PhotoCred: RIZIN FF
RIZIN 25: Asakura vs. Saito – Live Results, Recaps, and Highlights
RIZIN 25 on November 21 is the last RIZIN show before the big year-end show. And in the main event, the very first featherweight champion will be crowned.
Vying for the inaugural 145-pound strap will be one of RIZIN and Japan’s biggest superstars, Mikuru Asakura (13-1) who faces off with Shoot vet, Yutaka Saito (18-4-2). Asakura will look to bring a second RIZIN title to his family’s name in what will be his eighth appearance in the promotion. For Saito, it will be just his second fight in RIZIN after successfully debuting at RIZIN 23 in September.
In the evening’s co-main event recent bantamweight title challenger Hiromasa Ougikubo (20-5-2) will look to get back on track and earn another shot. But standing in his way will be the rising 26-year old Kenta Takizawa (11-5).
MyMMANews has you covered with all of the fight summaries, results, and highlights as they happen. The event can be watched live: here.
RIZIN 25 results below:
Kickboxing: Catchweight – 139lbs: Yuma Yamaguchi vs. Shohei Asahara
Round 1
Asahara backed Yamaguchi up early to rattle off a pair of heavy left hands. Yamaguchi worked his leg kicks consistently and mixed in a big left hook of his own. Asahara started going up high with his kicks to make his opponent think. At the 25 second mark, Asahara stunned Yamaguchi badly with a solid multi-punch combination that led to Yamaguchi’s loss of balance while he looked to fire back.
Round 2
Yamaguchi went back to attacking the legs instantly. Asahara fired off a strong 1-2 that was countered with a big shot from Yamaguchi that got his attention. A straight right from Asahara cracked through the guard of Yamaguchi and the two started exchanging heavy hooks as Yamaguchi appeared wobbled again. In random spurts, Yamaguchi pushed forward and unloaded. He seemingly needed a finish going into the final round.
Round 3
Instantly, the pair started throwing leather. Asahara’s jab was finding a home while the leg kicks were a constant for Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi pressed forward looking for the knockout and was landing but eating plenty in return. A strong step knee to the body from Asahara slowed his opponent temporarily. Trading blows late, Asahara connected with a bomb that dropped Yamaguchi. He recovered but not enough as Asahara poured it on to seal the deal with mere seconds remaining.
https://twitter.com/MikeLovesTacosX/status/1330026475857309697
https://twitter.com/MikeLovesTacosX/status/1330027282807795713
Result: Shohei Asahara def. Yuma Yamaguchi via third-round TKO
Kickboxing: Catchweight – 117lbs: Jin Mandokoro vs. Syuto Sato
Round 1
Mandokoro landed a solid left hand that sat Sato down but he may have just been off-balance as Mandokoro fell on top of him. Sato got up and began to work his leg kicks before bursting forward and catching Mandokoro with a left hook as he kicked. A big right cross from Mandokoro connected off a counter. Sato flurried late and absorbed the same right hand from Mandokoro again.
Round 2
Both men went for head kicks at the same time and Mandokoro caught Sato’s which led to a nice trip via leg kick. Mandokoro followed it up by backing Sato to the ropes and looking for kill shots to no avail. Sato attacked with a leg kick followed by a two punch combo that landed. Mandokoro wasn’t having it though as he fired back violently and ended a combination with a spinning back fist that floored Sato. He survived the count only to get up and eat an onslaught of punches from Mandokoro. Back against the ropes, Sato hung in tough as he attempted to land big shots of his own. Surprisingly, he managed to back Mandokoro off and survive.
https://twitter.com/MikeLovesTacosX/status/1330030558928375810
Round 3
Sato landed a clean snapping head kick early leading to a ferocious attack of punches from Mandokoro. Sato found himself getting pressured yet again but landed a huge left to hurt Mandokoro. More punches in succession followed for Sato as he began to apply the heat. Turning the tide briefly, Mandokoro started to rattle off some shots before the final bell.
https://twitter.com/MikeLovesTacosX/status/1330032271802380289
Result: Jin Mandokoro def. Syuto Sato via unanimous decision
Featherweight – 145lbs: Kotetsu Boku vs. Rikuto Shirakawa
Round 1
Boku started his offense with leg kicks followed by a smooth jab. Shirakawa soon backed him into a corner and unloaded a big haymaker that seemed to stun Boku for a second. A pair of nice punches connected to the body in favor of Shirakawa. Round end with Boku feinting kicks as Shirakawa looks for a head kick of his own.
Round 2
Shirakawa attacked forward early only to eat some shots clean from Boku in defense. A solid right cross from Boku hits home as they got back to the center. Boku now targeted the body with punches before working the leg again. A stiff jab halted Shirakawa as he tried to come forward. Shirakawa finds a looping left hand but Boku takes it like nothing. An accidental headbutt stopped the action momentarily. Shirakawa wildly pressed forward winging shots. Boku landed a nice 1-2 before going back to the body as Shirakawa was now on his bike. Boku continued his pressure and walked through shots to land several of his own.
Round 3
A heavy left hook to the body for Shirakawa lands early. Shirakawa’s overhands were starting to find their home a bit better but Boku remained unphased and stuck to his jab up high and down low. And it would end up costing him as Shirakawa timed a body jab with a big uppercut to put Boku down. Surviving, Boku trapped Shirakawa in full guard. Boku punched from the bottom but they weren’t anything significant as the referee stood them up. Shirakawa ripped to the body as Boku now looked for the haymakers. A straight right from Shirakawa puts Boku down and a soccer kick follows to end it.
https://twitter.com/MikeLovesTacosX/status/1330038892297392133
https://twitter.com/MikeLovesTacosX/status/1330040274110869505
Result: Rikuto Shirakawa def. Kotetsu Boku via third-round TKO (Punch and soccer kick)
Kickboxing: Middleweight – 185lbs: Hidenori Ebata vs. Isami Sano
Round 1
Ebata started things off exclusively with a plethora of kicks and those to the head were finding their home. A huge front kick to the face snapped Sano’s head back as Ebata utilized his reach beautifully.
Round 2
The kicks were clearly Ebata’s best strikes as evidenced in round two. The 6-foot-6 fighter used his sidekick like a jab to the body to keep Sano away. Toward the middle of the round, Ebata found two hard step knees to the body in succession. Sano at another pair of head kicks from his foe and unloaded punches the moment the two got in close.
Round 3
Sano attacked fast to start the round, throwing punches in close as Ebata used his knees before going back to side and head kicks. Ebata was starting to slow and Sano’s pressure was posing problems as his punch flurries came in higher frequency. A big shot from Sano would end up sitting Ebata down for a knockdown. Ebata was hanging on for dear life at this point but just couldn’t put anything together as Sano landed punches aplenty in tight.
Result: Isami Sano def. Hidenori Ebata via unanimous decision
Kickboxing: Bantamweight – 135lbs: Taiga Kawabe vs. Yuma Yamahata
Round 1
Taiga’s hard leg kicks started the action. A 1-2 from Yamahata gets through with the latter punch. Taiga’s leg kicks were timed by Yamahata to graze him with one up high. Taiga ripped the body before unleashing up high late in the round.
Round 2
Instantly the fighters started to trade as Taiga lost balance momentarily. The two started to exchange leg kicks more and more but Taiga was mixing his overall offense up more as he continued punching to the body as Yamahata couldn’t ever get too comfortable to throw. A 1-2 before two punch to leg kick combos for Taiga struck home before the round ended.
#Rizin25 pic.twitter.com/lOOFdGS28X
— Dazz (@Dazz59) November 21, 2020
Round 3
Yamahata pressed forward instantly to run into more leg kicks and punches than surely he’d have preferred. Taiga began popping the jab as he bounced around to mix in his leg kicks and went back to the body. A flying knee from Taiga connected with the gloves of Yamahata. Yamahata just continued coming forward to eat combinations from his opponent. Yamahata was just unable to land anything too significantly as Taiga rarely threw single strikes.
https://twitter.com/MikeLovesTacosX/status/1330053881519349760
Result: Taiga Kawabe def. Yuma Yamahata via unanimous decision
Featherweight: Yojiro Uchimura vs. Kyohei Hagiwara
Round 1
Hagiwara initiated with a spinning wheel kick that led to a flurry of punches and it was over. One stiff right and a stomp for good measure brings things to an end.
https://twitter.com/streetfitebncho/status/1330055541809426432
Result: Kyohei Hagiwara def. Yojiro Uchimura via first-round KO (punch and stomp)
Flyweight – 125lbs: Tatsuki Saomoto vs. Daichi Kitakata
Round 1
Kitakata strikes with a good body kick early before taking one of his own. He began backing Saomoto up only to lead two to exchange speedy punches. Saomoto flipped the positioning and started landing leg kicks. Kitaka quickly adjusted and started landing some good shots forcing Saomoto to go for a single leg takedown which he got by sweeping out the leg. Saomoto started to absorb knees to the dome for his troubles after not finding an advantageous position. Lucky for him, this came at the end of the round where Kitakata was coming on stronger.
https://twitter.com/MikeLovesTacosX/status/1330060270434217989
Round 2
Kitakata started the round at a slower pace but his striking remained something Saomoto wanted to avoid as Kitakata sprawled on a takedown. Shortly after the defense, Saomoto went for another that went in his favor to get into side control. Kitakata wriggled to the ring’s corner. The referee stood them up and Kitakata patiently waited for the body kick to open up. Saomoto fired off a good right straight to the body before the middle frame wrapped up.
https://twitter.com/MikeLovesTacosX/status/1330061687781793794
Round 3
Kitakata blitzed forward with punches to begin the final round. Saomoto ducked and dodged put Kitakata landed a right hand behind the ear that staggered Saomoto leading him to drop for Kitakata’s legs. Kitakata wrapped his arms around the neck in defense but it was just for positioning, there was no guillotine threat. Eventually, the referee stood them back up and they got into the pocket allowing Kitakata to rip punches to the body. Saomoto shot for another takedown which Kitakata sprawled on once more. Despite that, Saomoto stayed glued to his opponent and they went back to a similar position with Kitakata grabbing the neck. Again, that position earned a referee stand up and Kitakata started to unleash punches seeking the finish but couldn’t find it.
Results: Tatsuki Saomoto def. Daichi Kitakata via unanimous decision
Welterweight – 170lbs: Ryuichiro Sumimura vs. “Let’s” Gota Yamashita
Round 1
Leg kicks from each started the action. A big right straight from Sumimura connected as Gota followed it with a superman punch. Suddenly at the 1:20 mark, Sumimura charged forward and the two traded bombs leading to a clinching from Sumimura.
Round 2
Sumimura had a head kick deflected and in counter took one of his own which seemed to hurt him and he managed to catch Gota off balance for a trip into half guard. Sumimura got tired of the position and stood up, thwarting off a short ankle lock attempt. Gota’s head kick was starting to find its mark but they didn’t come in abundance.
Round 3
Gota went back to his head kick to start off the last round. Sumimura began starting to brawl his way into the clinch as both exchanged knees to the body. Sumimura’s jab connected and he was dealt a leg kick for his troubles. Sumimura shot for a low double leg which he achieved. From there, he worked light ground and pound from half guard. Seemingly down on the cards, Gota rushed in a bit recklessly on the get-up and got taken back to the mat. Fight ends.
Result: Ryuichiro Sumimura def. “Let’s” Gota Yamashita via split decision
Bantamweight – 135lbs: Hiromasa Ougikubo vs. Kenta Takizawa
Round 1
Kicks low and to the body were given back and forth after a calculated start from each. Leading with his left hand, Takizawa unloaded a spinning wheel kick to the body that Ougikubo tried to give back. Takizawa’s right hand started ripping the body as he came at Ougikubo with violent combinations. One of which ended with a knee high to the chest. Takizawa’s wheel kick went high late in the round and broke the defense of Ougikubo but didn’t get through as cleanly as it could have.
#Rizin25 pic.twitter.com/EfJAjZJWDF
— Dazz (@Dazz59) November 21, 2020
Round 2
Ougikubo attacked quickly with a head kick and went back to that well after Takizawa attacked with his jab. Ougikubo started slowing Takizawa’s attack down a bit as the round progressed, utilizing his leg kicks, and eventually attacked in looking for a body lock takedown. Takizawa backed him off with a jumping knee to the body. A looping right hand from Ougikubo connected but Takizawa took it well as he started whiffing on his counter shots. Toward the end of the middle frame, Takizawa defended two high kicks after dishing out his jab.
Round 3
A big right hand to left head kick from Ougikubo put Takizawa down early. In survival mode, Takizawa hung onto Ougikubo bloodied as he fell to his back on the bottom of half guard. Takizawa worked his way back up briefly only to get slammed back to the mat giving Ougikubo the potential to find a rear-naked choke. Takizawa managed to escape the poor position and get under full guard. Takizawa escaped late needing to go for broke and got his foot stuck in the ropes but kept swinging to the end.
https://twitter.com/MikeLovesTacosX/status/1330088096910684162
https://twitter.com/MikeLovesTacosX/status/1330086771242262530
Result: Hiromasa Ougikubo def. Kenta Takizawa via unanimous decision
Featherweight: (C) – Mikuru Asakura vs. Yutaka Saito
Round 1
The duo each connected with pinpoint right hands early. A left hook for Saito landed flush on Asakura making him adjust stance before a groin shot connected o Saito thus pausing the action. The fight resumed and a stiff right for Asakura landed. Saito pressed forward with a missed left and took one in return. Asakura threw a right hook landing behind the ear of Saito. In return, Saito began getting a bit wild as he pressed with haymakers.
Round 2
To start the second round, Saito gave Asakura a low blow of his own. The break was far shorter and Saito got aggressive to resume as he threw big punch combos with a head kick mixed in. Asakura caught him with one in the mix but Saito turned to his grappling to hit a powerful double-leg across the ring. Asakura worked his way to his feet in the corner and created a separation via the referee. Saito pushed forward yet again winging shots but couldn’t land as he entered the clinch. Another referee separation forced the two apart. Asakura began attacking the legs before Saito went up high with his kicks. A heavy left hook from Asakura struck last as the round ended.
Round 3
Saito started pawing his lead hand out only to kick his foe low. A big body kick from Saito lands after a jumping knee to the body for Asakura. A big takedown from Saito was hit around the three-minute mark, leaving Asakura with his back to the ropes as he punched Saito in the head annoyingly. The referee stands them up after no transitions are made. Saito finds another good body kick. Asakura comes in to strike a huge left hand dropping Saito. In return, they both start unloading huge punches to the crowd’s delight. Asakura drops for a sneaky single leg but can’t get it. Fight concludes.
The New @rizin_PR Featherweight Champion Yutaka Saito#RIZIN25 #RIZIN #MMA #MMATwitter pic.twitter.com/lOzTdQaAJm
— Jason Hagholm (@JHagholm1) November 21, 2020
Result: Yutaka Saito def. Mikuru Asakura via unanimous decision
