The newly announced RIZIN 25 card, set to go down on November 21 in Osaka, Japan, will feature the crowning of a new featherweight champion.
In just the promotion’s second visit to the the southern Honshu city, Mirkuru Asakura will face Yutaka Saito for the vacant 145lb (66kg) title. Promotion officials announced the news in a press release Monday.
Asakura last fought in February, improving his overall win streak to eight with a head kick KO of Daniel Salas. Seven of those victories have come under the RIZIN FF banner, where Asakura holds notable wins over Hatsu Hioki, John Teixeira and Yusuke Yachi.
Mikuru’s younger brother, Kai, is the reigning RIZIN FF bantamweight champion.
Yutaka Saito (18-4-2) made his promotional debut in August at RIZIN 23, picking up a soccer kick finish over Kazumasa Majima. Saito is a current, two-time featherweight champion in Shooto, where he’s spent pretty much all of his professional career.
Also on the RIZIN 25 card, Hiromasa Ougikubo (20-5-2), who has twice fought for the promotion’s bantamweight title, takes on prospect Kenta Takizawa (11-5). Ougikubo last challenged for gold in August, coming up short against champ Kai Asakura.
RIZIN 25’s card currently consists of the following bouts:
Mikuru Asakura vs Yutaka Saito
Hiromasa Ougikubo vs Kenta Takizawa
Yojiro Uchimura vs Kyohei Hagiwara
Ryuichiro Sumimura vs “Let’s” Gota Yamashita
Tatsuki Saomoto vs Daichi Kitakata
Hidenori Ebara vs Isami Sano – Kickboxing
Jin Mandokoro vs Syuto Sato – Kickboxing
Shohei Asahara vs Yuma Yamaguchi – Kickboxing
Taiga vs Yuma Yamahata – Kickboxing
