Rizin 27 emanated from Nippongaishi Hall in Nagoya, Japan. The kickoff card of the calendar year for Rizin Fighting Federation took place on Sunday, March 21st.
Rizin 27
The event showcased a highly competitive championship rematch. Also, a myriad of jaw-dropping first-round finishes. Plus, some great kickboxing action interspersed with Rizin’s usual brand of “dramatic MMA”.
Rizin FF’s latest offering delivered and here are LM2’s five major takeaways from Rizin 27.
(#1) The electrifying Asakura vs Hamasaki title bout sequel
It seemed like many weren’t giving Kanna Asakura much of a chance here. She after all was finished pretty emphatically against Ayaka Hamasaki. Their initial bout being for the inaugural Rizin Super Atomweight championship.
This rematch though is a highly competitive affair. There are moments in the bout where it seems like the momentum is guiding itself to the crowning of a new Rizin FF titlist. Alas, Hamasaki showcased why many regard her as the GOAT atomweight.
She was able to adapt enough to scrape out the razor-close split decision victory. Hamasaki retained her super atomweight title and now is 2-0 in her series with Kanna Asakura.
(#2) Sudario’s record-setting knockout
Tsuyoshi Sudario dispatched MMA debutant/ veteran pro wrestler Kazushi Miyamoto in record time.
The former sumo wrestler/ now 3-0 MMA fighter looks like he got things done in eight seconds. At least per the clock on the broadcast. But Rizin’s Twitter account listed the stoppage as coming at six seconds in.
Records being broken left and right!
Sudario breaks the record for the fastest KO in RIZIN history, scoring a 6-second KO win against Miyamoto!
Stream the last 4 fights here:
🇺🇸 https://t.co/Mi4AiMpNGQ @livenowglobal
🇯🇵 https://t.co/KeydVIWlMN#RIZIN27 #RIZIN #MMA pic.twitter.com/mO1Z0IVX5u
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) March 21, 2021
A post-fight melee broke out with Sudario landing additional blows after the ref intervened. Also, Sudario mentor/ MMA legend Enson Inoue got involved in the hecticness as well.
Truly “a dramatic MMA” to use the parlance of Rizin FF.
(#3) Takeda vs Kume slugfest
This bout was unquestionably the fight of the night for Rizin 27. This matchup pitted two lightweight champions against one another. Koji Takeda and Takasuke Kume entering this bout as the DEEP and Pancrase titlists, respectively.
The momentum swayed back and forth as both warriors took turns bludgeoning one another. Not giving an inch in their efforts to advance in Rizin’s lightweight category.
In the end, Takeda came through with the unanimous decision victory. If you end up watching any contest from this entire card, make sure it’s Takeda versus Kume.
(#4) The flyweight version of Fedor vs Arlovski
Muramoto vs Yamamoto was a first-round knockout that gave me flashbacks to Affliction’s final main event bout. Yutaro Muramoto perfectly timed Seigo Yamamoto’s flying knee attempt to a cornered Muramoto.
The optimally timed strike in question was a devastating right hand to Yamamoto while he was mid-flight. Seigo Yamamoto crumpled to the canvas and the referee waved off the action right away.
Caught him coming in #RIZIN27 pic.twitter.com/0VUvlJZnjw
— Pucc0 (@ppucc0) March 21, 2021
(#5) Kleber Koike’s lightning-fast triangle choke
Finally, I would be remised if I didn’t shout out the destructive beauty of Kleber Koike’s ground game. The English broadcast team of Showdown Joe Ferraro and Rizin veteran Johnny Case seemed confused at the strategy of Koike’s opponent Kazumasa Majima.
Majima was getting Koike to the mat but was playing a pretty conservative, position-minded ground game. Minimal ground strikes and no real attempts with frequency to advance position.
The reason for this conservatism on the ground reveals itself in the finish.
Kleber Koike snatches up a triangle choke in alarmingly quick fashion after Majima briefly left a modicum of space. Koike’s second-round submission in this featherweight contest was truly gorgeous to behold for aficionados of the finer aspects of Jiu-Jitsu.