# 2020 in Rizin Fighting Federation

The year 2020 was the sixth year in the history of the Rizin Fighting Federation, a mixed martial arts promotion based in Japan. The year began with Rizin 21 in Hamamatsu on February 22, 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic would put the promotion on hiatus until Rizin 22 on August 9.
Rizin events are broadcast through a television agreement with Fuji Television. In North America and Europe, Rizin events were available via PPV on FITE TV. Beginning with Rizin 26, events have been streaming on LIVENow in North America and Europe.

## List of events

| # | Event | Date | Venue | Location | Attendance |
| 1 | Rizin 21 – Hamamatsu | February 22, 2020 | Hamamatsu Arena | Hamamatsu, Japan | 6,832 |
| 2 | Rizin 22 – Starting Over | August 9, 2020 | Pia Arena MM | Yokohama, Japan | 2,805 |
| 3 | Rizin 23 – Calling Over | August 10, 2020 | Pia Arena MM | Yokohama, Japan | 4,410 |
| 4 | Rizin 24 – Saitama | September 27, 2020 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 5,000 |
| 5 | Rizin 25 – Osaka | November 21, 2020 | Osaka-jō Hall | Osaka, Japan | 5,487 |
| 6 | Rizin 26 – Saitama | December 31, 2020 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 9,978 |

## Rizin 21 – Hamamatsu

Rizin 21 – Hamamatsu was a Combat sport event held by the Rizin Fighting Federation on February 22, 2020 at the Hamamatsu Arena in Hamamatsu, Japan.

### Results

Rizin 21 :
| Weight Class | | | | Method | Round | T.Time | Notes |
| Catchweight 68 kg | Mikuru Asakura | def. | Daniel Salas | TKO (Head Kick and Punches) | 2 | 7:34 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Victor Henry | def. | Masanori Kanehara | TKO (Punches) | 2 | 5:45 | |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Roque Martinez | def. | Hideki Sekine | TKO (Soccer Kicks) | 1 | 4:04 | |
| Catchweight 79 kg | Marcos de Souza | def. | Falco Neto | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 1:27 | |
| Intermission ||||||||
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Yuto Hokamura | def. | Kenji Kato | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 4:21 | |
| Exhibition | Roberto de Souza | def. | Yuki Nakai | Submission (Triangle Choke) | 1 | 8:05 | Jiu Jitsu Elimination Match |
| Exhibition | Roberto de Souza | def. | Hiroshi Shinagawa | Submission (Triangle Choke) | 1 | 8:05 | Jiu Jitsu Elimination Match |
| Exhibition | Roberto de Souza | def. | Edison Kagohara | Submission (Choke) | 1 | 8:05 | Jiu Jitsu Elimination Match |
| Exhibition | Roberto de Souza | def. | Koji Shigemizu | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 8:05 | Jiu Jitsu Elimination Match |
| Exhibition | Roberto de Souza | def. | Yuna Kimura | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 8:05 | Jiu Jitsu Elimination Match |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Naoki Inoue | def. | Trent Girdham | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Vugar Karamov | def. | Kyle Aguon | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Kousuke Jitukata | def. | Ryo Sakai | KO (Punches) | 1 | 1:28 | Kickboxing |
| Flyweight 57 kg | Kenichi Takeuchi | def. | Naoya | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Opening Fight ||||||||
| Catchweight 60 kg | Henrry Cejas | def. | Seido | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Yuya | def. | Kouki | KO (Punch) | 1 | 2:30 | Kickboxing |
| Catchweight 59 kg | Masaji Tozuka | - | Masahiro Ozawa | Draw (Majority) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |

## Rizin 22 – Starting Over

Rizin 22 – Starting Over was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on August 9, 2020 at the Pia Arena MM in Yokohama, Japan.

### Background

The event was initially planned to be held on April 19, 2020 at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan However, the event was cancelled on April 2, 2020, due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.

### Results

Rizin 22 :
| Weight Class | | | | Method | Round | T.Time | Notes |
| Lightweight 71 kg | Roberto de Souza | def. | Yusuke Yachi | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 1:52 | |
| W.Strawweight 52 kg | Ayaka Hamasaki | def. | Tomo Maesawa | Submission (Kimura) | 2 | 6:26 | |
| W.Super Atomweight 49 kg | Kanna Asakura | def. | Mizuki Furuse | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 1:35 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Naoki Inoue | def. | Shooto Watanabe | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 1:40 | |
| Catchweight 56 kg | Rui Ebata | def. | Seiki Ueyama | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Catchweight 50.8 kg | Nadaka Yoshinari | def. | Yuushin | TKO (Referee Stoppage) | 2 | 8:08 | Kickboxing |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Tetsuya Seki | def. | Kouya Kanda | TKO (Punches) | 2 | 8:47 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Kyohei Hagiwara | def. | Rikuto Shirakawa | TKO (Punches) | 3 | 14:40 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Kenji Kato | def. | Erson Yamamoto | KO (Punch) | 1 | 3:32 | |

## Rizin 23 – Calling Over

Rizin 23 – Calling Over was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on August 10, 2020 at the Pia Arena MM in Yokohama, Japan.

### Background

A Rizin Bantamweight Championship bout for the vacant title between former title challenger Kai Asakura and Hiromasa Ougikubo served as the event headliner. Former Rizin Bantamweight champion Manel Kape announced on March 30, 2020 that he would be relinquishing the bantamweight title and announce he has signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC.

### Results

Rizin 23 :
| Weight Class | | | | Method | Round | T.Time | Notes |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Kai Asakura | def. | Hiromasa Ougikubo | TKO (Soccer Kicks) | 1 | 4:31 | For the vacant Rizin Bantamweight Championship |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Yuki Motoya | def. | Mamoru Uoi | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 3 | 12:19 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Yutaka Saito | def. | Kazumasa Majima | TKO (Knees and Elbow) | 2 | 5:24 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Kento Haraguchi | def. | Taiga Kawabe | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 2:50 | Kickboxing |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Jin Aoi | def. | Kotetsu Boku | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Catchweight 59 kg | Makoto Shinryu | def. | Seiichiro Ito | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 2 | 9:30 | |
| Catchweight 73 kg | Kaito Ono | def. | Daryl Lokoku | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Flyweight 58 kg | Tatsuki Saomoto | def. | Yusaku Nakamura | KO (Punches) | 1 | 4:06 | |
| Catchweight 73 kg | Shintaro Matsukura | def. | Koji Mori | KO (Punches) | 1 | 1:28 | Kickboxing |

## Rizin 24 – Saitama

Rizin 24 – Saitama was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on September 27, 2020 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

### Background

The first two fights announced for Rizin 24 was a bantamweight bout between Kai Asakura and Shoji Maruyama, as well as a women's strawweight bout between Rena Kubota and Emi Tomimatsu. A fight between two MMA veterans was announced as well, as Takasuke Kume took on Satoru Kitaoka. The main event was a kickboxing fight between Tenshin Nasukawa and Koji.

### Results

Rizin 24 :
| Weight Class | | | | Method | Round | T.Time | Notes |
| Catchweight 58.5 kg | Tenshin Nasukawa | def. | Koji | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Kai Asakura | def. | Shoji Maruyama | TKO (Punches and Soccer Kick) | 1 | 2:37 | Non-title bout. |
| Lightweight 71 kg | Koji Takeda | def. | Yuki Kawana | Decision (Split) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Lightweight 71 kg | Takasuke Kume | def. | Satoru Kitaoka | Decision (Split) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Catchweight 60 kg | Taishi Hiratsuka | def. | Yuuki Kitagawa | KO (Punch) | 2 | 3:27 | Kickboxing |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Kenta Takizawa | def. | Yuto Hokamura | Decision (Split) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| W. Strawweight 52 kg | Rena Kubota | def. | Emi Tomimatsu | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Takahiro Ashida | def. | Kyohei Hagiwara | Submission (Triangle Choke) | 2 | 9:25 | |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Sudario Tsuyoshi | Def. | Dylan James | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | 1 | 5:00 | |
| Catchweight 55 kg | Mutsuki Ebata | def. | Rasta | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Lightweight 71 kg | Juri Ohara | def. | Yusuke Yachi | Decision (Split) | 3 | 15:00 | |

## Rizin 25 – Osaka

Rizin 25 – Osaka was a Combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on November 21, 2020 at the Osaka-jō Hall in Osaka, Japan.

### Background

During the press conference prior to Rizin 25, Rizin CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara confirmed that nine fights were finalized for the card.
Rizin standout Mikuru Asakura will fight the former Shooto Lightweight champion Yutaka Saito for the inaugural featherweight title. Former Bantamweight title challenger Hiromasa Ougikubo is scheduled to fight Kenta Takizawa. Former strawweight King of Pancrase Daichi Kitakata is scheduled to face the ZST Flyweight champion Tatsuki Saomoto.
Two additional MMA bouts were announced: Yojiro Uchimura vs. Kyohei Hagiwara in the featherweight division and Ryuichiro Sumimura vs. Gota Yamashita in the welterweight division. The remaining four fights are kickboxing bouts: Taiga Kawabe will fight Yuma Yamahata, Yuma Yamaguchi is scheduled to fight Shohei Asahara, Hidenori Ebata will take on Isami Sano and Jin Mandokoro is set to go up against Syuto Sato. A fight between Kotetsu Boku and Rikuto Shirakawa was later added to the card.

### Results

Rizin 25 :
| Weight Class | | | | Method | Round | T.Time | Notes |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Yutaka Saito | def. | Mikuru Asakura | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | For the inaugural Rizin Featherweight Championship |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Hiromasa Ougikubo | def. | Kenta Takizawa | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Welterweight 77 kg | Ryuichiro Sumimura | def. | Gota Yamashita | Decision (Split) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Flyweight 57 kg | Tatsuki Saomoto | def. | Daichi Kitakata | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Exhibition | Roberto de Souza Kleber Koike Erbst | | Hari Sakamoto Misaki Akita | | | | Grappling Demonstration |
| Intermission ||||||||
| Featherweight 66 kg | Kyohei Hagiwara | def. | Yojiro Uchimura | KO (Punches and Foot Stomp) | 1 | 0:22 | |
| Catchweight 60.5 kg | Taiga Kawabe | def. | Yuma Yamahata | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Catchweight 83 kg | Isami Sano | def. | Hidenori Ebata | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Rikuto Shirakawa | def. | Kotetsu Boku | TKO (Punches and Soccer Kick) | 3 | 14:19 | |
| Catchweight 53 kg | Jin Mandokoro | def. | Syuto Sato | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Catchweight 63 kg | Shohei Asahara | def. | Yuma Yamaguchi | TKO (Punches) | 3 | 8:59 | Kickboxing |

## Rizin 26 – Saitama

Rizin 26 – Saitama was a combat sport event held by Rizin Fighting Federation on December 31, 2020 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

### Background

The card was headlined by a rematch for the Rizin bantamweight championship, in his first title defense the reigning bantamweight champion Kai Asakura has met the former champion Kyoji Horiguchi. The two met previously in a non-title bout, with Asakura winning by knockout.
Olympic silver medalist Shinobu Ota, has signed with Rizin Fighting Championship, he made his MMA debut against the veteran Hideo Tokoro.
Former RIZIN Super Atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki was set to fight Miyuu Yamamoto for the vacant Super Atomweight title.
Tenshin Nasukawa was scheduled to fight Kumandoi Phetjaroenvit, while Takanori Gomi was scheduled to fight Koji under special standup rules. Gomi's weight limit was 75 kg and Koji's 65 kg. The rules of the bout forbid grappling and kicking, while both fighters wore 12oz gloves.
Sakura Mori missed weight for her atomweight bout with Eru Takebayashi by 1.7 kg.

### Results

Rizin 26 :
| Weight Class | | | | Method | Round | T.Time | Notes |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Kyoji Horiguchi | def. | Kai Asakura (c) | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 2:48 | For the Rizin Bantamweight Championship |
| Catchweight 57 kg | Tenshin Nasukawa | def. | Kumandoi Petcharoenvit | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 9:00 | Kickboxing |
| Catchweight 68 kg | Mikuru Asakura | def. | Satoshi Yamasu | KO (Head Kick and Punches) | 1 | 4:20 | |
| Catchweight 75 kg | Takanori Gomi | def. | Koji Tanaka | Decision (Majority) | 3 | 9:00 | Special Standing Bout Rules |
| W.Super Atomweight 49 kg | Ayaka Hamasaki | def. | Miyuu Yamamoto | Submission (Head Scissors Choke) | 1 | 1:42 | For the Vacant Rizin Super Atomweight Championship |
| Intermission ||||||||
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Naoki Inoue | def. | Yuki Motoya | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 3:00 | |
| Catchweight 67 kg | Kleber Koike Erbst | def. | Kyle Aguon | Technical Submission (Brabo Choke) | 1 | 4:21 | |
| Catchweight 68 kg | Kyohei Hagiwara | def. | Ren Hiramoto | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | 2 | 1:29 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Hideo Tokoro | def. | Shinobu Ota | Submission (Armbar) | 2 | 2:23 | |
| Intermission ||||||||
| Catchweight 50 kg | Nadaka Yoshinari | def. | Phetmalai Phetjaroenvit | KO (Elbow) | 1 | 2:19 | Kickboxing |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Ulka Sasaki | def. | Kenta Takizawa | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| W.Super Atomweight 49 kg | Kanna Asakura | def. | Ai Shimizu | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Openweight | Atsushi Saito | def. | Hiroya Kawabe | Submission (Armbar) | 2 | 6:00 | Special Rules originally a draw was overturned by Rizin officials |
| Catchweight 63 kg | Kazuma Kuramoto | def. | Taiyo Nakahara | KO (Soccer Kicks) | 1 | 2:12 | |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Tsuyoshi Sudario | def. | Ikuhisa Minowa | TKO (Leg Injury) | 1 | 3:17 | |
| W.Catchweight 52.7 kg | Sakura Mori | - | Eru Takebayashi | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 1:37 | No Contest due to Mori missing weight by 1.7 kg. |