Bellator MMA x Rizin 2
| Bellator MMA x Rizin 2 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Promotion | Bellator MMA Rizin Fighting Federation | ||
| Date | July 30, 2023 | ||
| City | Saitama, Japan | ||
| Venue | Saitama Super Arena | ||
| Bellator MMA events chronology | |||
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| Rizin events chronology | |||
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Bellator MMA x Rizin 2 and Super Rizin 2 is a mixed martial arts event being co-promoted by Bellator MMA and the Rizin Fighting Federation that will take place on July 30, 2023, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.[1][2][3][4]
Background
The event is set to mark the second co-promotion between Bellator MMA and the Rizin Fighting Federation, and Bellator's second visit to Saitama, following Bellator MMA vs. Rizin in December 2022.[5]
A Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix quarterfinal bout between former Bellator Featherweight Champion A. J. McKee and former Bellator Lightweight Champion Patricky Pitbull is scheduled to headline the event.[1]
For the co-main event, an inaugural Bellator Flyweight Championship bout between former Bellator Bantamweight Champion Kyoji Horiguchi (also former two-time Rizin Bantamweight Champion) and Makoto Shinryu is scheduled to take place.[6] If successful, Horiguchi will become the fourth fighter in Bellator history to win a title in different divisions (after Joe Warren at Bellator 128, Ryan Bader at Bellator 214, and Patrício Pitbull at Bellator 221).[3]
A Rizin Bantamweight Championship bout for the vacant title between former Bellator Bantamweight Champion Juan Archuleta and former champion Kai Asakura is scheduled to take place at the event.[7][4] Former champion Kyoji Horiguchi vacated the title on December 22 after moving down to the flyweight division.[8]
Fight Card
| Bellator MMA vs. Rizin 2 (Showtime) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Lightweight | A. J. McKee | vs. | Patricky Pitbull | [a] | |||
| Flyweight | Kyoji Horiguchi | vs. | Makoto Shinryu | [b] | |||
| Women's Flyweight | Kana Watanabe | vs. | Veta Arteaga | ||||
| Super Rizin 2 (Fite TV PPV) | |||||||
| Bantamweight | Kai Asakura | vs. | Juan Archuleta | [c] | |||
| Featherweight | Mikuru Asakura | vs. | Vugar Karamov | ||||
- ^ Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix Quarter-Final bout.
- ^ For the inaugural Bellator Flyweight World Championship.
- ^ For the vacant Rizin Bantamweight Championship.
See also
- List of current Bellator MMA fighters
- List of current Rizin FF fighters
- Bellator MMA Rankings
- 2023 in Bellator MMA
- 2023 in Rizin Fighting Federation
- List of Bellator MMA events
References
- ^ a b "AJ McKee vs. Patricky Pitbull to fight at Bellator x RIZIN event". Bloody Elbow. 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- ^ Riddle, Mathew (2023-05-27). "Bellator x Rizin 2 Crossover Event Confirmed for July, McKee vs. Pitbull". Sports Illustrated MMA News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- ^ a b "Bellator X Rizin 2 to feature AJ McKee vs. Patricky Freire, Kyoji Horiguchi in inaugural men's flyweight title fight". MMA Junkie. 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- ^ a b Anderson, Jay (2023-05-27). "Kai Asakura vs. Juan Archuleta, Mikuru Asakura vs. Vugar Karamov Announced for Bellator X RIZIN 2". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- ^ Raimondi, Marc (2023-05-27). "AJ McKee vs. Patricky Freire headlines Bellator-Rizin event". ESPN. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- ^ Martin, Damon (2023-05-27). "AJ McKee vs. Patricky Pitbull, first ever Bellator flyweight champion will be crowned at Bellator x RIZIN 2 in July". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- ^ Riggs, Drake (2023-05-30). "Juan Archuleta 'couldn't ask for a better position' between Bellator and RIZIN as he pursues gold in Japan". MMA Mania. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- ^ Martin, Damon (2022-12-28). "Kyoji Horiguchi pushes Bellator to add 125-pound division: 'Flyweight is my weight class'". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- ^ "Bellator MMA | Bellator MMA vs. Rizin 2". www.bellator.com. Retrieved 2022-11-05.