Kai Asakura-Shoji Maruyama, Rena-Emi Tomimatsu Added to RIZIN 24
RIZIN 24 is just around the corner and the card is still taking shape. The card already boasts some of Japan’s top MMA and kickboxing talent. Just announced this morning are two new fights. Current RIZIN champion, RIZIN bantamweight champion, Kai Asakura, takes on Shoji Maruyama in a bantamweight bout. The second bout features Rena and Emi Tomimatsu in a strawweight bout.
Kai Asakura adds very much star power to a star studded card. The current champion knocked out long reigning champion, Kyoto Horiguchi to capture the RIZIN belt. He lost the belt to Manel Kape last December but recaptured the crown last August after Kape vacated the title. Asakura holds wins over Hiromasa Ougikubo, Ulka Sasaki, Kyoki Horiguchi, and Manel Kape.
On the other side of the ring is Shoji Maruyama sits at an 18-12-1 career record. He is riding a two fight win streak and has made the rounds in DEEP and Pancrase throughout most of his career.
Rena is the darling of RIZIN. Her 10-3 record has seen her come up in MMA in RIZIN. Her run through Shootboxing has been legendary and gained her popularity in the JMMA community. She crossed promotional lines in December at Bellator as well. Rena is coming in with a two fight win streak.
Rema takes on an experienced Emi Tomimatsu at RIZIN 24. Tomimatsu has also made runs in DEEP and Road FC. She currently has a 15-16 record.
Building RIZIN 24
In addition to Asakura and Rena, RIZIN 24 has already stacked the next card. The main event features the 22-year-old kickboxing phenom, Tenshin Nasukawa, taking on Koji Tanaka. The main event marks the return of Nasukawa who has been tearing up the Japanese kickboxing scene since 2014.
The co-main event features a battle between two battle tested opponents at RIZIN 24. Takasuke Kume (23-6-3) takes on Satoru Kitaoka (42-20-10) in the co-main event as well.
Stay posted to My MMA News for all the latest surrounding RIZIN 24. Don’t forget to check out the awesome new RIZIN podcast by our very own Drake Riggs entitled Broadened Horizin. Thanks for reading!
