RIZIN Fighting Federation returned to action on Saturday, heading to the southern Honshu city of Osaka for RIZIN 25. Atop the card, a battle for the promotion’s inaugural featherweight title. That would see Mikuru Asakura, one of the promotion’s rising homegrown stars, face Yutaka Saito.
Asakura entered the title bout on an eight fight win streak. Saito, the more experienced of the two, had won two straight, including his promotional debut at RIZIN 23. Prior to joining RIZIN FF, Saito had competed extensively in Shooto. There, he won both the featherweight and lightweight titles.
Also on the RIZIN 25 card, an exhibition grappling demonstration featuring Roberto de Souza, Kleber Koike Erbst, Hari Sakamoto, and Misaki Akita.
RIZIN 25 can be streamed online via RIZIN Live. Free and paid viewing options are available. Check below for results from the event.
RIZIN 25: Asakura vs. Saito Results
Yutaka Saito def. Mikuru Asakura by unanimous decision – For the innaugural RIZIN FF Featherweight Championship
Hiromasa Ougikubo def. Kenta Takizawa by unanimous decision
Ryuichiro Sumimura def. Gota Yamashita by split decision
Tatsuki Saomoto by. Daichi Kitakata unanimous decision
Intermission
Kyohei Hagiwara def. Yojiro Uchimura by knockout, Round 1, 0:22
Taiga Kawabe def. Yuma Yamahata by unanimous decision – Kickboxing
Isami Sano def. Hidenori Ebata by unanimous decision – Kickboxing
Rikuto Shirakawa def. Kotetsu Boku by TKO (punches and soccer kick), Round 3, 4:19
Jin Mandokoro def. Syuto Sato by unanimous decision – Kickboxing
Shohei Asahara def. Yuma Yamaguchi by knockout, Round 3, 2:59 – Kickboxing
