Video: BROADENED HORIZIN Episode 2: Nobuyuki Sakakibara, Rena Kubota, Yusuke Yachi, Takasuke Kume
RIZIN 24 is right around the corner.
This is BROADENED HORIZIN. The MMA podcast show hosted by Drake Riggs where we chat with your favorite Japanese and RIZIN superstars… in English!
Episode 2 featured yet another great lineup of guests.
When it comes to influential frontmen in the world of MMA, one of the more underappreciated may be the founder of PRIDE FC and RIZIN FF, Mr. Nobuyuki Sakakibara.
During the 2000s, PRIDE’s influence was massive on the MMA world as the organization became a true powerhouse in the sport and the pinnacle of MMA in Japan. Now, Sakakibara is the current president of RIZIN and continuing to lead the way for the sport in that part of the world.
With the COVID-19 pandemic hitting in 2020, it presented many challenges for business owners around the world. For many MMA promotions, it cut their schedules down to a limited number of events. After returning with back to back nights of action in August, Sakakibara and RIZIN went into RIZIN 24 more prepared and will even be trying out some new things.
When it comes to the RIZIN 24 card on September 27, it’s not the biggest card we’ve ever seen. However, there is still some quality name value. And one of perhaps the two most notable is Rena Kubota (10-3).
The Shootbox queen turned MMA superstar is set to take on her most experienced opponent yet when she faces the 15-16 Emi Tomimatsu.
For Kubota, this will be her fifth straight fight north of her original home of 108-pounds in the super atomweight division. With those first four all being 112-pound catchweights, the Tomimatsu bout will be contested at 116-pounds which is your typical strawweight fight. Kubota explained that the short notice led to the decision to fight with four more pounds compared to her previous at 112.
Obviously, the real division and title in RIZIN are at 108-pounds. A division and goal that she still has her sights set on. She does have a win in Shootboxing over the current champion, Seo Hee Ham, after all.
RIZIN 24 will be a bit of a lightweight showcase as there are three bouts slated to go down. In two of those, we’ll see three champions from other organizations in action. Squaring off with the seasoned veteran in Satoru Kitaoka will be the current king of Pancrase, Takasuke Kume (23-5-4).
Also competing in one of those lightweight bouts will be the always entertaining Yusuke Yachi (21-10) who looks to get back on track after a tough loss at RIZIN 22.
As a former opponent of current UFC champion, Alexander Volkanovski, Yachi reflected on where he is now compared to the time they met in the cage. And most importantly, he shared some tips to having great hair.
All that and more on BROADENED HORIZIN! Watch the full episode in the video above or you can listen on the Loudmouth MMA Podcast Network.
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