Rizin FF 33 official for Dec. 31, features Roberto de Souza vs. Yusuke Yachi, bantamweight grand prix final
Rizin FF’s final event of the year will take place on New Year’s Eve at the legendary Saitama Super Arena.
Rizin CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara recently announced that while Japan continues to deal with international travel restrictions in the country’s battle against COVID-19, the promotion will be able to welcome talent from abroad for Rizin FF 33 in Saitama.
“We have officially been told that international athletes will be able to enter the country until Dec. 30, so we have been in the process of making major changes to the card,” Sakakibara said. “These COVID times have been quite challenging, but with the staff and fighters’ support, we have been able to put together some great cards. We are also happy to announce that we will be allowed to put on an event at 100 percent capacity for the New Year’s Eve show, so we expect about 25,000 in attendance.”
The night’s main event will feature the finals of Rizin’s ongoing bantamweight grand prix, with two athletes who will be competing for the second time at the event. The semifinals take place earlier in the evening with former Rizin FF champ Kai Asakura (18-3) vs. the heavy-handed Kenta Takizawa (13-7) and “The Ultimate Fighter 24” finalist Hiromasa Ogikubo (23-5-2) vs. two-time UFC veteran Naoki Inoue (15-2).
Additionally, reigning lightweight champion Roberto de Souza (12-1) seeks the first defense of his belt when he takes on Yusuke Yachi (23-11).
The full Rizin FF 33 lineup includes:
- opponent TBA vs. opponent TBA – bantamweight grand prix finals
- Champ Roberto de Souza vs. Yusuke Yachi – for lightweight title
- Mikuru Asakura vs. Yutaka Saito
- Ayaka Hamasaki vs. Seika Izawa
- Kyohei Hagiwara vs. Hiroaki Suzuki
- Noah Bey vs. Koji Takeda
- Hideki Sekine vs. Shoma Shibisai
- Kai Asakura vs. Kenta Takizawa – bantamweight grand prix semifinals
- Hiromasa Ogikubo vs. Naoki Inoue – bantamweight grand prix semifinals
- Yuki Motoya vs. Yuto Hokamura – bantamweight grand prix reserve bout
