Latest news with #RIZIN
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kai Asakura returns at UFC 319 vs. Tim Elliott
Kai Asakura returns at UFC 319 vs. Tim Elliott Former RIZIN superstar Kai Asakura has the opportunity to bounce back. At UFC 319, Asakura (21-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) will make his second promotional appearance vs. Tim Elliott (20-13-1 MMA, 9-11 UFC) in a three-round flyweight bout. The event takes place Aug. 16 at United Center in Chicago and is headlined by Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev. Both fighters recently announced the booking on social media. The fight was first reported by X user @realkevin. Asakura, 31, signed with the UFC in 2024 and debuted in a title fight vs. champion Alexandre Pantoja, which he lost by second-round submission. Prior to his UFC onboarding, however, Asakura built his brand in his home country of Japan as one of its biggest stars. His only losses prior to Pantoja were to Kyoji Horiguchi, Manel Kape, and Hiromasa Ougikubo. All three of those fighters Asakura also holds wins over. Elliott, 38, hasn't competed since a December 2023 submission win over Su Mudaerji. The victory was his third in four fights. Elliott was scheduled to compete vs. Tatsuro Taira in May 2024 but withdrew. With the addition, the UFC 319 lineup now includes:
USA Today
24-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former RIZIN, Bellator star Tofiq Musyaev signs with UFC for debut vs. Myktybek Orolbai
Former RIZIN, Bellator star Tofiq Musyaev signs with UFC for debut vs. Myktybek Orolbai Former RIZIN and Bellator star Tofiq Musayev is headed to the UFC. His debut is already set, and it'll be in his home country. Musayev (22-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will take on Myktybek Orolbai (13-2-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) in a three-round lightweight bout at UFC on ABC 8. The event takes place June 21 at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. Musyaev, 35, has not competed since November 2023. He rose to notoriety in RIZIN with five straight wins, including a tournament championship. In the final, he defeated Patricky Freire. After a loss to Roberto de Souza, Musayev signed with Bellator and went 1-1 under the promotion's banner. Following the Bellator-PFL merger, Musayev returned to RIZIN and won back-to-back fights. He then signed with GFL, but the MMA league never got off the ground. Orolbai, 27, aims to bounce back from a carnage-filled war vs. Mateusz Rebecki in October. The bout earned Fight of the Night and saw both men bloodied and battered. Orolbai lost a split decision, which marked his first UFC defeat. His first two UFC fights were wins vs. Uros Medic and Elves Brener. Current UFC on ABC 8 lineup
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ryan Bader worried about 'the state of MMA' for fighters as promotional options dwindle
Ryan Bader has been around the block in MMA. In 2025, there are fewer major players in the promotional space than arguably ever before, especially in the western world. Luckily for Bader, he's landed in an advantageous spot for what will likely be his final fighting home, having signed with Japan's RIZIN Fighting Federation after recently leaving the PFL. Advertisement Bader, a former two-division Bellator champion, was one of multiple ex-champs to depart the PFL in recent months. When examining the current overall MMA landscape, having just experienced another round of free agency, Bader explained on Tuesday's edition of "The Ariel Helwani Show" why he believes the playing field is reaching dangerous levels of scarcity. "I feel like the state of MMA, right now, for the opportunity for fighters, is not good," Bader said. "There's not a ton of promotions. Bellator is gone, and Bellator was a place we could go and get paid. As fewer and fewer promotions are paying that kind of money and not picking up fighters, you get pigeonholed. You're going to the UFC, or they (free-agent fighters) got to pick from there. "RIZIN definitely has the opportunity. It's obviously huge out there with the Japanese people and culture, and they're pretty picky about what foreigners they bring over, but I definitely see them kind of rising to that No. 2 spot." Bader, 41, only fought once under the PFL banner after Bellator was acquired by the promotion in late 2023. Entering as the reigning heavyweight champion, Bader competed as part of the champions vs. champions introductory PFL vs. Bellator event in February 2024, coming up short via 21-second stoppage in his showdown against one-time PFL heavyweight tournament winner Renan Ferreira. Advertisement Bader noted that his discussions and signing with RIZIN happened relatively quickly after his PFL departure. To announce his addition to the roster, Bader flew out to Japan earlier this month to sit ringside for the big RIZIN: Otoko Matsuri event at the world-famous Tokyo Dome. At this year's RIZIN New Year's Eve event, Bader will make his debut competing for the inaugural RIZIN heavyweight title against the winner of an ongoing grand prix tournament. "It was one of those deals where if the money's not right, we might not fight again," Bader said. "For me, fighting for a chance at another belt, legacy, and maybe just going out my last one like that would be amazing." Advertisement Bader's lone appearance competing in Japan came when he defeated Quinton "Rampage" Jackson all the way back in 2012 at UFC 144. The former champion recalls nearly returning for one of the Bellator/RIZIN crossover events that took place over the final years of Bellator, but a matchup never came together. The timing couldn't have worked out better for Bader, who's kept busy by diving into the acting world. Bader plays the role of MMA legend Mark Coleman in the upcoming biopic "The Smashing Machine," about heavyweight pioneer Mark Kerr, who's played by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Advertisement With pivotal portions of Coleman and Kerr's careers taking place in Japan, everything about Bader's involvement in the latest project made his ambitions all the greater. Whether that's for more than one fight remains to be seen, but he'll at least get to check one more box off on the bucket list. "We dissected their fights, we rehearsed their fights, tried to make them look true to form, and then I was thinking, 'Man, it would be cool to use this rule set,' being a wrestler," Bader said of working on the film. "With Coleman kneeing guys in the head, a grounded opponent, the storyline was just too good to be true. Then they come and I get to do it for real — I get to play Coleman and go through his fights, and his legacy in PRIDE, and turn around on New Year's Eve and do it for real [with RIZIN]. "If this is my last one, go out with a bang in that promotion and have the potential to win another belt in another major promotion. I mean, why not? ... Who knows? I might have a blast out there. After you get a win, get another belt, you're like, 'I got one more in me.' So there's nothing definitive right now. I'll always keep my options open. We'll see what happens."
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC Signs MMA Fighter With Khabib and Islam Makhachev's Coach in His Corner
The UFC has added a new fighter to its lightweight division with the signing of Tofiq Musayev. The 35-year-old is a knockout artist and has a reputation for international success and devastating finishes inside the cage. A native of Azerbaijan, Musayev boasts a professional record of 22-5, including 18 of those victories via knockout. Advertisement He made his splash in Japan's promotion RIZIN and won the 2019 Lightweight Grand Prix by beating Johnny Case and Patricky "Pitbull" Freire on the same evening. Moreover, he also had a short but impressive stint in Bellator. What is so interesting about this signing is Musayev's newfound training partnership with world-renowned MMA coach Javier Mendez. For those unaware, he is the same coach responsible for the careers of ex-UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. Currently training at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), Musayev surrounded himself with top-level talent and guidance as he gets ready for his UFC debut sometime soon. Advertisement Prior to signing with the UFC, Musayev also fought for the Global Fight League, competing for Dubai along with veteran UFC performer Damir Ismagulov. With his combat background from top worldwide promotions and now learning from a living legend, Musayev is sure to be a thrilling addition to one of the deepest divisions of the UFC. However, life for Musayev certainly won't be easy in the UFC. The lightweight division in the UFC has some of the best fighters on the planet and despite being a veteran in the sport, there is an argument of him not having faced fighters on this level. Related: Boxing Fans Fact-Check Jake Paul for His Wrongful Gervonta Davis Claim
USA Today
19-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kyoji Horiguchi's UFC return delayed, Tagir Ulanbekov gets new opponent in Baku
Kyoji Horiguchi's UFC return delayed, Tagir Ulanbekov gets new opponent in Baku Kyoji Horiguchi will have to wait a bit longer to make his return to the UFC cage. The former UFC flyweight title challenger, former RIZIN champion and former Bellator champion Horiguchi is out of his scheduled octagon comeback fight against Tagir Ulanbekov at UFC on ABC 8 for undisclosed reasons. Replacing him against Ulanbekov (16-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) on the June 21 card at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+) will be Azat Maksum (15-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC). Two people with knowledge of the situation verified the new matchup to MMA Junkie following an initial report from Red Corner MMA. Ulanbekov, 33, is riding a three-fight winning streak in the flyweight division, including two by finish. Maksum, 30, meanwhile, will attempt to rebound from his first career loss against Charles Johnson after starting his career with 15 consecutive victories. The latest UFC on ABC 8 lineup now includes:
