RIZIN will host two events in May, featuring the start of a heavyweight grand prix and title defenses by featherweight champion Kleber Koike in Tokyo on May 4 and 155-pound champion Roberto Satoshi in Seoul on May 31.
RIZIN’s got a busy May lined up with two action-packed cards. They’re kicking things off with the heavyweight grand prix and some epic championship defenses.
Mark your calendars for May 4! Featherweight champ Kleber Koike is set to defend his title against Razhabali Shaydullaev at RIZIN Otokomatsuri in Tokyo. Koike snatched the gold back in December, while Shaydullaev steps in undefeated at 12-0.
Also on the RIZIN Otokomatsuri card, fans can look forward to a thrilling lightweight showdown between Chihiro Suzuki and Mikuru Asakura. Plus, the heavyweight grand prix kicks off its first round.
In the grand prix, former sumo star Tsuyoshi Sudario makes his debut against Bellator alum Jose Augusto. Meanwhile, ex-KSW heavyweight Marek Samociuk faces former Bellator and PFL fighter Daniel James. Other quarterfinals include Islambek Baktybek Uulu vs. Alexander Soldatkin and Mikio Ueda vs. Shoma Shibisai.
Fast forward three weeks, and RIZIN heads to South Korea on May 31. Here, 155-pound champ Roberto Satoshi will defend his belt against former Road to UFC contender Won Bi Kim. Oh, and UFC vet Johnny Case is back to take on Juri Ohara!
Check out the full lineups below!
RIZIN Otokomatsuri — May 4 in Tokyo, Japan
- Kleber Koike vs. Razhabali Shaydullaev
- Hiroya Kondo vs. Tatsuki Shinotsuka
- Chihiro Suzuki vs. Mikuru Asakura
- Kyohei Hagiwara vs. Taisei Nishitani
- Makoto Shinryu vs. Yuki Ito
- Ryo Takagi vs. Kyoma Akimoto
- Daisuke Nakamura vs. Taisei Sakuraba
- Danny Sabatello vs. Shinobu Ota
- John Dodson vs. Takaki Soya
- Erson Yamamoto vs. Daichi Tomizawa
- Joe Hiramoto vs. Toki Tamaru
- Taio Asahisa vs. Yoshiya Uzatsuyo — kickboxing
- Tsuyoshi Sudario vs. Jose Augusto
- Marek Samociuk vs. Daniel James
- Islambek Baktybek Uulu vs. Alexander Soldatkin
- Mikio Ueda vs. Shoma Shibisai.
- Takao Ueda vs. Vinicius Silveira
- Daichi Akahira vs. Futa Hashimoto
RIZIN in Korea — May 31 in Seoul, South Korea
- Roberto Satoshi vs. Won Bin Ki
- Juri Ohara vs. Johnny Case
- Soo Chul Kim vs. Shoko Sato
- Hyuk Min Ji vs. Koji Takeda
- Ji Yong Yang vs. Kintaro
- Young Jae Song vs. Yoshiki Nakahara
- Yu Ri Shim vs. Kate Lotus
- Si Won Kim vs. Sho Patrick Usami
- Sang Hae Jo vs. Hide Meison Usami — kickboxing
- Yong Cheol Kwon vs. Kota Miura
- Beom Jun Kang vs. Seiya Inoue — kickboxing