Rizin FF 27: Ayaka Hamasaki, Kanna Asakura set for title rematch in Nagoya

Japanese promotion Rizin FF has announced eight bouts for its next event, with a battle for the women’s super atomweight title at the top of the card.

Rizin FF 27 takes place Sunday, March 21 at Nippon Gaishi Hall in Nagoya, Japan. The event streams live via Rizin Live PPV.

Topping the list of confirmed bouts is a super atomweight title rematch between defending champion Ayaka Hamasaki and former foe Kanna Asakura.

Two-time champ Hamasaki (21-3) captured the promotion’s vacant 108-pound title by defeating Asakura at Rizin FF 14 on New Year’s Eve, 2018, but lost her title to South Korea’s Seo Hee Ham in her third title defense at Rizin FF 20 a year later.

Hamasaki bounced back with a submission victory over Tomo Maesawa at Rizin FF 22 to set up another shot at the vacant title at Rizin FF 26, where she submitted Miyuu Yamamoto in the first round via leg scissors to reclaim the title.

Now Hamasaki will take on Asakura (18-4) once again, with the challenger heading into the rematch riding a four-fight winning streak.

Since her defeat to Hamasaki in 2018, Asakura has defeated Alesha Zappitella, Jayme Hinshaw, Mizuki Furuse and Ai Shimizu to push her back to the top of the contenders list at 108 pounds.

Also set for action on the card include Japan-based Brazilian grappler Roberto de Souza (10-1), who will take on Japanese veteran and former lightweight King of Pancrase Kazuki Tokudome (20-10-1).

Confirmed bouts for Rizin FF 27 include:

• Champ Ayaka Hamasaki vs. Kanna Asakura – for super atomweight title
• Roberto Souza vs. Kazuki Tokudome
• Takasuke Kume vs. Koji Takeda
• Kleber Koike vs. Kazumasa Majima
• Yutaro Muramoto vs. Seigo Yamamoto
• Kazushi Miramoto vs. Tsuyoshi Sudario
• Keisuke Horie vs. Tetsuya Seki
• Takumi Tamaru vs. Shooto Watanabe
• Kazuma Sone vs. Hiroki Yamashita
• Yuki Ito vs. Kohei Sugiyama