Rizin Fighting Federation
Type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Mixed martial arts promotion |
Founded | 2015 |
Founder | Nobuyuki Sakakibara |
Headquarters | Minato-ku, Tokyo , Japan |
Key people | Nobuyuki Sakakibara Nobuhiko Takada |
Parent | Dream Factory Worldwide |
Website | jp |
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]
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".[3]
History[]
The precursors to Rizin were Pride Fighting Championships and DREAM, the latter of which was founded in 2008 through a collaboration with Fighting and Entertainment Group and Dream Stage Entertainment.[4] Three years after DREAM folded in the summer of 2012,[5] 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.[6]
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.[7] 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.[8] Initial signees included Kazushi Sakuraba, Shinya Aoki, as well as female competitors Gabi Garcia and RENA.[9]
A Grand Prix tournament was announced (held at 100 kg or roughly 220 lbs), with champions and competitors from Bellator, KSW, Jungle Fight,[10] BAMMA, and King of Kings. Most notably, King Mo was announced to represent Bellator in the tournament.[11] The 8-man bracket was officially finalized on November 30, 2015, with other bouts also being announced shortly thereafter.[12][13][14][15] Kron Gracie (whose father Rickson competed at the inaugural PRIDE event) was announced to participate against Asen Yamamoto.[16] Amongst the veterans in the Japanese scene, Tsuyoshi Kosaka would face James Thompson,[17] and Akebono Tarō would face Bob Sapp.[18]
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.[19] Rizin's presentation is modeled after major sporting events, such as the UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup.[20]
Broadcasting and coverage[]
Rizin's inaugural event was broadcast in North America on Spike TV.[21] Other broadcasters have included SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, Fuji Television, Fox Sports Brazil, Kix and Match TV.[22] From 2017 to 2019, Rizin events have been streaming on FITE TV in North America and Europe.[23] As of RIZIN 26, they have been streaming on LIVENow.
Weight classes[]
Weight class name | Upper limit | Gender |
---|---|---|
Atomweight | 47 kg (103.6 lb) | Feminine |
Super Atomweight | 50 kg (110.2 lb) | Feminine |
Light Flyweight | 54 kg (119.0 lb) | Feminine |
Flyweight | 58 kg (127.9 lb) | Masculine |
Bantamweight | 62 kg (136.7 lb) | Masculine |
Featherweight | 66 kg (145.5 lb) | Masculine |
Lightweight | 70 kg (154.3 lb) | Masculine |
Welterweight | 77 kg (169.8 lb) | Masculine |
Middleweight | 85 kg (187.4 lb) | Masculine |
Light Heavyweight | 95 kg (209.4 lb) | Masculine |
Heavyweight | 120 kg (264.6 lb) | Masculine |
Openweight | No weight restriction | Masculine / Feminine |
Rules[]
The rules in Rizin FF have been adopted from Pride FC with some slight modifications over the years. Like Pride, Rizin rules highly differ from the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts.[24]
Match length[]
There are three types of matches in Rizin FF:
1. Rizin single matches – These are three rounds in length. The first round spans ten minutes with the final two rounds lasting five minutes each.
2. Rizin tournament matches – These are three rounds in length, with each round lasting five minutes.
3. Women's matches – These are three rounds of five minutes.
Judging criteria[]
Fights are judged on the following criteria:
- 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.[25]
Differences from Unified Rules of MMA and PRIDE[]
- All attacks to the head are allowed, regardless of the fighter being grounded or standing up. This includes soccer kicks, knees, and stomps. 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. Any kicks, knees or stomps on the head of a grounded opponent are considered fouls in the Unified Rules.
- Rizin FF allows for use of the 12-6 elbow.[26]
- Unlike Pride FC, Rizin FF allows for use of elbow strikes to the head of an opponent.
List of Rizin FF events[]
# | Event | Date | Venue | Location | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
32 | Rizin 29 – Osaka | June 27, 2021 | Maruzen Intec Arena | Osaka, Japan | 4,796 |
31 | Rizin 28 – Tokyo | June 13, 2021 | Tokyo Dome | Tokyo, Japan | 9,317 |
30 | Rizin 27 – Nagoya | March 21, 2021 | Nippon Gaishi Hall | Nagoya, Japan | 4,558 |
29 | Rizin 26 – Saitama | December 31, 2020 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 9,978 |
28 | Rizin 25 – Osaka | November 21, 2020 | Osaka-jō Hall | Osaka, Japan | 5,487 |
27 | Rizin 24 – Saitama | September 27, 2020 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 5,000 |
26 | Rizin 23 - Calling Over | August 10, 2020 | Pia Arena MM | Yokohama, Japan | 4,410 |
25 | Rizin 22 - Starting Over | August 9, 2020 | Pia Arena MM | Yokohama, Japan | 2,805 |
24 | Rizin 21 - Hamamatsu | February 22, 2020 | Hamamatsu Arena | Hamamatsu, Japan | 6,832 |
23 | Rizin 20 - Saitama | December 31, 2019 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 29,315[27] |
22 | Rizin 19 - Osaka | October 12, 2019 | Edion Arena | Osaka, Japan | 5,098 |
21 | Rizin 18 - Nagoya | August 18, 2019 | Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium | Nagoya, Japan | 6,281 |
20 | Rizin 17 - Saitama | July 28, 2019 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 16,930 |
19 | Rizin 16 - Kobe | June 2, 2019 | World Memorial Hall | Kobe, Japan | 8,107 |
18 | Rizin 15 - Yokohama | April 21, 2019 | Yokohama Arena | Yokohama, Japan | 12,914 |
17 | Rizin 14 - Saitama | December 31, 2018 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 29,105[28] |
16 | Rizin - Heisei's Last Yarennoka! | December 31, 2018 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 7,498[29] |
15 | Rizin 13 - Saitama | September 30, 2018 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 27,208 |
14 | Rizin 12 - Aichi - Ken | August 12, 2018 | Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium | Nagoya, Japan | 5,567 |
13 | Rizin 11 - Saitama | July 29, 2018 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 17,912 |
12 | Rizin 10 - Fukuoka | May 6, 2018 | Marine Messe Fukuoka | Fukuoka, Japan | 7,910 |
11 | Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: Final Round | December 31, 2017 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 18,316 |
10 | Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: 2nd Round | December 29, 2017 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 15,539 |
9 | Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: Opening Round - Part 2 | October 15, 2017 | Marine Messe Fukuoka | Fukuoka, Japan | 7,732 |
8 | Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: Opening Round - Part 1 | July 30, 2017 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 17,730 |
7 | Rizin 2017 in Yokohama: Sakura | April 16, 2017 | Yokohama Arena | Yokohama, Japan | 12,729 |
6 | Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: Final Round | December 31, 2016 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 19,357 |
5 | Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 2nd Round | December 29, 2016 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 16,642 |
4 | Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 1st Round | September 25, 2016 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 15,011 |
3 | Rizin 1 | April 17, 2016 | Nippon Gaishi Hall | Nagoya, Japan | 7,291 |
2 | Rizin World Grand Prix 2015: Part 2 - Iza | December 31, 2015 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 18,365 |
1 | Rizin World Grand Prix 2015: Part 1 - Saraba | December 29, 2015 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 12,214 |
Current champions[]
Division | Champion | Since | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|
Light Heavyweight | Vacant | ||
Lightweight | Roberto de Souza | June 13, 2021 | 0 |
Featherweight | Juntaro Ushiku | October 24, 2021 | 0 |
Bantamweight | Kyoji Horiguchi | December 31, 2020 | 0 |
Women's Super Atomweight | Ayaka Hamasaki | December 31, 2020 | 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 | 269 days | 1. def. C. B. Dollaway at Rizin 20 on December 31, 2019 |
Procházka vacated the title on January 15, 2020 after he signed with UFC.[30] |
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 | 196 days |
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 | 337 days | |
2 | Juntaro Ushiku | Rizin 31 Yokohama, Japan |
October 24, 2021 | 63 days |
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 | 318 days | |
Horiguchi was stripped the title on November 14, 2019 after was unable to defend the title due to injury.[31] | |||||
2 | Manel Kape def. Kai Asakura |
Rizin 20 Saitama, Japan |
December 31, 2019 | 92 days | |
Kape vacated he title on April 1, 2020 after he signed with the UFC.[32] | |||||
3 | Kai Asakura def. Hiromasa Ougikubo |
Rizin 23 Yokohama, Japan |
August 10, 2020 | 143 days | |
4 | Kyoji Horiguchi (2) | Rizin 26 Saitama, Japan |
December 31, 2020 | 360 days |
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 | 365 days | 1. def. Jinh Yu Frey at Rizin 16 on June 2, 2019 |
2 | Seo Hee Ham | Rizin 20 Saitama, Japan |
December 31, 2019 | 293 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.[33] | |||||
3 | Ayaka Hamasaki (2) def. Miyuu Yamamoto |
Rizin 26 Saitama, Japan |
December 31, 2020 | 360 days | 1. def. Kanna Asakura at Rizin 27 on March 21, 2021 |
Grand-Prix Champions[]
MMA[]
Weight Class | Champion | Runner-up | Event | Date | Tournament Bracket |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rizin Heavyweight 100 kg 2015 | Muhammed Lawal | Jiří Procházka | Rizin WGP 2015: Part 2 - Iza | December 31, 2015 | Rizin 100 Kg Grand-Prix bracket |
Rizin Openweight 2016 | Mirko Filipović | Amir Aliakbari | Rizin WGP 2016: Final Round | December 31, 2016 | Rizin Openweight Grand Prix 2016 bracket |
Rizin Bantamweight 61 kg 2017 | Kyoji Horiguchi | Shintaro Ishiwatari | Rizin WGP 2017: Final Round | December 31, 2017 | Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix 2017 bracket |
Rizin Women's Super Atomweight 49 kg 2017 | Kanna Asakura | Rena Kubota | Rizin WGP 2017: Final Round | December 31, 2017 | Rizin Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix 2017 bracket |
Rizin Lightweight 71 kg 2019 | Tofiq Musayev | Patricky Freire | Rizin 20 - Saitama | December 31, 2019 | Rizin Lightweight Grand Prix bracket |
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 | 1 |
2 | Kyoji Horiguchi | Bantamweight | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most consecutive title defenses[]
Defenses | Champion | Division | Period |
---|---|---|---|
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 – 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 | 4 | - | 3 | 7 |
Brazil | 1 | - | - | 1 |
Angola | 1 | - | - | 1 |
Czech Republic | 1 | - | - | 1 |
South Korea | 1 | - | - | 1 |
United States | - | - | 1 | 1 |
Azerbaijan | - | - | 1 | 1 |
Croatia | - | - | 1 | 1 |
Notable fighters[]
- Goran Reljić
- Mirko Filipović
- Jarred Brooks
- Bob Sapp
- Floyd Mayweather Jr.
- 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:[34]
- 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[]
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Concept". rizinff.com. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
- ^ "K-1's new Dream includes Cro Cop". Mma Weekly. February 13, 2008. Archived from the original on February 3, 2009. Retrieved February 25, 2009.
- ^ FEG's bankruptcy, May 17, 2012, Muay Thai TV
- ^ "Scott Coker: Former PRIDE boss Nobuyuki Sakakibara planning MMA return in 2015". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
- ^ Fedor Emelianenko Returns To MMA On New Year’s Eve
- ^ RIZIN Japan - What We Can Expect From The Newcomer
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Concept". rizinff.com. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
- ^ Video:Fedor: Return Of The Last Emperor
- ^ "Event Summary Rizen Fighting Federation". rizinff.com. Retrieved 2015-11-26.
- ^ "Rizin FF Partners with FITE TV". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
- ^ "Rules". Rizin Fighting Federation. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
- ^ "Musings on new RIZIN rules, the art of judging and JMOC". The Fighter. 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
- ^ "Musings on new RIZIN rules, the art of judging and JMOC". The Fighter. 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Brett Okamoto (January 15, 2020). "UFC signs European light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka". espn.com.
- ^ Nolan King (November 14, 2019). "Kyoji Horiguchi withdraws from Rizin FF 20 due to knee injury, subsequently vacates title". mmajunkie.com.
- ^ Jesse Holland (April 2, 2020). "RIZIN cancels April and May events, vacates bantamweight title". mmamania.com.
- ^ "Seo Hee Ham vacates Rizin super atomweight title". asianmma.com. October 16, 2020.
- ^ "RIZIN Fighting Federation". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
External links[]
- 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