Yogibo presents RIZIN.30, Japan Bantamweight
Grand Prix Quarterfinals set, Super Atomweight Champion Hamasaki
returns to action in a non-title. Long time veteran Shintaro
Ishiwatari announces retirement.Yogibo presents
#RIZIN30
2021.9.19
Saitama Super Arena#RIZIN
#MMA— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English)
July 20, 2021
A quartet of bantamweight grand prix quarterfinals will be the
featured attraction at Rizin
Fighting Federation 30 on Sept. 19.
The Japanese promotion recently announced the pairings for its
bracket, which are as follows: Kai Asakura
vs. Alan
Yoshihiro Yamaniha, Naoki Inoue
vs. Yuto
Hokamura, Hiromasa
Ougikubo vs. Takafumi
Otsuka and Kenta
Takizawa vs. Yuki Motoya.
Rizin officials determined the matchups for the quarterfinals.
“We matched the fight where we won’t have any rematches and have
new, intriguing fights for the quarterfinals of the bantamweight
grand prix,” Rizin CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara said at a press
conference. “We will prepare the event to host 5,000 spectators at
the moment and hopefully the government will allow us to open up
the arena for additional spectators. The Tokyo Olympics will be
held under tough situations and right now the media is not putting
the spotlight on the athletes. We will support our fighters and do
everything we need to put the spotlight on our fighters and tell
their story.”
Rizin 30 takes place at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, and
is available via pay-per-view via Rizin Live. The card will also
see the return of atomweight champion Ayaka
Hamasaki, as she faces Emi Fujino in
a non-title bout. Hamasaki defeated Fujino under the Jewels banner
in December 2012.
“Last time we fought I beat her by decision. I’m glad that we got
to meet again after nine years,” Hamasaki said. “We will be
fighting at a lower weight class this time and I appreciate her
coming down. I have no plans of being friendly and I will finish
the fight this time by knockout or a submission.”