RIZIN 12 is slated to take place on August 12, live from Nagoya, Japan. But, prior to tonight, no fights had been announced.
Well, seven – yes, seven – bouts were announced just moments ago at a press conference in Japan.
Yusuke Yachi vs. Bruno Carvalho
70kg
KRAZY BEE’s Yusuke Yachi (20-6) heads into Nagoya on the heels of six-straight phenomenal wins – five of those taking place inside a RIZIN ring. After losing to BJJ-Ace Kleber Koike Erbst at Pancrase 280 in late 2016, Yachi signed with RIZIN Fighting Federation. Debuting on New Year’s Eve that same year.
He starched Manny Pacquiao doppelganger Mario Sismundo within seconds. Yachi fought three times in 2017, finishing three big names in the form of Daron Cruickshank, Satoru Kitaoka, and PRIDE legend Takanori Gomi. He went to a decision for the first time in two years when he had an absolute war against Diego Nunes at RIZIN 10 in May.
Opposite the 28-year-old slugger stands Bruno Carvalho (10-5) of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Despite recently turning 36-years-old, Carvalho has not fought since October of 2016. He defeated Diego Farnezi for the vacant JF Fight lightweight title at JF Fight 17.
Prior to this, he hadn’t fought since well over two years earlier. Losing to Lucio Hantaru at Shooto Brasil 48 in June 2014.
King Reina vs. Kaitlin Young
65kg
Come fight night, the enigma that is King Reina (9-1) will enter the RIZIN ring just weeks after her 22nd birthday. Despite just turning pro in November on 2016, Reina has remained incredibly active as evidenced by her record.
In just her second pro fight, she beat a veteran of nearly 25 bouts in the form of UFC veteran Shayna Baszler. Since then, she has picked up wins over the likes of Jazzy Gabert and Lei’D Tapa, two women with massive size advantages over her.
In December of last year, she lost the first fight of her career by way of split decision against a veteran of Cage Warriors, Invicta, the UFC, and M-1 Global; Cindy Dandois. Following the loss, she has won two-straight. Finishing Soyoung Park and Eun Ji Choi in the first round under the DEEP JEWELS banner.
Standing across the ring from her will be Kaitlin Young (7-9-1) who will be making her return to action after nearly four years away.
Kaitlin Young has become a matchmaker for Invicta Fighting Championship as of late, but prior to that, she was fighting some of the best female fighters the sport had to offer – win, lose, or draw.
Perhaps most known for her devastating KO against Miesha Tate well over a decade ago, Young has not fought since dropping four-straight between 2012 and 2014. This includes losses to Liz Carmouche, Leslie Smith, Lauren Murphy, and Raquel Pa’aluhi.
Kiichi Kunimoto vs. Ryuichiro Sumimura
77kg
At 37-years-old, Strasser Kiichi (19-7-2) may be getting up there in age, but in his last outing against fellow “old lion” Satoru Kitaoka, he looked better than he had in a long time.
This, of course, came after he completed a nearly four-year stint in the UFC that saw him compile a record of 3-2. Kunimoto began his promotional run with three-straight victories in a nine-month span before losing to Neil Magny in early 2015. He then was not seen mid-2017, dropping a split decision to Zak Ottow before being released and debuting in RIZIN six months later.
Prior to his run in the UFC, he was a mainstay of Pancrase for many years and a HEAT champion.
Ryuichiro Sumimura (13-6) is currently on, by far, the best run of his career.
Since June of 2016, the Hyogo, Japan native has won six-straight. This includes winning a DEEP welterweight tournament to be crowned champion, and making defenses of said championship.
Along the way, Sumimura has been able to pick up stoppage victories over some incredibly solid competition in the form of Ken Hasegawa, Yuta Watanabe, and Rio Date.
Roque Martinez vs. Kiyoshi Kuwabara
120kg
Fighting out of Spike 22 in Guam, Roque Martinez (11-3-2) may be one of the more underrated global heavyweight talents in the sport today.
He is undefeated in his last eight fights, this includes main event billings in Top FC and PXC that allowed him to showcase his power and surprisingly good cardio for a big man. In July of 2017, Martinez defeated former Fedor foe Jaideep Singh at a DEEP Cage Impact show from the Karakuen Hall to become the DEEP Openweight Champion.
Following the title win, Martinez made his RIZIN debut three months later. Taking on a kickboxing legend in the form of Jerome Le Banner. The Guamanian was able to force the tap in just over two minutes thanks to a brutal looking scarf hold neck-crank.
His opponent may not be a familiar name to some, but if you need an idea as to who Kiyoshi Kuwabara (10-10) aspires to replicate in the ring, look no further than his nickname.
Kuwabara, also known as ‘Samurai Mark Hunt’, enters the contest having won only two of his last six outings. In his two wins, he finished A Sol Kwon and Seok Mo Kim in 18-seconds and 17-seconds respectively. The Kwon win is actually a surprisingly credible one for such a hit-or-miss fighter. As he is a veteran of thirty fights, winning twenty of them.
Hatsu Hioki vs. Mikuru Asakura
66kg
An exciting new signee, Hatsu Hioki (29-11-2) is an exciting grappler ready to make his RIZIN debut in his hometown of Nagoya.
Prior to his recent 2-2 stint in Pancrase, Hioki competed in the UFC for nearly four years. He didn’t impress too much, however, only amassing a record of 3-5. This included three wins over some stellar names, though, as he defeated Ivan Menjivar, Bart Palaszewski, and George Roop.
His five losses in the promotion came to some of the best featherweights and lightweights the promotion has to offer. This includes Clay Guida, Darren Elkins, Dan Hooker, Charles Oliveira, and Ricardo Lamas. And, for what it’s worth, a lot of people thought he should have beaten Guida on the scorecards.
Before heading to the UFC, though, Hioki competed prominently in Sengoku and Shooto. Even traveling to Canada on multiple occasions to compete under the TKO banner before he became Sengoku Featherweight Champion ahead of his UFC signing.
Opposite him will be a 6-1 former champion of The Outsider, brother of Kai, Mikuru Asakura.
Recently competing (and winning) in both ROAD FC and DEEP, Mikura Asakura has a fighting style all too familiar thanks to his brother Kai. He is all action, all the time. Finishing five of his six career wins, four of those by devastating knockout.
In October of last year, Mikuru Asakura dropped a decision to Kil Woo Lee at ROAD FC 43, but he was able to rebound successfully against Kosuke Terashima at DEEP 83. This would end up becoming his first victory by way of decision.
At just 25-years-old, let’s see if Asakura can score another knockout over a man with multiple stoppages due to strikes on his resume.
Kanako Murata & Yuki Motoya
Also announced for the card is two standout performers who have yet to be given opposition.
Kanako Murata (7-1) will look to make it four-straight wins following her absolute mauling of Lanchana Green at last month’s RIZIN 10 event. Also competing on August 12 will be an all-action flyweight in the form of Yuki Motoya (19-5, 1NC), but the former DEEP Flyweight Champion has business to handle beforehand. As he takes on exciting striker Je Hoon Moon at DEEP 84.
Motoya is 11-1-1 in his last 13, only losing to Kyoji Horiguchi during that time.
RIZIN 12 is slated to take place on August 12, live from Nagoya, Japan. This is the first set of bouts announced for the card so far. But expect more to come very soon.
Yusuke Yachi vs. Bruno Carvalho
Hatsu Hioki vs. Mikuru Asakura
Roque Martinez vs. Kiyoshi Kuwabara
Yuki Motoya vs. TBA
King Reina vs. Kaitlin Young
Kanako Murata vs. TBA
Kiichi Kunimoto vs. Ryuichiro Sumimura
