto.[10] Amongst the veterans in the Japanese scene, Tsuyoshi Kosaka would face James Thompson,[11] and Akebono Tarō would face Bob Sapp.[12]
Initial plans were to do at least four events per year, as opposed to the more frequent scheduling of U.S-based MMA promotions, in order to build up the excitement and anticipation.[13]
Broadcasting and coverage
Rizin's inaugural event was broadcast in North America on Spike TV. Other broadcasters have included SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, Fuji Television, Fox Sports Brazil, Kix and Match TV.[14] Since 2017, Rizin events have been streaming on FITE TV in North America and Europe.[15]
List of Rizin FF events
Weight classes
| Weight class | Upper weight limit |
|---|---|
| Atomweight | 47 kg (103.6 lb) |
| Super atomweight | 49 kg (108.0 lb) |
| Strawweight | 51 kg (112.4 lb) |
| Super strawweight | 53 kg (116.8 lb) |
| Flyweight | 55 kg (121.3 lb) |
| Super flyweight | 58 kg (127.9 lb) |
| Bantamweight | 61 kg (134.5 lb) |
| Super bantamweight | 64 kg (141.1 lb) |
| Featherweight | 67 kg (147.7 lb) |
| Super featherweight | 70 kg (154.3 lb) |
| Lightweight | 73 kg (160.9 lb) |
| Light welterweight | 76 kg (167.6 lb) |
| Welterweight | 80 kg (176.4 lb) |
| Light middleweight | 84 kg (185.2 lb) |
| Middleweight | 88 kg (194.0 lb) |
| Light heavyweight | 93 kg (205.0 lb) |
| Heavyweight | 100 kg (220.5 lb) |
| Super heavyweight | Unlimited |
Current champions
| Division | Champion | Since | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Heavyweight | Vacant | ||
| Bantamweight |  |
August 10, 2020 | 0 |
| Women's Super Atomweight |  |
December 31, 2019 | 0 |
Championship history
Light Heavyweight Championship
- Weight limit: 93 kg (205.0 lb)
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  def. Muhammed Lawal |
Rizin 15 |
April 21, 2019 | 1. def. C. B. Dollaway at Rizin 20 on December 31, 2019 |
| Title vacated after Procházka left Rizin for UFC. | ||||
Bantamweight Championship
- Weight limit: 61 kg (134.5 lb)
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | def. Darrion Caldwell |
Rizin 14 |
December 31, 2018 | |
| Title vacated after Horiguchi was unable to defend the title due to injury. | ||||
| 2 |  def. Kai Asakura |
Rizin 20 |
December 31, 2019 | |
| Title vacated after Kape signed with the UFC.[19] | ||||
| 3 | def. Hiromasa Ogikubo |
Rizin 23 |
August 10, 2020 | |
Women's Super Atomweight Championship
- Weight limit: 49 kg (108.0 lb)
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | def. Kanna Asakura |
Rizin 14 |
December 31, 2018 | 1. def. Jinh Yu Frey at Rizin 16 on June 2, 2019 |
| 2 | |
Rizin 20 |
December 31, 2019 |
Grand-Prix Champions
MMA
| Weight Class | Champion | Runner-up | Event | Date | Tournament Bracket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rizin Heavyweight 100 kg 2015 |  | | Rizin WGP 2015: Part 2 - Iza | December 31, 2015 | Rizin 100 Kg Grand-Prix bracket |
| Rizin Openweight 2016 |  |  | Rizin WGP 2016: Final Round | December 31, 2016 | Rizin Openweight Grand Prix 2016 bracket |
| Rizin Bantamweight 61 kg 2017 | | | Rizin WGP 2017: Final Round | December 31, 2017 | Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix 2017 bracket |
| Rizin Women's Super Atomweight 49 kg 2017 | | | Rizin WGP 2017: Final Round | December 31, 2017 | Rizin Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix 2017 bracket |
| Rizin Lightweight 71 kg 2019 |  |  | Rizin 20 - Saitama | December 31, 2019 | Rizin Lightweight Grand Prix bracket |
Kickboxing
| Weight Class | Champion | Runner-Up | Event | Date | Tournament Bracket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rizin Kickboxing Flyweight 57 kg 2017 | | | Rizin WGP 2017: Final Round | December 31, 2017 | Rizin Flyweight KB Tournament |
Notable fighters
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Affiliated organizations
Rizin FF is affiliated with the following organizations:[20]
References
- "Nobuyuki Sakakibara discusses Rizin FF plans for 2016, Fedor Emelianenko's opponent, drug testing and more". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
- "Former Pride FC boss: Fedor's opponent will mean something for future of MMA". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
- "Long after his prime, Kazushi Sakuraba is in the position to save Japanese MMA". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
- "Newly crowned Jungle Fight champion enters Rizin FF heavyweight tournament". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
- "'King Mo' to represent Bellator in Rizin light heavyweight grand prix". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
- "Rizin announces heavyweight tournament bracket". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
- "Muhammed 'King Mo' Lawal lands opponent at RIZIN FF". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
- "Bellator fighter Brennan Ward, additional mixed-rules fight announced for Rizin debut". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
- "Jerome LeBanner returns to MMA at Rizin". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
- "Kron Gracie added to Rizin FF card in December". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
- "Fedor Emelianenko still without an opponent, Tsuyoshi Kosaka to face James Thompson at Rizin". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
- "Rizin signs Sapp vs. Akebono rematch for its debut". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
- "Nobuyuki Sakakibara discusses Rizin FF plans for 2016, Fedor Emelianenko's opponent, drug testing and more". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
- "Event Summary Rizen Fighting Federation". rizinff.com. Retrieved 2015-11-26.
- "Rizin FF Partners with FITE TV". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
- "Bruno Massami on Twitter 31-12-2019". gazetaesportiva.com.
- "Floyd Mayweather dominates Tenshin Nasukawa in exhibition". japantimes.co.jp.
- "Rizin Heisei's Last Yarennoka! and RIZIN 14 official results and post fight backstage interviews". fightbookmma.com.
- Jesse Holland (April 2, 2020). "RIZIN cancels April and May events, vacates bantamweight title". mmamania.com.
- "RIZIN Fighting Federation". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
External links
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