Bellator MMA x Rizin 2
PromotionBellator MMA
Rizin Fighting Federation
DateJuly 30, 2023 (2023-July-30)
CitySaitama, Japan
VenueSaitama Super Arena
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Bellator MMA x Rizin 2 and Super Rizin 2 was a mixed martial arts event being co-promoted by Bellator MMA and the Rizin Fighting Federation that took place on July 30, 2023, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.[1][2][3][4]

Background

The event marked the second co-promotion between Bellator MMA and the Rizin Fighting Federation, and Bellator's third visit to Saitama; following Bellator MMA vs. Rizin in December 2022, and Bellator 237 on December 29, 2019.[5]

A Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix quarterfinal bout between former Bellator Featherweight Champion A. J. McKee and former Bellator Lightweight Champion Patricky Pitbull was scheduled to headline the event.[1] However, on July 26, it was announced McKee had pulled out of the bout due to medical issues and was replaced by current Rizin Lightweight Champion Roberto de Souza at a catchweight of 161 pounds.[6]

For the co-main event, an inaugural Bellator Flyweight Championship bout between former Bellator Bantamweight Champion Kyoji Horiguchi (also former two-time Rizin Bantamweight Champion) and Makoto Takahashi took place at the event.[7] If successful, Horiguchi would have become the fourth fighter in Bellator history to win a title in different divisions (after Joe Warren at Bellator 128, Ryan Bader at Bellator 214, and Patrício Pitbull at Bellator 221).[3]

A Rizin Bantamweight Championship bout for the vacant title between former Bellator Bantamweight Champion Juan Archuleta and former champion Kai Asakura was scheduled to take place at the event.[8][4] Former champion Kyoji Horiguchi vacated the title on December 22 after moving down to the flyweight division.[9] However on July 18 it was announced that Asakura withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Hiromasa Ougikubo.[10]

Results

Part 1: Bellator MMA x Rizin 2 (Showtime)
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Catchweight (160 lb) Patricky Pitbull def. Roberto de Souza TKO (leg kicks) 3 0:49 [lower-alpha 1]
Flyweight Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Makoto Takahashi No Contest (accidental eye poke) 1 0:25 [lower-alpha 2]
Women's Flyweight Kana Watanabe def. Veta Arteaga Decision (unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) 3 5:00
Bantamweight Magomed Magomedov def. Danny Sabatello Submission (guillotine choke) 1 3:55
Welterweight Andrey Koreshkov def. Lorenz Larkin Decision (split) (29–28, 29–28, 28–29) 3 5:00
Part 2: Super Rizin 2 (FiteTV PPV)
Featherweight Vugar Keramov def. Mikuru Asakura Submission (rear-naked choke) 1 2:41 [lower-alpha 3]
Bantamweight Juan Archuleta def. Hiromasa Ougikubo Decision (unanimous) 3 5:00 [lower-alpha 4]
Super Atomweight Seika Izawa (c) def. Claire Lopez Submission (ninja choke) 1 1:06 [lower-alpha 5]
Intermission
Catchweight (154 lb) Chihiro Suzuki def. Patrício Pitbull KO (punch) 1 2:32
Lightweight Tofiq Musayev def. Akira Okada KO (punches) 2 1:11
Bantamweight Shinobu Ota def. Kenta Takizawa TKO (punches) 1 4:54
Middleweight Igor Tanabe def. Daichi Abe Submission (heel hook) 1 4:34
Catchweight (128 lb) Yuki Ito def. Hiroya Kondo Decision (split) 3 5:00
  1. ↑ Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal.
  2. ↑ For the inaugural Bellator Flyweight World Championship. Accidental eye poke rendered Takahashi unable to continue.
  3. ↑ For the vacant Rizin Featherweight Championship.
  4. ↑ For the vacant Rizin Bantamweight Championship.
  5. ↑ For the Rizin Women's Super Atomweight Championship.

[11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "AJ McKee vs. Patricky Pitbull to fight at Bellator x RIZIN event". Bloody Elbow. 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  2. ↑ Riddle, Mathew (2023-05-27). "Bellator x Rizin 2 Crossover Event Confirmed for July, McKee vs. Pitbull". Sports Illustrated MMA News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  3. 1 2 "Bellator X Rizin 2 to feature AJ McKee vs. Patricky Freire, Kyoji Horiguchi in inaugural men's flyweight title fight". MMA Junkie. 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  4. 1 2 Anderson, Jay (2023-05-27). "Kai Asakura vs. Juan Archuleta, Mikuru Asakura vs. Vugar Karamov Announced for Bellator X RIZIN 2". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  5. ↑ Raimondi, Marc (2023-05-27). "AJ McKee vs. Patricky Freire headlines Bellator-Rizin event". ESPN. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  6. ↑ Wells, Matthew (July 26, 2023). "Major changes to Bellator X Rizin 2: A.J. McKee out; Patricky Freire faces RIZIN champ; Patricio 'Pitbull' added". MMA Junkie. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  7. ↑ Martin, Damon (2023-05-27). "AJ McKee vs. Patricky Pitbull, first ever Bellator flyweight champion will be crowned at Bellator x RIZIN 2 in July". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  8. ↑ Riggs, Drake (2023-05-30). "Juan Archuleta 'couldn't ask for a better position' between Bellator and RIZIN as he pursues gold in Japan". MMA Mania. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  9. ↑ Martin, Damon (2022-12-28). "Kyoji Horiguchi pushes Bellator to add 125-pound division: 'Flyweight is my weight class'". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  10. ↑ "Ougikubo Replaces Asakura, Faces Archuleta for Bantamweight Title at Super Rizin 2". sherdog.com.
  11. ↑ "Bellator MMA | Bellator MMA vs. Rizin 2". www.bellator.com. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
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