A featherweight matchup with title implications has been added to
the Rizin Fighting Federation 28 lineup.
The Japanese promotion recently announced that Mikuru
Asakura will square off against Kleber
Koike Erbst on June 13. Rizin 28 takes place on June 13 at the
Tokyo Dome and also features four bouts from the bantamweight grand
prix.
During a press conference, Rizin CEO Nobyuki Sakakibara dispelled
rumors that Kyoji
Horiguchi would return to compete at the event.
“MMA will be making a return to the Tokyo Dome after 18 years so we
won’t hold back on our cards,” he said. “Horiguchi won’t be able to
make it so it’s natural to bring in our best cards that we can put
together at the moment.”
Asakura has been victorious in eight of his nine appearances under
the Rizin banner, with his lone defeat coming against Yutaka
Saito in a bout for the vacant featherweight crown last April.
The 28-year-old Triforce Akasaka representative rebounded with a
first-round knockout of Satoshi
Yamasu in his most recent outing at Rizin 26 on New Year’s
Eve.
A veteran of One Championship, Deep and KSW, Erbst is coming off
back-to-back submissions of Kyle Aguon
and Kazumasa
Majima in his first two Rizin appearances.