RIZIN 43 has been officially announced for Sapporo, Hokkaido on Saturday, June 24, 2023.
Taking place at the Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena in Sapporo, the event is set to feature a featherweight title fight as its main event, with Kleber Koike (31-6-1) defending his title against Japanese youngster Chihiro Suzuki (10-3).
RIZIN Fighting Federation officials announced the news during Saturday’s RIZIN 41 broadcast. And unlike the promoter vs. Muay Thai legend fight the promotion announced as an April Fool’s Day joke, this one is legit.
Koike, a Brazilian-born fighter of Japanese and German descent, will be making the first defense of his featherweight title in the fight. The 33-year old is coming off a loss to Patricio Pitbull in a non-title fight as part of the Bellator MMA vs. RIZIN card on New Year’s Eve.
That loss snapped a seven-fight win streak Koike, a former KSW champ, had compiled.
Suzuki has won five straight bouts, and has not lost a fight since dropping his promotional debut in 2021. Staying active, the 23-year old has also competed in Muay Thai and kickboxing, under the KNOCK OUT banner.
Suzuki’s last win in MMA came on New Year’s Eve, when he knocked out Yoshiki Nakahara.
No other fights have been announced for RIZIN 43 as of yet.
