In honor of RIZIN Landmark 13 in Fukuoka, it only felt right to share the first RIZIN-based article in MMA Prospect Vault history. While these lists are always subject to change, the fighters in this piece stood out to me as both rising and current stars of the promotion. As my first time covering RIZIN, I also want to express sincere appreciation for the Japanese fan base, whose passion and love for the sport continue to make the promotion feel special. With that in mind, the names below are the fighters who have impressed me the most as RIZIN continues to grow.
Razhabali Shaydullaev, 25, Featherweight, 17-0-0
Razhabali Shaydullaev, current RIZIN featherweight titleholder, has been competing at a high level since his debut back in 2019, boasting an undefeated record with a 100% finish rate. The Kyrgyzstan-native has hit all the stops on his rise to the top of the mixed martial arts world, competing under ACA, Road FC, and UAE Warriors, before landing with Japan’s premier combat sports promotion in the summer of 2024.
Since signing under the RIZIN banner, Shaydullaev has competed in six bouts, defeating several top fighters – including former Bellator fighter Juan Archuleta – prior to taking the title from Kleber Koike. Most recently, the unbeaten featherweight defended his belt against Mikuru Asakura, defeating the Japanese superstar in the first round. Razhabali used elite grappling to overwhelm Asakura on the mat, neutralizing the top striker before moving into back mount, striking down hooks, ultimately finding the technical knockout.
High-pressure ground game is the recurring theme for Razhabali Shaydullaev, most of the time he’s dominating fights similar to the likes of his win over Asakura; changing levels, searching for openings. Shaydullaev’s options are bountiful in dominant positions, with devastating ground-and-pound alongside eleven submission victories; the 25-year-old is a master at combining a handful of different techniques to end the fight. Always keep an eye out for trips and slams when Shaydullaev is in the clinch; some of the most lethal weapons in his arsenal are when he’s generating serious force and momentum when picking up his opponents.
Shaydullaev at range never keeps still; hunting down his opponents with short, choppy steps. Combining both his quickness and high IQ, Shaydullaev excels in cutting the ring off, often beating the opposition to the spot. He also possesses a great feel for angles when striking, consistently dipping his head when landing in a back-and-forth exchange, using slips to counterstrike with looping hooks.
At RIZIN Landmark 13 in Fukuoka, Japan, Razhabali Shaydullaev makes his all-anticipated return since the featherweight champion’s victory on the 31st of December. This bout will mark Shaydullaev’s third title defense as he battles against kickboxing legend Yuta Kubo in a rematch for featherweight gold. The two first encountered each other at RIZIN 49: Decade, where Shaydullaev finished Kubo in the second round, earning him a chance to challenge Kleber Koike’s reign; less than two years later, Shaydullaev and Kubo meet again.
Expect the young talent to continue his supremacy – the fighter from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan should roll past Yuta Kubo with ease. The judges won’t be necessary, as they haven’t been once during Razhabali Shaydullaev’s career. Undeniable and unstoppable; that’s the only way to describe Shaydullaev right now.
Kyoma Akimoto, 20, Featherweight, 12-1-0
After brutalizing Patchy Mix as a sizable underdog in the main event at RIZIN 52, Kyoma Akimoto has recently taken the mainstream by storm. The Chiba, Japan representative began his mixed martial arts career in 2022 and signed to DEEP, all before his seventeenth birthday. Akimoto made quick work in the promotion, moving onto a one-fight deal at Fighting Agent War against Brazilian journeyman Alan Yamaniha; co-headlined by then-amateur champion, Keiichiro Nakamura. Yamaniha, who was actually briefly on the UFC’s roster back in 2015, ended up being Akimoto’s ticket to the dance, as the young star finished the veteran in the second round, earning him a contract with RIZIN.
Akimoto began his time with RIZIN holding a 2-1-0 record in his first three matches with the promotion, suffering the first loss of a long journey to American Top Team legend Yuki Motoya, who held a career record of 36-13-0 at the time. To call it motivation for Kyoma Akimoto might be selling the Chiba-native a little short, as Akimoto proceeded to collect five-straight victories, thwarting ex-Bellator champion Patchy Mix’s debut, stamping his name in RIZIN history books.
Nobody mixes it up better when on the feet; Kyoma Akimoto is a crowd-pleaser and an electric striker when opening up in front of the opposition. What stuck out most when viewing Akimoto’s fights was his investment in the body, targeting the midsection of his opponents. Notably, Akimoto has killer knees when in range, both in the clinch and while attacking grounded opponents. The 20-year-old actually found a finish landing consecutive flush knees to the head of Yuto Hokamura in his RIZIN debut; paired with fast hands and a beautiful one-two combination down the middle, Akimoto uses all of the weapons at his disposal.
Akimoto is not only a commendable striker, but completes his skillset with renowned grappling. Using double-leg takedowns and trips as his main selections to change levels, Akimoto works quickly when successful on the mat, wrapping his opponents up in a body lock that restricts their breathing, constantly working to find the finish. He often uses his grappling to set up crushing shots from mount, though he is known to have a ripping rear-naked choke that has so far taken two victims in the first round.
There is no current matchup scheduled for Akimoto, though the featherweight title goes on the line at RIZIN Landmark 13. Assuming Shaydullaev is once again victorious against Yuta Kubo, Kyoma Akimoto will be next to challenge for the belt in what should be one of the biggest fights in all of mixed martial arts. Already starting 2026 with a bang, Kyoma Akimoto is primed to do major things and perhaps write a magical underdog story.
Seika Izawa, 28, Atomweight, 18-0-0
It’s safe to say Seika Izawa is a living mixed martial arts legend at this point, and it wouldn’t be a proper RIZIN list without mentioning the atomweight champion. Izawa started her career in 2020 with the DEEP JEWELS promotion, earning the belt in just three fights, dethroning the former champion Miki Motono in the first round with an armbar submission.
It didn’t take long for RIZIN to become aware of the rising star; Izawa only had to make one more stop before earning her contract with Japan’s top promotion. In her debut fight with RIZIN, Seika Izawa put the world on notice, finishing the titleholder at the time, Ayaka Hamasaki, in the second round. That would be just the fifth victory of her young career, but since the fight was deemed a non-title bout, the two met again in a back-to-back rematch.
Once again, Izawa was successful, this time winning via unanimous decision, securing the RIZIN atomweight championship just over a year after her debut. Though, that was only the beginning for the young star. At RIZIN 40, Seika Izawa continued her reign, winning the 2022 RIZIN Super Atomweight Grand Prix, defeating Si Woo Park in the tournament final.
Her resume continues to grow, defending her atomweight title three times with RIZIN, moving up to strawweight for Super RIZIN 4, and even going back to DEEP JEWELS to reclaim her champion status in 2024. She’s an all-action fighter by definition, scoring eleven wins by finish over her eighteen victories. Ten come by submission, where Izawa separates herself from every women’s fighter on RIZIN’s roster. Whether it’s a ninja choke, armbar, or heel hook, Seika Izawa has every submission technique ready in her back pocket.
The atomweight champion doesn’t spend much time on the feet, but when she is, there’s an emphasis on the body when striking. She owns an accurate front push kick that helps her manage the distance at range, a weapon she goes to often before changing levels. Izawa’s timing when bringing her opponents to the ground is stellar, constantly challenging the opposition with quick entries and judo trips. Once she finds herself in top position, Seika Izawa is immediately transitioning to set up her submissions, sometimes mixing it up with some crushing hammerfists to soften up the target. Opponents beware, if Izawa is opening up her offensive grappling early, the fight is already in the champion’s win column.
In her last outing, she faced early adversity, as she was knocked down by Rena Kubota in the first round, causing a massive roar of the crowd at Saitama Super Arena. Impressively, Seika Izawa survived the early onslaught and emerged victorious, submitting Rena Kubota via guillotine choke in the ultimate comeback performance. As of right now, Izawa is not scheduled for her next title defense after competing in back-to-back months at the end of 2025. The expectation will remain the same, as the status comes with the territory as a legend of mixed martial arts.
Nurkhan Zhumagazy, 25, Lightweight, 10-1-0
Excitement surrounding the name of Kazakhstan’s Nurkhan Zhumagazy has rapidly increased as the 25-year-old fighter approaches the second RIZIN appearance of his career. After dominating Alash Pride’s lightweight division, Zhumagazy made his name known following a flashy first victory, dispatching his opponent with a D’arce choke in the first minute of the fight.
Early finishes are common for Nurkhan Zhumagazy, as he’s only found himself needing the scorecards once; earning a unanimous decision victory in his first professional bout. While selective on the feet, the Kazakh fighter is extremely effective at range, showing quick feints to open up power opportunities. Zhumagazy had an exemplary performance prior to find his most recent submission, landing a beautiful left high kick that dropped Tatsuya Saika to the ground.
Six of Zhumagazy’s wins come by knockout, though he is consistently dominant when the fight hits the mat, finding a lot of those stoppages via ground striking or following up on a knockdown on the feet. It’s been impressive to see the strides the young fighter has made in his eleven fight career; his first loss came via rear-naked choke in a brief one-off matchup under UAE Warriors with the undefeated Vladislav Rudnev. Since then, it feels as if Zhumagazy has yet to even lose a grappling exchange, notably dominating other renowned grapplers in his path.
The 25-year-old’s composure stood out throughout multiple fights, and Nurkhan Zhumagazy has impressive self-control when gaining confidence on the attack. While quick to strike on an opportunity to finish the fight, Zhumagazy is extremely aware, never losing sight of the gameplan. Similar to the other stars of RIZIN, Nurkhan’s footwork is miles above his typical counterparts, mirroring the opposition along the cageside before striking, mixing his targets up from head to toe.
The Shymkent, Kazakhstan-native joins Razhabali Shaydullaev at RIZIN Landmark 13 in Fukuoka, Japan for his next fight, facing off against Pancrase veteran, Tenya. Ready for the biggest test of his career since Vladislav Rudnev back in the summer of 2024, Zhumagazy will be looking to exceed expectations and join the list of fighters eager to take the lightweight title from Ilkhom Nazimov.
Kazuki Aimoto, 25, Featherweight, 9-0-0
When speaking about gifted strikers, it’s hard to exclude Kazuki Aimoto, the former DEEP superstar. Aimoto opened his mixed martial arts career in the spring of 2023 and has since built an impressive reputation in every fight he’s participated in. With seven knockouts to his name, Kazuki Aimoto packs a massive punch; fighting behind a powerful right jab, Aimoto is intent on sending his opponents home early as quickly as possible.
As a viewer, you simply cannot take your eyes off the screen when Kazuki Aimoto takes the ring. The athleticism is on the level of Demetrious Johnson, supported by flying knees and a ridiculous quickness, often releasing the third or fourth punch of his combination by the time his opponent can even land a single straight. It’s almost difficult to explain how explosive the Japanese striker can truly be, as there’s an aggressive violence behind every sequence he throws. After about 2.5 years garnering support across Japan, Aimoto ultimately secured a nine-win undefeated record with a RIZIN contract on the horizon.
In the first week of March 2026, Aimoto’s highly-anticipated debut with RIZIN was derailed by a heartbreaking accident during his weight cut when the 25-year-old was struck by a vehicle while riding a bicycle as he attempted to make the 66 kg limit. Originally scheduled to face ex-titleholder, Viktor Kolesnik, Aimoto was still insistent on participating in the event, dismissing his symptoms as the fighter struggled into the night with his injuries. Unfortunate reality set in as bad turned to worse once Aimoto awoke in the morning, dealing with headache, dizziness, and vomiting. An initial MRI scan proved no significant damage, though later in the week Aimoto was rushed to the hospital as his condition worsened. Aimoto’s sister posted an explanation and apology via social media as the fighter expressed his remorse, while Koji Takeda stepped into the event, ultimately defeating Kolesnik.
With tragedy in the past, Aimoto’s health is of top priority as the Japanese star works back from his injuries, in hopes of a new opportunity to show his talent under RIZIN. There has yet to be an update of late regarding the status of the young fighter, but there’s no doubt the same excitement will surround his debut, regardless of when Kazuki Aimoto is able to return to the stage.
Ilkhom Nazimov, 31, Lightweight, 13-3-0
The man who everyone’s chasing: Ilkhom Nazimov. As mentioned prior, Nazimov was in the right place at the right time during his last appearance in the octagon; stepping in for the injured Shunta Nomuri to challenge for the lightweight championship. Nazimov managed to have quite the quick night, knocking out longtime titleholder Roberto de Souza with an early contender for finish of the year.
Truly a shocking performance from Nazimov, finishing de Souza’s five-year reign as lightweight champion with a ten-second knee, putting the incumbent to sleep. In just four fights under the RIZIN banner, Nazimov has secured three finishes and the lightweight championship; an impressive run signing off of an eight-second knockout loss to Rustem Kudaybergenov at UAE Warriors 39 in March 2023.
It’s been a steep and gradual climb for Ilkhom Nazimov, the 31-year-old fighter made his professional debut back in Russia under the World Combat Self Defense Association in 2015 and stopped at Eagle FC, UAE Warriors, and an assortment of regional promotions across Russia before landing with RIZIN. About 11 years after his first fight, Nazimov is revered by his peers for his elite accomplishments.
Training at Tiger Muay Thai alongside fellow top-ranked UFC lightweight Rafael Fiziev, Nazimov is most impressive when setting up an influx of kicks and knees. Targeting both the head and body, he does an extremely good job of mixing up combinations on the feet. Often finishing his sequences with a front kick that carries serious knockout power, Ilkhom Nazimov holds seven knockouts over his sixteen-fight career.
While two of his three losses came via rear-naked choke, it’s been a long time since Nazimov has been forced to tap out. The 31-year-old has made strides in grappling, and over the years has developed a clasping guillotine, a valuable tool to have as such a high-output striker. His progress was put on display in his UAE Warriors debut against Khazar Rustamov, cinching up a guillotine before round one expired. Don’t expect Ilkhom Nazimov to enter many fights with the game plan of wrestling offensively, though he is more than capable of defending himself on the ground, making him a difficult matchup for any style of fighter.
Ilkhom Nazimov will be looking to defend his title for the first time at RIZIN 53 in May, taking place at Glion Arena Kobe. He’ll face the challenger, Luiz Gustavo, who previously fell short in his first attempt at gold against Roberto de Souza, though he bounced back recently after scoring a round two knockout over Taisei Sakuraba. Plenty of fighters will await their opportunity, but it’s Ilkhom Nazimov who holds the cards of the lightweight division.
Shunta Nomurim, 28, Lightweight, 10-2-0
A recent move to American Top Team to train with ex-RIZIN and current UFC superstar, Kyoji Horiguchi, has the 28-year-old Shunta Nomuri at the top of his game right now. The Ehime, Japan-native is already making waves after just two fights with the promotion, defeating known veterans in Patricky Pitbull and Luiz Gustavo.
Nomuri came to prominence back in December 2022, when a 3-1-0 Shunta Nomuri faced off against a much more experienced, 20-4-2 Sho Kogane. To everyone’s surprise, Nomuri finished Kogane in the first minute of the second round, putting the mixed martial arts world on notice that Shunta Nomuri is not to be messed with. Nomuri’s young career is constantly besting itself, impressively earning the DEEP title after challenging Kimihiro Eto, whom Nomuri had fallen to in the past, ultimately scoring him a deal with RIZIN in 2025.
It’ll be hard to find a fighter with a more impressive young resume than Nomuri; in just twelve fights, the 10-2-0 prospect has faced a combined record of 132-47-13. High-level competition has only served Shunta Nomuri to this point forward, the American Top Team fighter has elevated his game at every turn.
Nomuri is selective on offense, possessing a bounce to his step that keeps him constantly probing on his toes. Nomuri’s best strikes are when he’s luring his opponents into a sense of safety, hunting down the opposition into the corner of the ring where he can snipe his targets. Fighting with a wide karate base, Shunta Nomuri is always downloading information, showing a volume of feints and stance-switches, leading to openings on the feet where Nomuri can slice in and out of the pocket with his combinations.
Another top opponent was in line for Nomuri on December 30th when he was scheduled to battle 20-4-0 Roberto de Souza for the lightweight title, but unfortunately he forced to withdraw due to injury as Ilkhom Nazimov stole the show as a short-notice replacement. As Shunta Nomuri continues to heal his injuries, he’ll have his eyes on Nazimov’s first title defense at RIZIN 53 against Luiz Gustavo.
Karshyga Dautbek, 32, Featherweight, 18-2-0
The Kazakh contender first appeared in RIZIN back in 2018, leaving the promotion empty handed after suffering a loss to Mikuru Asakura. Now reemerging with a new fire behind him, the featherweight contender has grown his profile into a top contender after years of refinement on the regional scene.
In 2024, Dautbek returned to the promotion following a string of six victories in a row, including five first-round finishes. Facing off with Tetsuya Seki at RIZIN 47, Karshyga Dautbek was considered an overwhelming favorite, as his return to the ring was much anticipated by the fans. Dautbek lived up to his odds, finishing the experienced Seki in the first round, almost knocking him out twice. First landing with a beautiful left hook to the temple, dropping the veteran to his knees, then sealing the deal to the body with another left hook after Seki surprisingly returned to his feet.
The 32-year-old is graced with exceptional strength in his hands, varying his targets to the head and body to keep the opponent guessing. There’s significant knockout power in Karshyga Dautbek’s left hand. He also landed a massive knockout with that left to earn a second opportunity with RIZIN. The southpaw stance is lethal, as Dautbek leads with a stiff right jab that touches up the face of his opposition, scoring consistently on offense at range. He moves his head well, staying off the center line, faking with his hips to find an angle. At first glance, it’s noticeable how strong Dautbek’s feel for the fighting game is; constantly looking composed, staying responsible in the striking, the Kazakh fighter operates like a true professional in the ring.
Though Dautbek does consistently change levels and initiate the clinch along the ringside, it is somewhat of a rarity when he starts pushing his offensive ground game. He possesses a well-timed double leg that disrupts the rhythm of his opponents, but ultimately the knockout artist prefers keeping the fight on the feet as much as he can. Defensively, Dautbek is a stout grappler, never settling in bottom position when his opposition brings the fight to the mat, always working for underhooks to regain his posture. The Kazakh featherweight combines all of the martial arts with intellect, rounding out his game to create an elite skillset.
As of late, there have been some roadblocks for Karshyga Dautbek, as the Tiger Muay Thai fighter attempts to continue his climb to the top. In what was supposed to be one of the best striking matches in modern fighting, Dautbek was forced to withdraw from a bout with Kyoma Akimoto due to a neck injury. Once healthy, he returned against Yuta Kubo, though the fight was deemed a No Contest in round one following an accidental eye-poke that rendered Dautbek unable to continue. Looking to make a quick return after the foul, the featherweight agreed to fight Ryuya Fukuda at RIZIN 52. Again, misfortune struck, as he was forced out of the matchup with acute circulatory dysfunction.
His talent is unquestioned, but it’s been quite the rocky road for Karshyga Dautbek since his last victory at RIZIN 50, where he scored a split decision victory over Chihiro Suzuki. According to his Instagram, it appears Dautbek is back to training in the gym, though we won’t know the fighter’s status for sure until an official announcement. Regardless, the fight world will be clamoring to see what’s next for the exciting fight finisher.
Joji Goto, 30, Bantamweight, 20-8-1
There are few fighters with a bigger window of opportunity than Joji Goto right now, as the 30-year-old will face off with ex-Bellator contender Danny Sabatello for the bantamweight title. Now in his second stint under RIZIN, Goto is on a three-fight win streak right now, reclaiming his spot with the promotion after a round one finish at Pancrase 352.
Goto has been a veteran of the fight game since 2015, first receiving his RIZIN contract after an extensive career fighting under Pancrase and Shooto Japan. Scheduled for his first bout in June 2023, Joji Goto broke onto the scene with back-to-back twister submissions. Though, what seemed to be a rising star shifted his focus towards fights with ONE Championship and DEEP, falling short in both matchups before once again returning to Pancrase. As mentioned above, Goto was successful back in his comfort zone, ultimately finding himself again with the RIZIN promotion.
With fourteen finishes to his name, Joji Goto is quite the entertainer, knocking out ten of his opponents during his career. Fighting behind a stabbing right jab, Goto eats space in the ring, plotting forward on offense, cutting off the cage. His best quality on the feet would have to be his defensive striking. Goto is notably diligent when moving in and out of the pocket, always keeping his guard high to block the oncoming power. Joji Goto’s combinations are slick and exclusively come behind a lead double jab, usually followed by a ripping hook to the body or a looping left hand above his opponent’s block. When in close-quarters, Goto is also known to use step-through elbows, slicing through the opposition’s stance to score damage.
Joji Goto does have eight losses on his resume, though not one has come via knockout, as the 30-year-old is an extremely durable striker with an iron chin. Goto is not a grappling pushover by any means, as he does have a number of chokes completed in his career – most notably both twister submissions – and a gorgeous guillotine back with Shooto Japan. Though, his biggest weakness is likely his grappling defense. Unfortunately, four losses come via submission, though his warrior spirit and willingness to throw down resonates with fans.
Goto vs. Sabatello will go down at RIZIN Landmark 13 in Fukuoka, Japan, where the two will fight for the bantamweight championship. This will mark Sabatello’s first title defense since defeating Noaki Inoue via split decision, looking to extend his win streak to four. On the other side, Joji Goto takes the biggest stage of his career, with the goal of dethroning “The Italian Gangster.” Fantastic matchmaking from the RIZIN brass, as this one should be competitive from the opening bell. Expect Joji Goto to bring his best and attempt to take Sabatello out early, who’s only been finished twice in his career.
Ryo Takagi, 26, Featherweight, 10-3-0
After a successful opening to his career under the Pancrase banner, Ryo Takagi has rarely seen a difficult fight during his time with RIZIN. The battle-tested 26-year-old has run into both Viktor Kolesnik and Kyoma Akimoto in his 13-fight career, and after being turned away twice, Takagi is now clearing his own path to superstardom.
Fighting out of Tokyo by way of Chiba, Japan, Ryo Takagi looks prepared for a massive 2026 with RIZIN. Coming off back-to-back wins, including a showcase performance against Shuya Kimura in his last fight, Takagi is finding his groove after running into some other-worldly competition. During his career, Takagi has amassed eight victories by finish, seven of which come by knockout, and has only suffered one loss within the distance – an armlock submission in the fifth fight of his career.
Ryo Takagi is a striker first, using a hard, whipping low kick to damage the opposition’s lower half. He fights an aggressive style, pushing forward into the pocket, sometimes leaving him vulnerable for the takedown. To combat the recurring threat of the ground specialists, Takagi uses a strong straight one-two, sending pressure grapplers out of his range. Like most talented stand-up fighters, Ryo Takagi is always fighting for positioning with his footwork, constantly circling his opponent till he reaches the ideal range at the center of the ring. Urgent but technical, Takagi mixes fight-ending intentions with an intelligent gameplan.
Takagi likes to give a lot of different looks when on the feet, using feints to close the distance between him and his target. When not leading the dance, Ryo Takagi can counterstrike well, slapping a lead left hook that can land short and flush on overzealous opponents. On the ground, Takagi isn’t the most polished fighter, though he does appear to have a few basic submissions in his toolbox; scoring a rear-naked choke against Kyohei Hagiwara and threatening with a guillotine in his fight with Kisa Miyake.
The 26-year-old Japanese striker returns to the ring for his second fight of 2026, taking on the 16-7-0 Kaiwen Li. Another tall task in order for Takagi; Li is both a ONE Championship veteran and a Road to UFC alumni. This matchup should play right into the hands of Takagi, as there’s virtually no submission threat from the experienced Kaiwen Li, who’s entering his first fight under Japan’s top promotion. A striker’s delight will be in order at RIZIN 53, a classic RIZIN speciality.
Honorable Mentions to Watch:
Heavyweight has largely been untapped as of late, but King Edokpolo has been making quite the splash so far. With a fan-friendly style, heavy power, and a massive stature, Edokpolo could be a future star.
Ryoma Shishimoto returns in May, a young finisher with a 25-second armbar in his RIZIN debut. Shishimoto should have another opportunity to bring out the ground game, as he’ll face a former kickboxer in their MMA debut.
Jung Hyun Lee had a difficult first stint with RIZIN, going 1-2-0, though he did secure the Road FC title during his time away from the promotion. Lee was successful in his return, finishing an experienced opponent in round three.
Don’t let the record fool you, Ren Hiramoto is a legit threat to become a serious prize fighter under RIZIN. The former K1 superstar hasn’t fought in close to two years, but is supposedly intending on having a big 2026.
Closest to making the top ten was Jinnosuke Kashimura, as he was previously on the UFC’s radar in 2022 and collected two high-level victories in just four months. However, Kashimura will return to DEEP for the interim bantamweight title on May 4th, making him a difficult inclusion within the list.
Makoto Takahashi is a personal favorite, currently scheduled to appear at RIZIN Landmark 13. He’s faced off with Kyoji Horiguchi in the past, along with formerly holding DEEP and CFFC championships. With a win, the flyweight will likely garner more recognition.
Noeru Narita is just 17-years-old and has secured two submissions in her past two fights with RIZIN. Perhaps some new blood for Seika Izawa if she plays her cards right.
Natasha Kuziutina holds a win over top prospect GiGi Canuto, with her only loss coming via decision to Fatima Kline. She’ll introduce herself to the RIZIN ranks this weekend in Fukuoka against Ayaka Hamasaki.
Lastly, Ji Hyuk Min impressed in South Korea when he finished Koji Takeda in the second round. He’s since earned another knockout at Black Combat 16, defeating two opponents with a combined record of 38-16-1.