Unbeaten in seven bouts with three knockouts under the company’s banner, Mikuru Asakura (13-1-0, 1 no contest) will collide with former Shooto king Yutaka Saito (18-4-2), who won his RIZIN debut with a soccer kick knockout in August, to crown the new 145-pound champion.
“I haven’t fought since February but I have constantly been training hard, so look forward on seeing a graded-up version of me,” Asakura stated in a release. “I’m 7-0 in the organization so I think I deserve this title shot the most. I saw my opponent fight in August, but he’s not my match … He’ll try to grapple me but he will be met with a huge surprise.”
“My opponent is a very tough opponent so I will work hard to put on a good fight and become champion,” Saito stated. “I was expecting a few more fights before getting the title shot but I think the timing is right. I don’t want to miss this opportunity so I will do everything It takes to get that belt.”
Due to governmental requirements on the COVID-19 pandemic, only 6,000 fans will be allowed in the venue for the event.
RIZIN 25 will also feature Hiromasa Ougikubo (20-5-2), who challenged for the bantamweight throne twice in the past, taking on Kenta Takizawa (11-5). Check the current lineup below.
Mikuru Asakura vs. Yutaka Saito
Hiromasa Ougikubo vs. Kenta Takizawa
Yojiro Uchimura vs. Kyohei Hagiwara
Ryuichiro Sumimura vs. Gota Yamashita
|Tatsuki Saomoto vs. Daichi Kitakata
Hidenori Ebara vs. Isami Sano [kickboxing]
Jin Mandokoro vs. Syuto Sato [kickboxing]
Shohei Asahara vs. Yuma Yamaguchi [kickboxing]
Taiga vs. Yuma Yamahata [kickboxing]
{feed:enclosure_href }
More...
