Rizin 23: Kai Asakura wins bantamweight title with soccer kick KO that signals start of a new era
- Golden boy of Japanese MMA wins vacant belt with first-round TKO of Hiromasa Ogikubo that caps off a buffet of knockouts
- Promotion makes explosive return to action with two shows in two days after six long and uncertain months
Kai Asakura is one of the biggest stars in Asian MMA and the 26-year-old capped off a remarkable return to action for Rizin as he won the vacant bantamweight title with a first-round TKO win over Hiromasa Ogikubo.
With their iconic walkouts and love of soccer kicks, Rizin holds a special place in the hearts of MMA fans around the world. But because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it had been six long and uncertain months since they were last able to hold a live event.
With Rizin 22: Starting Over and Rizin 23: Calling Over, the promotion made its comeback with two shows in two days at the Pia Arena MM in Yokohama, and you have to wonder if president Nobuyuki Sakakibara could ever have dreamed of a more explosive return to action.
Having been the driving force behind PRIDE FC and the glory days of MMA in Japan, you imagine he would have been delighted to see just four out of 18 fights go the distance in what was a drama-filled 48 hours full of memorable highlight reel stoppages.
Asakura – long been touted as a future champion – was able to close the show with the kind of finish that will no doubt go viral. Not since a 2013 loss to former champion Kyoji Horiguchi has Ogikubo been stopped, but Asakura was a man with a point to prove.
