Guess they call him “Killer” for a reason.
Luiz Gustavo Felix dos Santos handled his business by violent means, as the undefeated Brazilian knocked out Yusuke Yachi in the second round of their Rizin Fighting Federation 12 main event on Sunday at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya, Japan. The end came 2:32 into Round 2. A protégé of the great Wanderlei Silva, dos Santos improved to 9-0 with nine finishes as a short-notice fill-in for the injured Bruno Santos.
Dos Santos made the most of his opportunity in the second round, where the two lightweights exchanged in the center of the ring. “Killer” fired a left hook, ducked a right from his Japanese counterpart and delivered an on-the-money right hook. The impact was devastating, as Yachi (20-7) hit the deck face first and in no condition to defend himself.
In the co-headliner, two-time Deep champion Yuki Motoya submitted Kazuma Sone with a rear-naked choke in the second round of their bantamweight battle. Motoya (21-5) brought it to a close 4:31 into Round 2. The defeat snapped a modest three-fight winning streak for Sone (23-16-1).
Meanwhile, Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Kiichi Kunimoto choked Ryuichiro Sumimura unconscious with an arm-triangle in the first round of their welterweight pairing. Sumimura (14-6) bowed out 4:59 into Round 1. Kunimoto (20-7-2) has posted back-to-back wins since he parted ways with the UFC in 2017.
Elsewhere, Mikuru Asakura cut down former Shooto and Sengoku champion Hatsu Hioki with a head kick and follow-up punches in the first round of their featherweight confrontation. Hioki (29-12-2) bit the dust 3:45 into Round 1. Asakura (6-2) has rattled off consecutive victories since his Oct. 28 decision defeat to Kil Woo Lee.
Finally, Invicta Fighting Championships and EliteXC alum Kaitlin Young took a unanimous decision from Reina Miura in a three-round women’s featherweight clash. It was the first win for Young (8-9-1) since Jan. 6, 2012. The loss closed the book on a modest two-fight winning streak for Miura (9-2).
In other action, Roque Martinez (13-4-2) put away Kiyoshi Kuwabara (11-9) with punches 4:33 into the first round of their heavyweight scrap; and Kanako Murata (8-1) disposed of Angela Magana (11-10) with a shoulder choke 3:52 into the second round of their women’s strawweight encounter.