MMA

Super Rizin 3 Preview: 3 Fights to Look Forward to

Photo of Andrew Benjamin Andrew Benjamin | 03:32 25/07/24
Image for Super Rizin 3 Preview: 3 Fights to Look Forward to

This weekend Rizin presents what will maybe be their biggest card to date. Over 40,000 people will make their way to the stadium portion of the Saitama Super Arena to attend Super Rizin 3. It’s a feat that an MMA organization hasn’t done in over 15 years.

Rizin is scheduled to put on its biggest MMA main event when Mikuru Asakura takes on Ren Hiramoto. Added stakes for the match include it being the first 5 minute/5 round main event. The fight will also be open-scoring until the third round if it makes it that far,  judged round-by-round as opposed to as a whole, and will also be for the inaugural Last Man Standing belt.

The card will also feature Manny Pacquiao‘s return to boxing, two BKFC rules fights, and other high-level MMA fights. Also, for the first time in four years will be ringside commentary from Michael Schiavello and Damien Brown. Let’s look at some of the fights on this huge card.

Suguru Nii vs Kazumasa Majima

These two MMA grapplers will meet at Super Rizin 3. Photo courtesy of Rizin FF.

Suguru Nii’s (18-11) recent run in MMA is a reversal of fortune. Once on a 3-fight losing streak, he turned that all around a few years ago and is currently riding a 5-fight winning streak. In addition, all 5 wins have been finishes.  The current Pancrase Featherweight Champion is able to apply his submission grappling to MMA flawlessly, winning numerous fights by scissor choke and armlock.

Kazumasa Majima (16-5) is also a frequent submission finisher. He will be looking to get back in the win column with this fight. While Nii may have a bit more of a striking advantage, Majima will have a grappling advantage with his strong ability to pass guard to side control.

Hiromasa Ougikubo vs Makoto Shinryu

Former teacher and student meet in this match to determine the next Rizin flyweight championship contender. Photo courtesy of Rizin FF.

Hiromasa Ougikubo (26-8-2) is still going strong at the age of 37. An Ultimate Fighter finalist and former Rizin Bantamweight Champion, he most recently bucked the odds by handily defeating John Dodson. A heavy-style pressure grappler, he keeps coming forward with seemingly no end to his gas tank.

Makoto Shinryu (17-2-1, 1NC) is a former (and youngest) Deep flyweight champion and former Cage Fury Fighting flyweight champion. Shinryu has plowed through almost all of his competition and even gave some trouble to Kyoji Horiguchi when they had their second match. Shinryu is a former training partner student and training partner of Ougikubo. Rumor has it he left the gym they trained at together for one day after refusing to clean the gym’s toilets.

Hideo Tokoro vs Hiroya

The veteran Hideo Tokoro takes on the next generation of flyweight Hiroya at Super Rizin 3. Photo courtesy of Rizin FF.

Hideo Tokoro (35-32-2) is a legend’s legend. Fighting since 2000,  his resume includes fighting in Dream, Bellator, K-1, Shooto, Pancrase, and Rings. Making a return to flyweight, he trains with some of the highest-level grapplers in Japan including Masanori Kanehara and Masakazu Imanari.

He has hinted this could be his last fight if he loses, so if it is, he should be proud to have achieved so much in his career. He also has shaved his hair in solidarity for his wife’s cancer treatment.

Hiroya (9-12-1) is part of a new generation of flyweights who look to make their mark. Coming from Japan Top Team, the same camp as Mikuru and Kai Asakura, his record isn’t the best but he has shown immense improvement with each fight he has had. Even his early Rizin losses were very close fights. He brings with him a huge fanbase from his appearance on Breaking Down.

Super Rizin 3 will be available on the Abema Live app available on the Google Play Store and iOS in the US and on archive. It will also be available on Rizin’s steaming streaming service Rizin.tv. The show starts at 1 a.m. ET/10 p.m. PT.

Super RIZIN 3 Fight Card:

Mikuru Asakura vs. Ren Hiramoto （RIZIN MMA Special Rules: 5min 5R/66.0kg）
Manny Pacquiao vs. Rukiya Anpo （RIZIN Special Standing Bout Rules: 3min 3R/69.0kg）
Yutaka Saito vs. Yuta Kubo （RIZIN MMA Rules: 5min 3R/66.0kg）
Hiromasa Ogikubo vs. Makoto Shinryu （RIZIN MMA Rules: 5min 3R）
Hideo Tokoro vs. HIROYA（RIZIN MMA Rules 5min 3R/59.0kg）
Ryusei Ashizawa vs. KOJI（RIZIN MMA Rules: 5min 3R/61.0kg）
John Dodson vs. Takaki Soya（Bare Knuckle Rules: 2min 5R/57.2kg）
RENA vs. Kate Lotus（RIZIN MMA Rules: 5min 3R/49.0kg）
Hiroaki Suzuki vs. YA-MAN（RIZIN MMA Rules: 5min 3R/66.0kg）
Tai Emery vs. Charisa Sigala （Bare Knuckle Rules: 2min 5R/57.2kg）
Suguru Nii vs. Kazumasa Majima （RIZIN MMA Rules: 5min 3R/66.0kg）

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Andrew Benjamin

Andrew has been a long time MMA and pro wrestling fan. When he isn't writing about MMA, he is usually training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, playing video games, or going bar hopping (he only drinks on days that end in "y"). He also co-hosts the RIZIN focused podcast "We are RIZIN" which you can listen to on Soundcloud & Stitcher.

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