As 2023 draws to a close, RIZIN Fighting Federation is gearing up for its eighth and final event of the year, promising an unforgettable night of mixed martial arts action that fans won't want to miss. Set to take place on New Year's Eve, RIZIN.45 is not just another event; it's a celebration of excellence, featuring a myriad of compelling matchups and historic moments that underscore RIZIN's position as a premier MMA promotion.
This New Year's Eve event holds special significance as it marks RIZIN's eighth consecutive year-end extravaganza, cementing its status as a must-watch tradition for fight enthusiasts around the globe. It's not just another fight night; it's a spectacular culmination of a remarkable year of martial arts excellence.
RIZIN.45 also marks the first event since the graduation of Nobuhiko Takada from RIZIN, ushering in a new era for the organization.
Here are some compelling reasons to catch RIZIN.45 on FITE TV:
≫ RIZIN.45 - Official PPV Live Stream - FITE
Record-Breaking 17 Bouts:
RIZIN.45 boasts a staggering 17 bouts, setting a record for the most fights on a single card in RIZIN history, alongside memorable events like RIZIN.21, RIZIN.34, and RIZIN.43.
Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Makoto Shinryu - Flyweight Championship Rematch:
Flyweight Title Match Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Makoto Shinryu (57kg - RIZIN MMA rules [5min × 3R]) Witness the inaugural Flyweight
Championship rematch between two-time RIZIN and Bellator Bantamweight Champion Kyoji Horiguchi and DEEP/CFFC Flyweight Champion Makoto Shinryu. Their last encounter ended in a 29-second no contest, and now they seek resolution in the RIZIN ring.
What Kyoji Horiguchi could achieve:
・Kyoji Horiguchi will move up to T-4th all time with 14 fights.
・With a win, Kyoji Horiguchi could move up to T-1st all time with 13 wins.
・With a KO/TKO win, Kyoji Horiguchi could move up to T-2nd all time (7).
・With a 1R KO/TKO win, Kyoji Horiguchi could move up to 2nd all time (6).
・With a submission win, Kyoji Horiguchi could move up to T-3rd all time (4).
・With a 1R SUB win, Kyoji Horiguchi could be 1 of 2 fighters to score SUB wins in each round of a fight.
・With a finish, Kyoji Horiguchi could move up to T-1st all time (10).
・With a 1R finish, Kyoji Horiguchi could move up to T-2nd all time (6).
・With a 2R finish, Kyoji Horiguchi could move up to T-2nd all time (3).
・With a 3R finish, Kyoji Horiguchi could move up to 1st all time (3).
・With a decision win, Kyoji Horiguchi could move to T-5th place all time for decision wins (4).
・With a UD win, Kyoji Horiguchi could move to T-3rd place all time for unanimous decision wins (4).
・If the fight goes past the 3:17 of the 1st round, Kyoji Horiguchi will be 11th all time for total fight time.
What Makoto Takahashi could achieve:
・With a 2R SUB win, Makoto Takahashi could move up to 2nd all time (3).
・With a 2R finish, Makoto Takahashi could move up to T-2nd all time (3).
・With a win, Makoto Takahashi could move up to T-4th all time with 5 straight wins. Only fighters to start their RIZIN career 5-0:
・Kyoji Horiguchi (9-0)
・Mikuru Asakura (7-0)
・Kai Asakura (6-0)/Seika Izawa (6-0)/Mirko Cro Cop (6-0)
・Naoki Inoue (5-0)/Yusuke Yachi (5-0)/Tofiq Musayev (5-0)
・Makoto Takahashi (4-0) could join this list…
Juan Archuleta vs. Kai Asakura - Long-Awaited Bantamweight Title Fight:
Bantamweight Title Match Juan Archuleta vs. Kai Asakura (61kg - RIZIN MMA rules [5min × 3R])
The defending champion Juan Archuleta takes on former champion Kai Asakura in a long-awaited Bantamweight title fight originally scheduled for July. Don't miss this high-stakes battle between two elite fighters.
What Kai Asakura could achieve:
・Kai Asakura will move up to T-3rd all time with 16 fights.
・With a win, Kai Asakura could move up to T-1st all time with 13 wins.
・With a KO/TKO win, Kai Asakura could move up to 2nd all time (8).
・With a 1R KO/TKO win, Kai Asakura could move up to 2nd all time (6).
・With a finish, Kai Asakura could move up to T-2nd all time (8).
・With a 1R finish, Kai Asakura could move up to T-2nd all time (6).
・With a 3R finish, Kai Asakura could move up to T-1st all time (2).
・With a decision win, Kai Asakura could move to T-3rd place all time for decision wins (6).
・With a UD win, Kai Asakura could move to T-2nd place all time for unanimous decision wins (5).
・If the fight goes past the 0:27 of the 2nd round, Kai Asakura will be 9th all time for total fight time.
What Juan Archuleta could achieve:
・With a win, Juan Arhculeta could be the first Bantamweight Champion to successfully defend.
・With a win, Juan Arhculeta could move up to T-5th all time with 4 straight wins.
Kleber Koike vs. Yutaka Saito - Historic Featherweight Contender Match:
Kleber Koike vs. Yutaka Saito (66kg - RIZIN MMA rules[5min × 3R])
Former champions collide as Kleber Koike and Yutaka Saito face off in a historic Featherweight contender match, marking the first-ever matchup between former champions in RIZIN history.
Kleber Koike has the most consecutive submissions in RIZIN history (6). 5 of those have come in the 2nd round.
He is also the only active fighter with 5+ finishes to have a 100% finish rate. Lethal.
What Kleber Koike could achieve:
・With a win, Kleber Koike could move up to T-7th all time with 7 wins.
・With a 1R SUB win, Kleber Koike could move up to T-1st all time (3).
・With a 3R SUB win, Kleber Koike could be 1 of 2 fighters to score SUB wins in each round of a fight.
・With a finish, Kleber Koike could move up to T-3rd all time (7).
・With a 3R finish, Kleber Koike could be 1 of 10 fighters to score finishes in each round of a fight.
What Yutaka Saito could achieve:
・With a decision win, Yutaka Saito could move to T-5th place all time for decision wins (4).
・With a SD win, Yutaka Saito could move to 1st place all time for split decision wins (3).
・If the fight goes past the 1:24 of the 1st round, Yutaka Saito will be 14th all time for total fight time.
Ren Hiramoto vs. YA-MAN - MMA Journey Full Circle:
Ren Hiramoto vs. YA-MAN (66kg - RIZIN MMA rules[5min × 3R])
Fan-favorite Ren Hiramoto embraces his role as a full-fledged mixed martial artist, facing kickboxer YA-MAN. After YA-MAN's impressive victory over Mikuru Asakura, this clash promises fireworks.
Seika Izawa vs Miyuu Yamamoto: Queen Bee’s Last Dance
Seika Izawa vs. Miyuu Yamamoto (49kg - RIZIN MMA rules[5min × 3R])
In a poignant moment, fans will witness a retirement non-title bout as Miyuu Yamamoto takes on the current top Atomweight in the world and RIZIN Super Atomweight Champion, Seika Izawa.
What Miyuu Yamamoto could achieve:
・Miyuu Yamamoto will move up to T-4th all time with 14 fights.
・With a win, Miyuu Yamamoto could move up to T-7th all time with 7 wins.
・With a decision win, Miyuu Yamamoto could move to T-2nd place all time for decision wins (7).
・With a UD win, Miyuu Yamamoto could move to 2nd place all time for unanimous decision wins (6).
・If the fight goes past the 4:39 of the 1st round, Miyuu Yamamoto will be 7th all time for total fight time.
What Seika Izawa could achieve:
・With a 3R SUB win, Seika Izawa could be 1 of 2 fighters to score SUB wins in each round of a fight.
・With a 2R finish, Seika Izawa could move up to T-2nd all time (3).
・With a 3R finish, Seika Izawa could be 1 of 10 fighters to score finishes in each round of a fight.
・With a win, Seika Izawa could match Mikuru Asakura for 2nd longest unbeaten start to RIZIN
career (7-0).
Tsuyoshi Sudario vs. Mikio Ueda - Future of Japanese Heavyweights:
Tsuyoshi Sudario vs. Mikio Ueda (120kg - RIZIN MMA rules[5min × 3R])
The future of Japanese heavyweights will be decided as Tsuyoshi Sudario and Mikio Ueda clash in a battle that will shape the landscape of the division.
What Tsuyoshi Sudario could achieve:
・With a win, Tsuyoshi Sudario could move up to T-5th all time with 9 wins.
・With a KO/TKO win, Tsuyoshi Sudario could move up to 2nd all time (8).
・With a 1R KO/TKO win, Tsuyoshi Sudario could move up to 2nd all time (6).
・With a finish, Tsuyoshi Sudario could move up to T-2nd all time (8).
・With a 1R finish, Tsuyoshi Sudario could move up to T-2nd all time (6).
・With a 3R finish, Tsuyoshi Sudario could move up to T-1st all time (2).
Hiromasa Ougikubo vs. John Dodson - Flyweight Contender Match:
Hiromasa Ougikubo vs. John Dodson (57kg - RIZIN MMA rules[5min × 3R])
Grand Prix Champion Hiromasa Ougikubo faces Bareknuckle Flyweight Champion John Dodson in a Flyweight contender match. Both veterans with over 15 years of experience, the winner is likely to secure a title shot in 2024.
What Hiromasa Ougikubo could achieve:
・Hiromasa Ougikubo will move up to T-6th all time with 12 fights.
・With a decision win, Hiromasa Ougikubo could move to T-1st place all time for decision wins (8).
・With a UD win, Hiromasa Ougikubo could move to 2nd place all time for unanimous decision wins (6).
・With a SD win, Hiromasa Ougikubo could move to 1st place all time for split decision wins (3).
Yuki Motoya vs. Vince Morales - UFC Veteran's RIZIN Debut:
Yuki Motoya vs. Vince Morales (61kg - RIZIN MMA rules[5min × 3R])
One of RIZIN's most tenured combatants, Yuki Motoya, takes on 8-fight UFC veteran Vince Morales in Morales' RIZIN debut.
Yuki Motoya is the only fighter with submission victories in all 3 rounds of a fight in RIZIN.
What Yuki Motoya could achieve:
・Yuki Motoya will move up to T-2nd all time with 18 fights.
・With a win, Yuki Motoya could move up to T-3rd all time with 11 wins.
・With a submission win, Yuki Motoya could move up to T-3rd all time (4).
・With a 3R SUB win, Yuki Motoya could move up to T-1st all time (2).
・With a 2R finish, Yuki Motoya could move up to T-2nd all time (3).
・With a 3R finish, Yuki Motoya could move up to T-1st all time (2).
・With a decision win, Yuki Motoya could move to T-2nd place all time for decision wins (7).
・With a UD win, Yuki Motoya could move to 2nd place all time for unanimous decision wins (6).
Shinobu Ota vs. Ryusei Ashizawa - Bantamweight Grudge Match:
Shinobu Ota vs. Ryusei Ashizawa (61kg - RIZIN MMA rules[5min × 3R])
Olympic Silver Medalist Shinobu Ota faces kickboxer Ryusei Ashizawa in a bantamweight grudge match, showcasing the integration of kickboxers into MMA.
What Shinobu Ota could achieve:
・With a 3R finish, Shinobu Ota could be 1 of 10 fighters to score finishes in each round of a fight.
Kota Miura vs. KOUZI - Special Rules 2-Round Bout:
Kota Miura vs. Kouzi (65kg - RIZIN MMA special rules[5min × 2R])
King Kazu's son Kota Miura welcomes former kickboxing champion KOUZI to MMA in a special rules 2-round bout.
Igor Tanabe vs. Shinsho Anzai - Welterweight Debut:
Igor Tanabe vs. Shinsho Anzai (77kg - RIZIN MMA rules[5min × 3R])
Igor Tanabe makes his Welterweight debut against former Pancrase Middleweight Champion Shinsho Anzai.
Jo Arai vs. HIROYA - Shooto Double Champion's RIZIN Debut:
Jo Arai vs. Hiroya(57kg - RIZIN MMA rules[5min × 3R])
Adding to the intrigue is Shooto Double Champion Jo Arai making his RIZIN debut against HIROYA. Arai's ability to fight in both the Strawweight and Flyweight divisions could bring a new level of excitement to RIZIN's flyweight category.
Rukiya Anpo vs. Yuta Kubo - Clash of K1 Champions:
Yuta Kubo vs. Rukiya Anpo(70kg - RIZIN MMA special rules[5min × 2R])
K1 champions collide as Rukiya Anpo makes his MMA debut against Yuta Kubo, adding an extra layer of excitement to the fight.
Satoshi “Yamasu” Dominator vs. Suguru Nii
Satoshi“Dominator”Yamasu vs. Suguru Nii (66kg - RIZIN MMA rules[5min × 3R])
Clash of Domestic Japanese Champions: A clash of domestic Japanese champions pits former DEEP king Satoshi ‘Yamasu’ Dominator against Featherweight King of Pancrase Suguru Nii. Nii is coming off a pair of his biggest wins in his career, scoring a soccer kick KO at RIZIN.43 and winning the Pancrase title with a leg scissors choke.
Tatsuki Shinotsuka vs. Daichi Tomizawa - 60kg Kickboxing Match:
Tatsuki Shinotsuka vs. Daichi Tomizawa(60kg - RIZIN Kickboxing rules[3min × 3R]*open finger gloves match)
BLACKROSE member Tatsuki Shinotsuka takes on BREAKING DOWN alum Daichi Tomizawa in a 60kg open finger glove kickboxing match, settling their beef with the theme "BEAT & TEACH."
Ryujin Nasukawa vs. Shin Jongmin & Joe Hiramoto vs. YUSHI - MMA Debuts:
Ryujin Nasukawa vs. Jongmin Shin (54kg - RIZIN MMA rules [5min × 3R])
Tenshin Nasukawa and Ren Hiramoto's younger brothers kick off the show in their MMA debuts. Ryujin Nasukawa faces Shin Jongmin.
YUSHI vs. Joe Hiramoto(61kg - RIZIN MMA rules[5min × 3R])
Tenshin Nasukawa and Ren Hiramoto's younger brothers kick off the show in their MMA debuts. Joe Hiramoto takes on YUSHI.
RIZIN.45 on FITEtv is not just a fight night; it's a celebration of martial arts excellence, featuring historic rematches, intense title fights, and the emergence of new talents. Make sure to tune in and witness the drama unfold as RIZIN caps off 2023 with an unforgettable spectacle. Don't miss out on the action-packed RIZIN.45, available on FITE TV, and witness the culmination of a year's worth of thrilling matchups and unforgettable moments.
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