‘The Money God’ will make his RIZIN debut next month, as Jarred Brooks has been added to the RIZIN 18 card against DEEP strawweight champ Harou Ochi.
A couple of UFC veterans have been added to next month’s RIZIN 18 card. On Tuesday, the promotion announced via press release that Jarred Brooks, a UFC flyweight released off a win when the UFC was looking to shutter the division, would face Harou Ochi at the event. Also added to the card, Ayaka Hamasaki, formerly of Invicta FC, taking on “Amp the Rocket,” as well as another UFC alum, Justin Scoggins, who would meet Japan’s Kazuma Sone. Finally, Victor Henry vs. Trent Girdham was added at bantamweight.
RIZIN continues to bolster its bantamweight ranks, where dual-promotion (RIZIN FF and Bellator) champ Kyoji Horiguchi reigns. Scoggins (11-6) has been part of that process, but is coming off a loss to Yuki Motoya at RIZIN 14. In his last four bouts, Scoggins has gone 0-4.
Kazuma Sone (23-18-1) is also mired in a slump, having lost his last three fights. He returns to RIZIN for the first time since August 2018, after taking his last two fights in Shooto.
Jarred Brooks (14–2) will return to the strawweight division at RIZIN 18, taking on Haruo Ochi (19-7-2). Brooks went 2-2 as a flyweight for the UFC, and was released off a win over Roberto Sanchez. Outside the promotion, he has competed at strawweight in the past. Ochi, meanwhile, is the current DEEP strawweight champion.
Also at RIZIN 18, Ayaka Hamasaki (18-2), ex-Invicta FC Atomweight Champion and current RIZIN Super Atomweight Champion, takes on “Amp” Suwanan Boonsorn Phukettopteam (5-1) of Thailand, a.k.a. “Amp the Rocket.” The bout will be a non-title affair.
Victor Henry (18-4), who recently claimed the DEEP Bantamweight title, will meet Trent Girdham (11-2) at the show. Both men will be making their RIZIN debuts.
RIZIN 18 will be held at the Dolphins Arena in Nagoya, Japan on August 18, 2019.
