# 2017 in Rizin Fighting Federation

The year 2017 was the third year in the history of the Rizin Fighting Federation, a mixed martial arts promotion based in Japan. The year began with Rizin 2017 in Yokohama: Sakura on April 16, 2017.
Rizin events are broadcased through a television agreement with Fuji Television. In North America and Europe, Rizin events became available on FITE TV.

## Background

Nobuyuki Sakakibara announced that Rizin will do 5 events in 2017: April, July, October, and the usual December 29 and 31 show.
He also announced that they will do 2 Grand Prix this year. One is men, other is women. He stated the women grand prix will be at Atomweight due to the fact Rena Kubota will be in the grand prix. Kyoji Horiguchi will compete in the men tournament which take place at Bantamweight 61 kg.
Rizin's Bantamweight grand prix will begin on July 30 at the Saitama Super Arena, with the first four opening rounds bouts of the tournament bracket. The remaining four opening bouts will take place in the autumn. Similar to the last year GP, the quarterfinals are scheduled for Dec. 29. The semifinals and finals will be held on the same night, Dec. 31, at Saitama Super Arena.

### 16-Man bantamweight 61 kg GP participants

* Kyoji Horiguchi
* Hideo Tokoro
* Erson Yamamoto
* Takafumi Otsuka
* Keita Ishibashi
* Khalid Taha
* Anthony Birchak
* Shintaro Ishiwatari
* Manel Kape
* Akhmed Musakaev
* Jae Hoon Moon
* Kevin Petshi
* Ian McCall
* Gabriel Oliviera

### 8-female super atomweight 49 kg GP participants

* Rena Kubota
* Kanna Asakura
* Andy Nguyen
* Miyuu Yamamoto
* Maria Oliveira
* Sylwia Juśkiewicz
* Alyssa Garcia
* Irene Cabello Rivera

## List of events

| # | Event | Date | Venue | Location | Attendance |
| 1 | Rizin 2017 in Yokohama: Sakura | April 16, 2017 | Yokohama Arena | Yokohama, Japan | 12,729 |
| 2 | Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: opening round part 1 | July 30, 2017 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 17,730 |
| 3 | Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: opening round part 2 | October 15, 2017 | Marine Messe Fukuoka | Fukuoka, Japan | 7,732 |
| 4 | Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: 2nd round | December 29, 2017 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 15,539 |
| 5 | Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: final round | December 31, 2017 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 18,316 |

## Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix 2017 bracket

| 1st Round Rizin WGP opening round part 1 & part 2 | 1st Round Rizin WGP opening round part 1 & part 2 | 2nd Round | 2nd Round | Semifinals | Semifinals | | Final | Final |
| Ian McCall | | | | | | | | |
| BYE | | | | | | | | |
| BYE | | Ian McCall | 1:48 | | | | | |
| | | Manel Kape | TKO | | | | | |
| Erson Yamamoto | 1:10 | Manel Kape | TKO | | | | | |
| Manel Kape | TKO | | | | | | | |
| Manel Kape | TKO | | | Manel Kape | 14:28 | | | |
| | | | | Kyoji Horiguchi | SUB | | | |
| Kyoji Horiguchi | KO | | | | | Kyoji Horiguchi | SUB | | | |
| Hideo Tokoro | 1:49 | | | | | | | |
| Hideo Tokoro | 1:49 | Kyoji Horiguchi | KO | | | | | |
| | | Gabriel Oliviera | 4:30 | | | | | |
| Gabriel Oliviera | | Gabriel Oliviera | 4:30 | | | | | |
| BYE | | | | | | | | |
| BYE | | | | | | | Kyoji Horiguchi | TKO |
| | | | | | | | Shintaro Ishiwatari | 5:14 |
| Keita Ishibashi | 4:51 | | | | | | | | Shintaro Ishiwatari | 5:14 |
| Khalid Taha | KO | | | | | | | |
| Khalid Taha | KO | Khalid Taha | 12:22 | | | | | |
| | | Takafumi Otsuka | SUB | | | | | |
| Takafumi Otsuka | DEC | Takafumi Otsuka | SUB | | | | | |
| Anthony Birchak | 15:00 | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Birchak | 15:00 | | | Takafumi Otsuka | 15:00 | | | |
| | | | | Shintaro Ishiwatari | DEC | | | |
| Jae Hoon Moon | 15:00 | | | | | Shintaro Ishiwatari | DEC | | | |
| Kevin Petshi | DEC | | | | | | | |
| Kevin Petshi | DEC | Kevin Petshi | 4:30 | | | | | |
| | | Shintaro Ishiwatari | KO | | | | | |
| Shintaro Ishiwatari | DEC | Shintaro Ishiwatari | KO | | | | | |
| Akhmed Musakaev | 15:00 | | | | | | | |

## Rizin Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix 2017 bracket

| 1st Round Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: opening round part 2 | 1st Round Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: opening round part 2 | 1st Round Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: opening round part 2 | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| Rena Kubota | Rena Kubota | KO | | | | | | |
| Andy Nguyen | Andy Nguyen | 3:23 | | | | | | |
| Andy Nguyen | Andy Nguyen | 3:23 | Rena Kubota | Rena Kubota | TKO | | | |
| | | | Irene Cabello Rivera | Irene Cabello Rivera | 4:38 | | | |
| Miyuu Yamamoto | Miyuu Yamamoto | 7:25 | Irene Cabello Rivera | Irene Cabello Rivera | 4:38 | | | |
| Irene Cabello Rivera | Irene Cabello Rivera | SUB | | | | | | |
| Irene Cabello Rivera | Irene Cabello Rivera | SUB | | | | Rena Kubota | Rena Kubota | 4:33 |
| | | | | | | Kanna Asakura | Kanna Asakura | SUB |
| Alyssa Garcia | Alyssa Garcia | 15:00 | | | | | | | Kanna Asakura | Kanna Asakura | SUB |
| Maria Oliveira | Maria Oliveira | DEC | | | | | | |
| Maria Oliveira | Maria Oliveira | DEC | Maria Oliveira | Maria Oliveira | 8:40 | | | |
| | | | Kanna Asakura | Kanna Asakura | SUB | | | |
| Kanna Asakura | Kanna Asakura | DEC | Kanna Asakura | Kanna Asakura | SUB | | | |
| Sylwia Juśkiewicz | Sylwia Juśkiewicz | 15:00 | | | | | | |

## Rizin flyweight KB tournament

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final |
| Tenshin Nasukawa | Tenshin Nasukawa | KO | | | |
| Yuta Hamamoto | Yuta Hamamoto | 4:58 | | | |
| Yuta Hamamoto | Yuta Hamamoto | 4:58 | Tenshin Nasukawa | Tenshin Nasukawa | TKO |
| | | | Yamato Fujita | Yamato Fujita | 1:27 |
| Mitsuhisa Sunabe | Mitsuhisa Sunabe | 6:46 | Yamato Fujita | Yamato Fujita | 1:27 |
| Yamato Fujita | Yamato Fujita | KO | | | |

## Rizin 2017 in Yokohama: Sakura

Rizin 2017 in Yokohama: Sakura was a mixed martial arts event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on April 16, 2017 at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan.

### Results

Fight Card :
| Weight Class | | | | Method | Round | Time |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Tatsuya Kawajiri | def. | Anthony Birchak | Decision (unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 |
| Openweight | Amir Aliakbari | def. | Gerônimo Dos Santos | TKO (punches) | 1 | 3:34 |
| Flyweight 58 kg | Kyoji Horiguchi | def. | Yuki Motoya | Decision (unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 |
| Female Atomweight 48 kg | Rena Kubota | def. | Dóra Perjés | KO (punch to the body) | 1 | 2:49 |
| Flyweight 57 kg | Tenshin Nasukawa | def. | Francesco Ghigliotti | KO (head kick) | 1 | 1:07 |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Satoshi Ishii | def. | Heath Herring | Decision (unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 |
| Female Catchweight 90 kg | Reina Miura | def. | Jazzy Gabert | Submission (armbar) | 2 | 9:54 |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Yusuke Yachi | def. | Daron Cruickshank | KO (punch) | 1 | 5:10 |
| Female Atomweight 48 kg | Saori Ishioka | def. | Bestare Kicaj | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | 1 | 2:12 |
| Female Atomweight 48 kg | Kanna Asakura | def. | Aleksandra Toncheva | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 |
| Flyweight 58 kg | Seiichiro Ito | def. | Kizaemon Saiga | Decision (unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 |

## Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: opening round part 1

Rizin World Grand Prix 2017 opening round part 1 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on July 30, 2017 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

### Results

Fight Card :
| Weight Class | | | | Method | Round | Time | Notes |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Kyoji Horiguchi | def. | Hideo Tokoro | KO (punches) | 1 | 1:49 | Bantamweight Grand Prix 1st round |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Amir Aliakbari | def. | Tyler King | TKO (punches) | 1 | 1:39 | |
| Female Openweight | Gabrielle Garcia | vs. | Oksana Gagloeva | No contest (accidental eye poke) | 1 | 0:15 | |
| Female Openweight | Reina Miura | def. | Lei'D Tapa | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Flyweight 57 kg | Tenshin Nasukawa | def. | Kizaemon Saiga | KO (punch) | 1 | 1:36 | Mix Rules |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Yusuke Yachi | def. | Satoru Kitaoka | TKO (punches) | 2 | 4:46 | |
| Atomweight 49 kg | Miyuu Yamamoto | def. | Cassie Robb | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Takafumi Otsuka | def. | Anthony Birchak | Decision (split) | 2 | 15:00 | Bantamweight Grand Prix 1st round |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Khalid Taha | def. | Keita Ishibashi | KO (Grounded Knees and Punches) | 1 | 4:51 | Bantamweight Grand Prix 1st round |
| Female Flyweight 57 kg | Shinju Nozawa-Auclair | def. | Sheena Brandenburg | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 1:40 | |
| Light Heavyweight 93 kg | Karl Abrektsson | def. | Teodoras Aukstuolis | Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) | 1 | 8:02 | |

## Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: opening round part 2

Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: opening round part 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on October 15, 2017 at the Marine Messe Fukuoka in Fukuoka, Japan.

### Background

Dan Henderson supposed to face fellow MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba in a grappling match however, Henderson suffered a neck injury and Frank Shamrock step in as a replacement.
Kanna Asakura fought Saori Ishioka at DEEP JEWELS 17 in a Super Atomweight Grand Prix Qualification bout. Asakura won by Unanimous Decision.
Andy Nguyen missed weight.

### Results

Fight Card :
| Weight Class | | | | Method | Round | Time | Notes |
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Rena Kubota | def. | Andy Nguyen | KO (punch to the body) | 1 | 3:23 | Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix 1st round |
| Flyweight 57 kg | Tenshin Nasukawa | def. | Yamato Fujita | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Middleweight 84 kg | Kazushi Sakuraba | vs. | Frank Shamrock | Draw | 1 | 10:00 | Grappling Match |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Akiyo Nishiura | def. | Andy Souwer | Decision (unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 | |
| Catchweight 75 kg | Reina Miura | def. | Crystal Stokes | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Catchweight 63 kg | Gabriel Oliveira | def. | Tatsuya Kawajiri | KO (Knee) | 2 | 1:00 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Shintaro Ishiwatari | def. | Akhmed Musakaev | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | Bantamweight Grand Prix 1st round |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Kevin Petshi | def. | Jae Hoon Moon | Decision (split) | 3 | 15:00 | Bantamweight Grand Prix 1st round |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Manel Kape | def. | Erson Yamamoto | TKO (Head Kick and Punch) | 1 | 1:10 | Bantamweight Grand Prix 1st round |
| Openweight | Roque Martinez | def. | Jerome Le Banner | Submission (Scarf Hold Chest Choke) | 1 | 2:10 | |
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Maria Oliveira | def. | Alyssa Garcia | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix 1st round |
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Kanna Asakura | def. | Sylwia Juśkiewicz | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix 1st round |
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Irene Cabello Rivera | def. | Miyuu Yamamoto | Submission (armbar) | 2 | 7:25 | Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix 1st round |
| Catchweight 51 kg | Jin Mandokoro | def. | Issei Ishii | Decision (majority) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Catchweight 62 kg | Yuki | vs. | Kurogi Darvish | Draw (majority) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Catchweight 58 kg | Yoshihisa Morimoto | def. | Ryota Renseigym | TKO (punches) | 3 | 7:57 | Kickboxing |

## Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: 2nd round

Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: 2nd round was a mixed martial arts event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on December 29, 2017 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

### Background

Seiichiro Ito was to face Kai Asakura at this event but had to withdraw due to a nasal fractures. He was replaced by Kizaemon Saiga.
Gabrielle Garcia was scheduled to face Shinobu Kandori at this event. However, Garcia missed weight by over 26 pounds and the bout was canceled.

### Results

Fight Card :
| Weight Class | | | | Method | Round | Time | Notes |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Kyoji Horiguchi | def. | Gabriel Oliviera | TKO (punches) | 1 | 4:30 | Bantamweight Grand Prix quarter-finals |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Manel Kape | def. | Ian McCall | TKO (doctor Stoppage) | 1 | 1:48 | Bantamweight Grand Prix quarter-finals |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Shintaro Ishiwatari | def. | Kevin Petshi | KO (punch) | 1 | 4:30 | Bantamweight Grand Prix quarter-finals |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Takafumi Otsuka | def. | Khalid Taha | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 3 | 12:22 | Bantamweight Grand Prix quarter-finals |
| Light Heavyweight 93 kg | Jiří Procházka | def. | Karl Albrektsson | TKO (punches) | 1 | 9:57 | |
| Women's Lightweight 70 kg | Cindy Dandois | def. | Reina Miura | Decision (split) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Hiroyuki Takaya | def. | Baataryn Azjavkhlan | Decision (unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Jae Hoon Moon | def. | Anthony Birchak | Decision (split) | 3 | 15:00 | Bantamweight Grand Prix reserve bout |
| Catchweight 62.5 kg | Kai Asakura | def. | Kizaemon Saiga | TKO (Punches and Knee) | 2 | 7:36 | |
| Women's Flyweight 57 kg | Kana Watanabe | def. | Shizuka Sugiyama | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Catchweight 75 kg | Kiichi Kunimoto | def. | Satoru Kitaoka | Decision (unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 | |

## Rizin Fan Expo 2017

Rizin Fan Expo 2017 was an Expo event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on December 29-30-31,2017 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

### Background

This expo featured the Rizin 2017 jiu-jitsu tournament, a Grappling tournament, a high school Sambo tournament, an amateur Kickboxing tournament and an amateur Mixed martial arts tournament.

### Fight card
## Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: final round

Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: final round was a mixed martial arts event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on December 31, 2017, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

### Background

This event included the semi-finals and final of the Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix. The quarter-finals were held two days previous at Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: 2nd round. Also on the card are the semi-finals and final of the Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix.

### Results

Fight Card :
| Weight Class | | | | Method | Round | Time | Notes |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Kyoji Horiguchi | def. | Shintaro Ishiwatari | KO (punches) | 2 | 5:14 | Bantamweight Grand Prix final |
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Kanna Asakura | def. | Rena Kubota | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | 1 | 4:33 | Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix final |
| Flyweight 57 kg | Tenshin Nasukawa | def. | Yamato Fujita | TKO (3 knockdowns) | 1 | 1:27 | Flyweight KB Tournament Final |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Mirko Cro Cop | def. | Tsuyoshi Kohsaka | TKO (punches) | 1 | 1:02 | |
| Women's Flyweight 57 kg | Shinju Nozawa-Auclair | def. | Chelsea LaGrasse | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 4:47 | |
| Catchweight 72 kg | Yusuke Yachi | def. | Takanori Gomi | Submission (Triangle Choke) | 1 | 2:36 | |
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Kanna Asakura | def. | Maria Oliveira | Submission (armbar) | 2 | 8:40 | Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix semi-finals |
| Super Atomweight 49 kg | Rena Kubota | def. | Irene Cabello Rivera | TKO (punches) | 1 | 4:38 | Women's Super Atomweight Grand Prix semi-finals |
| Flyweight 57 kg | Yamato Fujita | def. | Mitsuhisa Sunabe | KO (punch) | 3 | 6:46 | Flyweight KB Tournament Semi-Finals |
| Flyweight 57 kg | Tenshin Nasukawa | def. | Yuta Hamamoto | KO (flying knee) | 2 | 4:58 | Flyweight KB Tournament Semi-Finals |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Shintaro Ishiwatari | def. | Takafumi Otsuka | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | Bantamweight Grand Prix semi-finals |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Kyoji Horiguchi | def. | Manel Kape | Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) | 3 | 14:28 | Bantamweight Grand Prix semi-finals |