RIZIN 21 went down in Hamatsu, Shizuoka in Japan on Saturday, with top prospect Mikuru Asakura topping the card.
It was easy enough a card for fans in the west to miss (or sleep through), but RIZIN 21 offered some pleasant surprises for fight fans around the globe. The Japanese MMA outfit, known for cards that can best be described as excruciatingly long, managed to quicken the pace in Hamamatsu, with just one intermission, and a short one at that.
In the main event, Mikuru Asakura continued his push to star status with a TKO of Daniel Salas. Albeit an opponent Asakura was expected to defeat, the method in which he sealed the deal — set up via a head kick — proved that the Japanese fighter can be relied upon to entertain.
After the bout, an apparent match with Kotetsu Boku, a former ONE Championship lightweight champ, was lined up.
Also on the card, DEEP and RIZIN regular Roque Martinez finished off another ONE alum, Hideki Seine, at heavyweight — sealing the deal with soccer kicks.
Full results from the card, and a gallery of highlights, can be found below.
RIZIN 21 Results:
Main Card
Mikuru Asakura def. Daniel Salas by TKO (head kick and punches), Round 2, 2:34
Victor Henry def. Masanori Kanehara by TKO, Round 2, 0:45
Roque Martinez def. Hideki “Shrek” Sekine by TKO (soccer kicks and punches), Round 1, 3:57
Marcos Yoshio Souza def. Falco Neto by TKO, Round 1, 1:27
Kintaro def. Kenji Kato by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 4:21
Jiu-Jitsu Gauntlet Exhibition Match
Roberto Satoshi def.
Yuki Nakai by submission (Triangle Choke) in 3:35
Hiroshi Shinagawa by submission (Triangle Choke) in 1:27
Edison Kagohara by submission (Choke) in 1:23
Koji Shigemizu by submission (Armbar) in 0:51
Yuna Kimura by submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in 0:46
Naoki Inoue def. Trent Girdham by unanimous decision
Vugar Karamov def. Kyle Aguon by unanimous decision
Kousuke Jitsukata def. Ryo Sakai by knockout (punches), Round 1, 1:28 – Kickboxing bout
Kenichi Takeuchi def. NAOYA by unanimous decision – Kickboxing bout
Henrry Cejas def. SEIDO by unanimous decision – Kickboxing bout
YUYA def. KOUKI by knockout (punch), Round 1, 2:30 – Kickboxing bout
Masaji Tozuka vs. Masahiro Ozawa ended in a majority draw – Kickboxing bout
