The final major MMA event of 2021 arrived on Friday, with RIZIN 33 marking the promotion’s annual New Year’s Eve show.
While previous years saw major names from around the globe competing, pandemic-related travel restrictions in Japan meant that the card was made up instead of some of the top Japanese talents around. That included Yusuke Yachi challenging for lightweight gold against champ Roberto “Satoshi” Souza, and the completion of the RIZIN bantamweight grand prix — with the semifinal and final rounds coming in the same night.
Also on the card, Ayaka Hamasaki in a non-title bout against Seika Izawa, and promotional darling Rena Kubota taking on Si Woo Park. And, in his final appearance for RIZIN, Tenshin Nasukawa, competing in a special rules bout against the much larger Takanori Gomi.
RIZIN 33 goes down live on Friday, December 31, 2021 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. An English language live stream featuring Joe Ferraro, Damien Brown and Johnny Case is available via LIVE-NOW, with the broadcast kicking off at 11:30PM ET on December 30 for those in the west. Replays of the show will also be available. Check below for full results from the event.
RIZIN 33 Results
Hiromasa Ougikubo def. Kai Asakura by unanimous decision – RIZIN bantamweight grand prix final
Roberto Satoshi Souza (c) def. Yusuke Yachi by submission (triangle arm-bar), Round 2, 3:30 – for the RIZIN FF lightfeatherweight championship
Mikuru Asakura def. Yutaka Saito by unanimous decision
Tenshin Nasukawa vs. Takanori Gomi is ruled a draw – Special Rules Bout
Si Woo Park def. Rena Kubota by unanimous decision
Seika Izawa def. Ayaka Hamasaki by TKO, Round 2, 2:50 – non-title bout
Koji Takeda def. “Black Panther” Beynoah by submission (arm-bar), Round 2, 4:12
Hideki “Shrek” Sekine def. Shoma Shibisai by TKO, Round 2, 2:09
Kyohei Hagiwara def. Hiroaki Suzuki by unanimous decision
Ya-Man def. Kouzi by majority decision – kickboxing
Shibatar def. Yuta Kubo by submission (arm-bar), Round 1, 1:34 – Special Rules Bout
Shinobu Ota def. Kazuma Sone by TKO (soccer kick/stomps), Round 1, 3:55
Yuki Motoya def. Kintaro by unanimous decision – bantamweight grand prix reserve bout
Hiromasa Ougikubo def. Naoki Inoue by unanimous decision – bantamweight grand prix semifinal
Kai Asakura def. Kenta Takizawa by unanimous decision – bantamweight grand prix semifinal
Kota Miura by. Yushi TKO (soccer kick/punch), Round 1, 3:00
