RIZIN is preparing to crown a new champion in its flyweight division (125 pounds) by launching a World Grand Prix tournament. This competition is being organized following the departure of former champion Kyoji Horiguchi.
Ten fighters have been officially announced as participants in the upcoming grand prix. The initial phase of the tournament is scheduled for July 27, taking place in Japan at the renowned Saitama Super Arena as part of the Super RIZIN 4 event. The official tournament brackets detailing the matchups have not yet been revealed by the promotion.
The field of ten fighters confirmed for the RIZIN Flyweight World Grand Prix includes:
Jose Torres: A veteran of the UFC and a former champion in promotions like Brave CF and Titan FC. Torres holds a previous RIZIN victory over Makoto Shinryu.
Makoto Shinryu: Possessing a 5-3 record under the RIZIN banner, Shinryu recently secured a win over Yuki Ito. He has twice contested for the RIZIN flyweight title.
Yuki Ito: Looking to regain momentum after his five-fight winning streak was halted by Makoto Shinryu. He is a former DEEP contender with a solid history in RIZIN.
Hiromasa Ougikubo: One of the most experienced competitors at 38, Ougikubo enters with recent decision victories over notable fighters such as John Dodson and Makoto Shinryu. He is a past winner of a RIZIN bantamweight tournament from 2021.
Yuki Motoya: A long-time RIZIN participant with numerous bouts, Motoya is making the cut down to flyweight after challenging for the bantamweight championship earlier in the year.
Erson Yamamoto: Nephew of the iconic Japanese fighter Norifumi Yamamoto. Yamamoto aims to make an impact in the tournament, coming off a recent submission win.
Alibek Gadzhammatov: An undefeated prospect from Dagestan boasting a 5-0 professional record, with all victories coming by finish, including his knockout win in his RIZIN debut.
Hiroya Kondo: Joins the grand prix field having won his last two appearances for RIZIN, seeking to continue his positive trend.
Nkazimulo Zulu: A former champion from Africa`s EFC promotion. Zulu recently challenged Kyoji Horiguchi for the RIZIN title, losing by decision in a hard-fought contest. He is known for a high finishing rate.
Takaki Soya: His most recent outing in RIZIN resulted in a decision win over John Dodson in an MMA bout, following a previous bare-knuckle boxing match between the two.
Further details regarding the tournament matchups are expected to be announced closer to the event date.
Wesley Dunham