RIZIN Combating Federation will shut the yr with a extremely anticipated featherweight title rematch between champion Chihiro Suzuki and former titleholder Kleber Koike, the corporate introduced Tuesday.
RIZIN DECADE will happen on the Saitama Tremendous Enviornment in Saitama, Japan, on Dec. 31, and air stay by means of its own pay-per-view platform. Suzuki vs. Koike will function the principle occasion.
Koike (33-7-1, 1 no contest) was the 145-pound champion when he first scheduled to face Suzuki contained in the ring in June of 2023, however misplaced the title on the size after lacking weight. Per RIZIN guidelines, an chubby fighter can’t win a bout, so his first-round submission victory over Suzuki was routinely overturned to a no-contest.
The Brazilian veteran, a former KSW champion as effectively, gained his previous two with first-round finishes over Yutaka Saito and Juan Archuleta to earn a crack on the belt that now belongs to Suzuki.
Suzuki (13-3, 1 no contest) gained three in a row since his match with Koike, scoring an enormous upset in opposition to Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull earlier than claiming RIZIN gold with a fast knockout over Vugar Karamov. Suzuki final defended his belt with a first-round knockout in opposition to veteran Masanori Kanehara.
The 25-year-old Japanese was anticipated to face Manny Pacquiao in a three-round boxing exhibition, however was later changed by kickboxing veteran Rukiya Anpo. The bout resulted in a draw.
RIZIN has but to announce different match-ups for the cardboard, however MMA Combating has discovered that undefeated welterweight Igor Tanabe is predicted to be a part of the cardboard. The 5-0 grappler was scheduled to face Marcos Yoshio de Souza at RIZIN Landmark 10 on Nov. 17, however Souza was pressured of the match as a result of an damage.
