A trio of title fights, all rematches, have been announced for RIZIN 35 this April.
RIZIN 35 is scheduled for April 17, 2022 in Tokyo, Japan. Promotion officials revealed the news on social media, with the following bouts announced:
- Roberto Satoshi Souza (c) vs. Johnny Case – for the RIZIN lightweight world championship
- Juntaro Ushiku (c) vs. Yutaka Saito – for the RIZIN featherweight world championship
- Ayaka Hamasaki (c) vs. Seika Izawa – for the RIZIN women’s atomweight world championship
Souza (13-1) saw his lone loss in mixed martial arts come at the hands of Johnny Case (27-7-1) in 2019. Since that fight, he’s won four straight, capturing the promotion’s lightweight title last year, and successfully defending it against Yusuke Yachi in December.
Case actually lost his next fight following the Souza win, against Tofiq Musayev. Since then, he’s been competing in boxing, winning three bouts dating back to July of last year.
Juntaro Ushiku (28-8-1) won the RIZIN featherweight championship from Yutaka Saito (20-6-2) in their first meeting. The fight ended due to a doctor’s stoppage, after a Ushiku knee opened up a problematic cut on the champ. Ushiku, also the featherweight champion in DEEP, defended his title in that promotion back in January. Saito has fought once since the pair met last year, losing a decision against Mikuru Asakura.
Finally, Ayaka Hamasaki (23-4), a former Invicta FC champ, will run it back with Seika Izawa (5-0). They met at RIZIN 33 in December in a non-title fight, with Izawa earning the victory via TKO. This time, Hamasaki’s super atomweight title will be on the line.
