I've binge watched their last 3 events over the course of these past few weeks. So in anticipation of their July 30th card, and since it's all still pretty fresh in my mind, here are the 10 best stories from Rizin.
Honorable mention: Cup of Noodles guy
Only you Japan... it's like someone saw the Fox Robot guy the UFC had and got offended at someone trying to out weird Japan.
(dis)Honorable mention: Krazy Horse
"Candy Lei"
10. Yasuke Yachi
He trains out of Krazy Bee fight team, run by Kid Yammamoto and hasn't let a single fight in Rizin make it past the first round. He's only 27, and although his record isn't stellar (14-6) he has the one quality Japan values more than just about anything- his fights are exciting to watch. He could be a star for Rizin: he reminds me of Ikuhiso Minowa.
9. Pride legends return
Fedor. Wanderlei Silva. Mirko Cro Cop. Kazushi Sakuraba. Heath Herring. Lenna Hardt, the Crazy Pride Lady. They've all stepped into the ring at one point or another Rizin. I'd love to see guys like Minotauro Nogueira, Takanori Gomi, and Shogun Rua honored at some point, whenever that becomes possible.
Pride never die.
8. Co promotion
That they've had it at all is good. That they've had at least 1 fighter from Bellator on most of their cards is even better. I hope they continue to do so going forward. I've always wanted to see a 'promotion vs promotion' ppv, and I'm still holding out hope that someday they can make that a reality.
7. Gabi Garcia
She had little to no chance of pursuing a career in MMA here in the USA. She'd have been booed and laughed at for even attempting it. Thankfully, Japan doesn't feel the same way. They treat her with respect, as evidenced by her post fight speech on New Years. She said, "I love you Japan, this is my home!" Japan loves there 'smaller fighter takes on ths giant' fights, and with Gabi, they'll have that until someone beats her (and probably even a few times still after).
6. Small fighters reign
LW was as small as fights got in Pride, but with Rizin: featherweights, bantamweights, and flyweights are getting their chance to shine. Most of the stars they have right now are under 155, which is like a complete 180 from the way things were in Pride. Most, but not all, which brings us to....
5. Amir Aliakbari
Amir has looked dominate in his run in Rizin so far. The only loss on his record was to Cro Cop, his second fight of the night after a grueling win over Valentin Moldavsky. If Rizin adds enough HW's to their roster to warrant a title match, the 'who will fight for the title' conversation will surely include Amir.
4. Focus on WMMA
I watched some old Megumi Fujii fights the other night, and wondered what might have been if she'd been allowed to fight in Pride. With some of the fights they had (you know the ones...pretty much any of Zuluzinho's fights) it's crazy to think that they looked at WMMA and thought that was going too far. But with Rizin, that clearly is no longer the case. Rena is poised to be a star for them, King Reina vs Gabi Garcia will do good business for them when it goes down, and they're booking several WMMA fights on each of their cards.
3. Grand Prix format returns
I love the tournament format, and no one in MMA does it better than Pride did, or Rizin is currently doing. It was great to see King Mo come up to HW and wreck shop on his way to tournament glory, and it was even better seeing Cro Cop hoist the Grand Prix trophy 10 years after he won his first one. The think the bantamweight Grand Prix that begins at the end of this month will be just as good.
2. Tenshin Nasukawa
When talking about Sakuraba, Bas Rutten mentioned that Sakuraba MADE Pride, and that to mimic their success in Japan, "You need a very strong japanese guy who beats really good outsiders".
I think Tenshin could easily be that guy for them. He's not even in his 20's yet, and he already looks like a killer. Imagine where he'll be 5 years from now.
1. Kron Gracie vs Japan
When Sakuraba became the Gracie Hunter, it felt like the old Gracie vs Japan rivalry, going back to Masahiko Kimura vs Helio Gracie, had been re-ignited, with Japan in the driver's seat. The Gracie's sent guy after guy, including Royce, to try and stop Sakuraba. None succeeded. Now with Kron, it feels like that same rivalry reborn. Gracie vs Japan. Look at his opponent's thus far- Asen Yamamoto, Hideo Tokoro, Tatsuya Kawajiri. At some point, I hope they line up Shinya Aoki (hopefully for a title). They'll send wave after wave of Japanese fighters at him, hoping to be the one to stop Rickson Gracies son, the submission machine. Can't wait.
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