RIZIN returns with a fantastic action card (with one very notable exception) with returning talents and a splash of oddball carnival action.
Right at the top is a kickboxing bout between Tenshin Nasukawa and former UFC title challenger Kyoji Horiguchi. Nasukawa is a name you that you should do your best to get familiar with if you already aren’t. The Japanese phenom has taken the kickboxing world by storm with impressive techniques and killer finishes, and has no signs of slowing down any time soon. This time, he faces a fighter that may have had one of the best (if not the best) post-UFC career arcs in MMA history. Kyoji Horiguchi has looked absolutely invincible since moving to American Top Team and fighting in his native Japan.
However, this challenge is an odd one. Horiguchi is clearly an amazing MMA fighter, but to take on one of the most sensational kickboxing talents in the world like this is a wild experiment. No titles are on the line, so this is purely spectacle between two elite fighters of their respective sports for this generation duking it out in a ring under kickboxing rules, and it looks to be stupid fun.
Invicta champ Ayaka Hamasaki (15-2) faces fellow Japanese veteran Mina Kurobe (12-3) at atomweight, while a duel of former UFC fighters takes place as Daron Cruickshank (21-10) takes on Diego Brandão (23-12) . Diego had some success on the Russian circuit until an odd headbutting incident had him leave Fight Nights and now he faces Cruickshank’s funky karate-oriented striking style and penchant for dramatic finishes. Brandão is coming off a win against Satoru Kitaoka, while Cruickshank just brutalized Brazil’s Tom Santos to make it three wins in a row.
Jake Heun (11-7) faces European vet Jiri Prochazka (21-3, 1 draw) in a battle of hard-hitting athletic big men, and the ever-exciting Manel Kape looks to get another crack at Horiguchi with a chip on his shoulder after his recent decision loss against Kai Asakura. Speaking of Asakura, both Asakura brothers will also be in action. Kai (10-1) draws Muay Thai kingpin Topnoi Tiger Muay Thai, and Mikuru (7-1) faces Alash Pride veteran Karshyga Dautbek (6-1).
Miyuu Yamamoto (2-3) will be in a rematch against Andy Nguyen (6-6) just mere weeks removed from the passing of her brother, the legendary Norifumi “Kid“ Yamamoto. Kickboxing firebrand Taiga Kawabe opens the card in the first of only two kickboxing matches against Kento Haraguchi. Finally, legendary veteran Mirko Filipović comes in to fight Guam’s Roque Martinez.
Also, Bob Sapp is fighting another sumo wrestler. Don’t ask.
Feel free to check out the event trailer below (link here if video does not play on page):
Full fight card is as follows:
Tenshin Nasukawa vs Kyoji Horiguchi - 128lbs (kickboxing bout)
Ayaka Hamasaki vs Mina Kurobe - 108lbs
Kintaro Osunaarashi vs Bob Sapp - Heavyweight
Daron Cruickshank vs Diego Brandão - Lightweight
Jiri Procházka vs Jake Heun - Light heavyweight
Andy Nguyen vs Miyuu Yamamoto - 108lbs
Yusaku Nakamura vs Manel Kape - 126lbs
Mikuru Asakura vs Karshyga Dautbek - 146lbs
Kai Asakura vs Topnoi Tiger Muay Thai - 130lbs
Mitsuhisa Sunabe vs Haruo Ochi - 117lbs
Mirko Cro Cop vs Roque Martinez - Heavyweight
Taiga Kawabe vs Kento Haraguchi - 130lbs (kickboxing bout)
RIZIN 13 streams live and exclusively via FITE.TV, for only $19.99. The event starts at 2:00am EST Saturday night into Sunday morning.