It is sad if anyone thinks this isn't pro wrasslin' level nonsense.
Robin Black points it all out.
And there is logic to it: Sakakibara thinks Americans will find out about and be interested in Tenshin like with Conor if he puts him against Floyd. The problem is is that Sakakibara is fucking clueless and doesn't realize that Americans don't appreciate fixed fights.
Yes, that's what Sakakibara thinks. That still doesn't answer why a fix is useful here.
A few things are established already.
1. This was never going to be a legitimate contest.
2. Rizin did this to get eyeballs on their product.
3. Tenshin is a phenomenal kickboxer and one of their best rising stars.
All of those things are true. None of them make a fix necessary. Why would they fix it to where Tenshin gets steamrolled? Isn't it better for their product if he does better than that?