Rizin FF’s New Year’s Eve event is coming together with some big names in some big fights.
The promotion today announced bouts between Kron Gracie (3-0) and Tatsuya Kawajiri (35-10-2) at featherweight and a rematch between Charles Bennett (30-30-2) and Minoru Kimura (0-1) at lightweight. The event takes place Dec. 31 at Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo.
Bennett knocked off Wanderlei Silva prodigy Kimura in the Brazilian’s professional debut at the Rizin FF World Grand-Prix 2016 Opening Round event in September, taking only seven seconds to end the fight by TKO. The two are set to run it back after a first fight as memorable for the post fight celebration of “Krazy Horse” as the fight itself.
After his victory, Bennett celebrated with a wild speech while lying in the middle of the ring. He called out Silva – despite a 50 pound weight difference – after the two had an altercation in the hotel in the days leading up to the event. He’ll have a chance to get another one over on Silva if he can dominate Kimura for a second straight fight when they run it back in December.
Kawajiri will make his promotion debut and fight for the first time outside the UFC octagon since January 2014. He left the UFC after a two-fight losing skid and three losses in his final three octagon bouts.
Gracie has impressed in his young MMA career, picking up three first-round submissions in his three professional bouts. Unsurprisingly fo a man bearing the Gracie name, the 28-year-old has a lengthy list of grappling credentials. In 2013, he took first in the ADCC under-77 KG division.
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Rizin FF adds Kron Gracie vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri and 'Krazy Horse' Bennett vs. Minoru Kimura for Dec. 31
