The card was headlined by RIZIN standout and reigning lightweight champion Roberto Satoshi Souza in a non-title fight against Korean mainstay Won Bin Ki. Won was a ROAD FC veteran who had also posted a 2-2 record in the Road to UFC series.

In the co-main event, Japan’s Shoko Sato was paired up with Soo Chul Kim, a Bellator MMA and ONE Championship alum who was also 3-1 under the RIZIN FF banner.

Where to Watch RIZIN World Series in Korea

Saturday, May 31, 2025 finds RIZIN Fighting Federation at Paradise City in Incheon, South Korea. The events streams live on RIZIN.tv, full results from the card can be found below.

RIZIN World Series in Korea Results

Roberto Satoshi Souza def. Won Bin Ki by technical submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 0:40
Shoko Sato def. Soo Chul Kim by unanimous decision
Johnny Case def. Juri Ohara by KO, Round 1 — overturned to No Contest as Case missed weight
Keito Oyama def. Yu Ri Shim by unanimous decision

Intermission

Sho Patrick Usami def. Si Won Kim by unanimous decision
Ji Yong Yang def. Kintaro by TKO, Round 3
Hyuk Min Ji def. Koji Takeda by TKO, Round 2, 4:13
Young Jae Song def. Yoshiki Nakahara by KO, Round 3, 1:28
Yong Cheol Kwon def. Kota Miura by TKO, Round 1, 2:46
San Hae Jo vs. Hide Meison Usmai ends in a unanimous draw – Kickboxing
Seiya Inoue def. Beom Jun Kang by unanimous decision – Kickboxing

The post RIZIN World Series in Korea Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

Late Wednesday, RIZIN officials announced another three fights for the Saitama card, including Luiz Gustavo vs. Johnny Case, Hideo Tokoro vs. John Dodson, and Noah Bey vs. Sho Patrick Usami.

／#RIZIN40
新たな追加対戦カード決定‼️
＼

12/31(土)開催「湘南美容クリニック presents RIZIN.40」の新たな追加対戦カードが決定🥊#所英男🆚#ジョン・ドッドソン#ブラックパンサーベイノア🆚#宇佐美正パトリック#ルイス・グスタボ🆚#ジョニー・ケース

残りのカードやPPV販売情報は後日発表👀 pic.twitter.com/lAFjmzvxqP

— RIZIN PPV OFFICIAL (@PPV_RIZIN) November 17, 2022

Dodson (22-13), a former two-time UFC title challenger at flyweight, will return to 125lbs against Tokoro in his RIZIN debut. Most recently, “The Magician” competed at XMMA 4, picking up a win against fellow UFC vet Francisco Rivera.

Tokoro (35-31-2) last fought in July, where the veteran lost a decision against Makoto Takahashi. The 45-year old began his MMA career in 2000, and has competed for RIZIN, Bellator MMA, Dream, K-1, Shooto, and other orgs. In 2005, he fought to a draw with Royce Gracie in a welterweight bout; the Japanese star holds wins over Brad Pickett and Royler Graice, among others.

Having fought everywhere from flyweight to heavyweight, Hideo Tokoro also holds the record for competing in the most weight classes in MMA, at seven.

Johnny Case (27-9-1) will look to snap a three-fight skid when he faces Brazil’s Luiz Gustavo in a lightweight match-up at RIZIN 40. Case has lost three consecutive bouts to Tofiq Musayev, Roberto “Satoshi” Souza, and most recently, Koji Takeda. Musayev is now a player in Bellator’s lightweight division, while the Souza bout was for RIZIN’s lightweight title.

Noah Bey (1-2) returns to MMA for the first time since 2021 when he faces Sho Patrick Usami (5-1), who will be making his sophomore outing for RIZIN Fighting Federation in the bout.

Bellator MMA vs. RIZIN (RIZIN 40) takes place on December 31, 2022 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The following fights have been announced for the card thus far:

• A.J. McKee vs. Roberto de Souza
• Patricio Pitbull vs. Kleber Koike
• Juan Archuleta vs. Soo Chul Kim
• Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Hiromasa Ougikubo
• Gadzhi Rabadanov vs. Koji Takeda
• Tsuyoshi Sudario vs. Junior Tafa
• Naoki Inoue vs. Kenta Takizawa
• Yuki Motoya vs. Rogerio Bontorin
• John Dodson vs. Hideo Tokoro
• Luiz Gustavo vs. Johnny Case
• Noah Bey vs. Sho Patrick Usami

The post Johnny Case, John Dodson and More Join RIZIN 40 appeared first on Cageside Press.

The event, back in the promotion’s stronghold at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, saw the opening round of the women’s super atomweight grand prix unfold — with familiar names including champ Seika Izawa, ex-champ Ayaka Hamasaki, former UFC fighter Jessica Aguilar and others in action.

Also competing at RIZIN 37, Marcos Yoshio Souza, brother of RIZIN lightweight champ Roberto Satoshi Souza. Marcos was paired up with UFC vet Daichi Abe for his third fight under the RIZIN FF banner.

Full results from RIZIN 37 can be found below.

RIZIN 37 Results

Seika Izawa def. Laura Fontoura by submission (guillotine choke), Round 1, 3:47 – RIZIN women’s super atomweight grand prix opening round
Ayaka Hamasaki def. Jessica Aguilar by unanimous decision – RIZIN women’s super atomweight grand prix opening round
Makoto Shinryu def. Hideo Tokoro by unanimous decision
Koji Takeda def. Johnny Case by unanimous decision
Si Woo Park def. Kanna Asakura by unanimous decision  – RIZIN women’s super atomweight grand prix opening round
Rena def. Anastasiya Svetkivska by unanimous decision – RIZIN women’s super atomweight grand prix opening round
Tsuyoshi Sudario def. Hideki Sekine by knockout (punch), Round 1, 0:53
Yuki Motoya def. Shinobu Ota by unanimous decision
Yoshiki Nakahara def. Tetsuya Seki by unanimous decision
Daichi Abe def. Marcos Yoshio Souza by KO (punch/soccer kick), Round 2, 3:02
Vugar Karamov def. Sora Yamamoto by unanimous decision
Ryusei def. Kaishi by TKO, Round 3, 1:23 – Kickboxing
Hiroki Kasahara def. Yusaku Ishizuki by unanimous decision – Kickboxing
Yushi Sakura def. Takeru “Haruki” Sudo by submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Round 2

The post RIZIN 37: Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

The second of back-to-back cards at the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza saw the promotion’s lightweight, featherweight, and women’s super atomweight titles all up for grabs. Plus a host of foreign stars, thanks to Japan opening to little by little after strict coronavirus-necessitated lockdowns.

In the main event, Roberto “Satoshi” Souza put his lightweight title on the line against Johnny Case. The Brazilian champ was looking to make the second defense of his belt, after submitting Yusuke Yachi late last year.

Featherweight champ Juntaro Ushiku was set to defend his own title against Yutaka Saito in the co-main event, while Ayaka Hamasaki returned to put her super atomweight belt on the line against Seika Izawa. The fight was an immediate rematch of their December 2021 bout, which had seen Izawa pull off the upset in a non-title affair.

Also appearing at RIZIN 35, UFC and Bellator MMA veteran Spike “The Alpha Ginger” Carlyle, living out a dream by fighting in Japan.

Full results from RIZIN 35, which goes down Sunday, April 17, 2022, can be found below. An English-language live stream is available via LIVE-NOW.

RIZIN 35 Results

Main Card

Roberto de Souza (c) def. Johnny Case by submission (arm-bar), Round 1, 3:32 – For the RIZIN Lightweight Championship
Juntaro Ushiku (c) def. Yutaka Saito by unanimous decision – For the RIZIN Featherweight Championship
Seika Izawa def. Ayaka Hamasaki (c) by unanimous decision – For the RIZIN Super Atomweight Championship
Tsuyoshi Kosaka def. Mikio Ueda by TKO (strikes) in Round 1

Intermission

Kanna Asakura def. Sarami by unanimous decision
Spike Carlyle def. Koji Takeda by technical submission (guillotine choke), Round 2, 1:35
Shoma Shibisai def. Rihards Bigis by TKO (punches/elbows), Round 1
Yuki Motoya def. Alan “Hiro” Yamaniha by unanimous decision
Vugar Karamov def. Taichi Nakajima by technical submission (triangle choke), Round 1, 2:00
Kyle Aguon def. Takahiro Ashida by unanimous decision

The post RIZIN 35 Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

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.

The post Three Title Fights Announced for RIZIN 35 in April appeared first on Cageside Press.

According to Las Vegas/Clark County court records, Case was arrested on April 1, following an incident with a female partner later described by TMZ as a “female MMA fighter.” At an initial hearing on April 2, Case was released on his own recognizance, under the conditions that he stay out of trouble, and have no contact with the victim in the case.

Case (27-7-1) was last seen fighting with Japan’s RIZIN Fighting Federation, losing in a lightweight grand prix semifinal against Tofiq Musayev on December 31, 2019. Overall, he went 3-1 with the promotion over four fights between 2018 and 2019. He then returned to the Professional Fighters League, expecting to compete in the 2020 season, which was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Hollywood” competed for the UFC six times from 2014 to 2016, going 4-2 in that span.

With the PFL ramping back up this month, Case had a fight booked against Loik Radzhabov on April 23, 2021. However, on Tuesday, the PFL announced on social media that Case had been replacemed in the fight, without referencing any reason. Case’s replacement will be undefeated Mexican prospect Alexander Martinez, who fights out of Alberta, Canada. Coincidentally, Martinez was included in our recent Scouting Prospects for the Contender Series Season 5 piece.

The PFL has not yet responded to a request for comment regarding Case’s status with the promotion.

Update, 5:15PM ET — Case has released the following statement on social media:

It is with a heavy heart that I announce I have been withdrawn from the PFL tournament. I am absolutely crushed. All of my hard work and sacrifices have been taken away from allegations that are not true. I want to thank the few friends and family members who have reached out to check on me. You don’t know how much that means to me. I’m sorry to my fans and supporters. I don’t know what the future will hold for my career. I will tell my side of the story when the time is right, but right now I just want to be with my family and do what I can to get by in the mean time.

The post UFC Alum Johnny Case Charged with Misdemeanor Domestic Battery, Replaced at PFL 1 appeared first on Cageside Press.

Yet like many others, he probably could never have guessed where he’d be fighting to start 2020. The answer being nowhere, of course. The coronavirus pandemic has brought the world, and MMA, to its knees, grinding everything to a standstill while the spread of the virus plays out.

In the meantime, Case has been doing what many have, stocking up. In his case, that includes a healthy stash of ammunition, fishing poles, survival manuals, tourniquets, and other emergency gear. “It’s all in good fun. I hope I would never need that sh*t, but at the end of the day, it’s better to have it ready to rock,” he told Cageside Press this week.

The start of the PFL season has been pushed back, with no start date confirmed. Case last fought at RIZIN 20 in December, part of the Japanese promotion’s lightweight grand prix. In all, he went 3-1 for the promotion before returning to the Professional Fighters League, where he competed once in 2018.

Case, however, is looking to occupy his time elsewhere. And as he points out, the best spot may be away from big cities. “The resources are very finite as is. That’s why I was like, guns and ammo. Even hurricane Katrina and sh*t like that. What did it take, like three days before people started killing each other for that sh*t? For basic survival sh*t.”

“People get real f*cking uncivilized when it comes down to, if there’s a lack of basic needs,” he continued. “I honestly think the best thing to do is bug out and get the f*ck as far away from Las Vegas as you can.”

Anywhere with relaxed country living, he suggested. Where things might not change as much as they would in a larger area. “It’s not a huge difference if sh*t goes down, and people aren’t killing each other for resources.”

Case, of course, isn’t fully expecting that. But at the same time, his world has been reduced in scope, like the rest of us, to a handful of essential services. WalMart and other stores. He admittedly didn’t think the coronavirus outbreak was a big deal, initially. A friend changed his mind.

“One of my friends is a nurse. He was telling me about this sh*t. I honestly didn’t think it was that serious,” he explained. “I’m like ‘dude there’s like a 97% survival rate, what the f*ck is the big deal?’ Plus we haven’t really seen very many people on Instagram, or people on social media, I don’t know anybody that’s been sick, I don’t know anybody that’s posted videos like ‘dude this sh*t’s real.’ It’s pretty much just, people are not being out about it.”

“Then my friend tells me, ‘this sh*t’s crazy.’ The word he used was, ‘this isn’t a f*cking virus, this is a plague,” Case recalled. “This is something that nobody’s been prepared for, nobody’s seen it, nobody knows.’ He’s like ‘the direction on what to do changes hour to hour. They don’t even know what the f*ck is going on.'”

That’s when Case admits his friend had “scared the sh*t” out of him.

That said, at some point, Johnny Case will be back in the cage. And it will be for the PFL. Case had always wanted to stay with the PFL after his 2018 stint with them, where he came in short notice. However, their season was over, which led him to RIZIN. Still, he calls the promotion “the best place to fight, for anybody trying to make money, anybody trying to win a title.”

That includes the UFC. “When I was with the UFC, on average, I fought twice a year. When I was winning, when I was really hot, on a hot streak, I got three fights a year,” said Case. “But even three fights in a year— and if you lose a fight, you go down, then might not fight again. Or you might get half your pay. You only eat what you kill.”

While he admits there were advantages to being in the UFC, even for a fighter based in Vegas, the PFL is the better option. “The UFC has a perk of the $50,000 bonus. I was lucky enough to get two of those. Which is kind of nice in a way too. But then again, the depth of the UFC, there’s guys that are 20, 30 [deep in the] rankings that could be in the top ten. They just haven’t won the fights to earn the spots yet.”

In the UFC, Case observed, “the depth of the talent of the fighters is so much deeper, and the financial standpoint is kind of average when it comes to how you’re compensated in other places.”

RIZIN was one example Case gave, as a better option. The PFL was his ultimate choice. “The PFL is obviously the best place to make money. It’s not like it’s 30-guys deep in a weight class. You have 16 studs then 8 of those studs qualify for the playoffs, then one guy wins the title.”

Watch our full interview with Johnny “Hollywood” Case below!

The post PFL Lightweight Johnny Case on Coronavirus, UFC Compensation Being “Kind of Average” appeared first on Cageside Press.

RIZIN 19 went down Saturday morning (in the west), and fans of the Japanese MMA promotion were given quite a treat. The launch of the Lightweight Grand Prix saw a number of exciting fights transpire, including Patricky Pitbull vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri. That ended with a flying knee by Brazil’s Pitbull, and some follow-up strikes to seal the deal.

It was far from the only finish Saturday. Osaka fans got to witness finishes in all four of the grand prix quarterfinal bouts. Johnny Case ended Roberto Satoshi Souza’s night in a finishing sequence including a soccer kick. Tofiq Musayev put Damien Brown down with a head kick. Luis Gustavo won via doctor’s stoppage.

In fact only two fights on the entire RIZIN 19 card went to decisions, both kickboxing contests.

The main event between Jiri Prochazka and Fabio Maldonado, meanwhile, ended with Prochazka finishing the Brazilian pugilist in under two minutes. Kai Asakura, making a short turnaround, was also victorious. He walked away with a TKO after Ulka Sasaki suffered a jaw injury in their co-main event fight.

Check below for a gallery of highlights featuring all of the night’s action, courtesy of RIZIN FF. Visit our RIZIN 19 live coverage page for full results.

The post RIZIN 19 Photo Highlights: Patricky Pitbull, Johnny Case Advance in Grand Prix appeared first on Cageside Press.

RIZIN Fighting Federation is in action this weekend, with the opening round of their lightweight grand prix. RIZIN 19 is part of an action-packed two days for MMA fans, with the UFC, Bellator MMA, PFL, ONE Championship, and RIZIN all hosting events.

Weigh-ins for RIZIN 19 at the Edion Arena in Osaka, Japan went down Friday. Results are below.

RIZIN 19 Weigh-In Results:

Jiri Prochazka (97.90kg / 215.8lb) vs. Fabio Maldonado (99.85kg / 220.1lb)
Kai Asakura (60.85kg / 134.2lb vs. Ulka Sasaki (60.80kg / 134.0lb)
Miyuu Yamamoto (48.95kg / 107.9lb) vs. Seo Hee Ham (48.95kg / 107.9lb)
RENA (50.70kg / 111.8lb) vs. Alexandra Alvare (49.80kg / 109.8lb)

Johnny Case (70.95kg / 156.4lb) vs. Roberto Satoshi Souza (70.70kg / 155.9lb) – Lightweight Grand Prix Opening Round
Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (70.90kg / 156.3lb) vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri (70.90kg / 156.3lb) – Lightweight Grand Prix Opening Round
Luiz Gustavo (70.55kg / 155.5lb) vs. Hiroto Uesako (70.80kg / 156.1lb) – Lightweight Grand Prix Opening Round
Tofiq Musayev (70.60kg / 155.6lb) vs. Damien Brown (70.70kg / 155.9lb) – Lightweight Grand Prix Opening Round

K-Taro Nakamura (76.95kg / 169.6lb) vs. Marcos Yoshio (76.90kg / 169.5lb)
Taiju Shiratori (61.90kg / 136.5lb) vs. (Taiga：62.00 / 136.7lb)
HIROYA (76.20kg / 167.9lb) vs. (Takuma Konishi：76.85kg / 169.4lb)
Shoma Sibisai (107.40kg / 236.8lb) vs. Chang Hee Kim (163.25kg / 359.9lb)
Seiki Ueyama (56.00kg / 123.5lb) vs. Taisei Umei (56.00kg / 123.5lb)

The post RIZIN 19 Weigh-In Results: Lightweight Grand Prix Set appeared first on Cageside Press.

RIZIN Fighting Federation has revealed the opening round match-ups for their upcoming lightweight grand prix. In a press release Friday, the Japanese promotion announced all four fights, which will take place at RIZIN 19.

The bouts, determined by a random drawing, are as follows:

Tofiq Musaev vs Damien Brown
Johnny Case vs Roberto de Souza
Patricky Freire vs Tatsuya Kawajiri
Luiz Gustavo vs Hiroto Uesako

Notables in the grand prix include Patricky Pitbull (properly Patriky Freire, brother of Bellator double-champ Patricio Pitbull), opponent Tatsuya Kawajiri, former UFC fighter Damien Brown, and Johnny Case. RIZIN 19 takes place October 12 at the Edion Arena in Osaka, Japan.

Fighting Roberto de Souza, Case, for one, was quoted in Friday’s press release as saying that “I cannot be happier with the match-up. I’ve always thought we would have to fight someday. We’ve fought on the same cards, and have won in impressive ways. It’s going to be an awesome fight. Rock’n Roll.”

Fighting Tatsuya Kawajiri, Pitbull said that “I respect Kawajiri a lot. I have been watching him fight from 10 years ago. I have always wanted to fight a top PRIDE fighter. This is a great fight for me and for my career.”

Following the opening round of the grand prix, a second drawing will be held to determine the match-ups for a four-man, one-night tournament on New Year’s Eve.

The post RIZIN Announces Lightweight Grand Prix Opening Round Match-Ups, Pitbull Gets Kawajiri appeared first on Cageside Press.