Kyoji Horiguchi is already considered by many as the number two flyweight in the world. As he took a better deal and continued his career outside the UFC, he challenged himself and plied his trade in a higher division.
He joined the Rizin bantamweight grand prix, and despite being undersized, he won 4 bouts, all by stoppage. This included three bouts in two nights, with Horiguchi knocking out Gabriel Oliviera on the 29th, then finishing both Shintaro Ishiwatari and Manel Kape on New Year’s Eve.
With the victory, that makes it seven in a row for the new Rizin bantamweight champion, since dropping a 2015 bout against the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world in Demetrious Johnson.
Kyoji Horiguchi sleeps Shintaro Ishiwatari in the second round to win the Bantamweight GP #RIZINFF pic.twitter.com/RGMgH3znQl
— Bestrafer7 (@Bestrafer7) December 31, 2017
Manel Kape VS Kyoji Horiguchi #RIZINFF pic.twitter.com/xGKiNw8JWg
— Fancy Combat (@FancyCombat) December 31, 2017
In a non-tournament bout, Mirko Cro Cop completely destroyed fellow JMMA staple ‘TK’ Tsuyoshi Kosaka. After winning last year’s open weight grand prix, this victory extends Cro Cop’s win streak to 8 fights, and 9 of 10 since his UFC stint in 2011.
The heavyweight legend announced that he will indeed have his retirement fight a year from now on December 31, 2018, and will be willing to compete at least once before that.
Mirko Cro Cop destroys Tsuyoshi Kosaka #RIZINFF pic.twitter.com/CPMR60eRy5
— Bestrafer7 (@Bestrafer7) December 31, 2017
Unfortunately, the other PRIDE legend on the card didn’t enjoy the same success.
Takanori Gomi returned to Japan in his first bout since his UFC stint. The 39-year-old showed flashes of his old self, and engaged in a firefight that had his younger opponent badly hurt. And just as you thought Gomi was somehow turning back the clock, reality kicked in and Gomi was again submitted by Yusuke Yachi.
It was the 6th straight loss for the former PRIDE champion in Gomi. On the other hand, it was Yachi’s 5th straight win, a streak that now includes victories over Gomi, Satoru Kitaoka and Daron Cruickshank.
Yusuke Yachi submits Takanori Gomi #RIZINFF pic.twitter.com/KWZvSxomRv
— Bestrafer7 (@Bestrafer7) December 31, 2017
In the women’s atomweight tournament, the much hyped Japanese prospect in Rena Kubota won in the semifinals. But in the finals, she eventually succumbed to a choke and was put to sleep by Kanna Asakura.
RENA stops Irene Rivera in the first round #RIZINFF pic.twitter.com/Gd1C10Zh01
— Bestrafer7 (@Bestrafer7) December 31, 2017
Kanna Asakura submits Rena #RIZINFF pic.twitter.com/ufZhhGUA0X
— Bestrafer7 (@Bestrafer7) December 31, 2017
The third tournament on the event was a kickboxing grand prix, with 19-year-old phenom Tenshin Nasukawa buzzing through his two opponents.
Tenshin Nasukawa vs Yamato Fujita #RIZINFF pic.twitter.com/1dDC9RMquP
— Bestrafer7 (@Bestrafer7) December 31, 2017
Full Rizin FF 9 NYE results are below:
Kyoji Horiguchi def. Shintaro Ishiwatari by KO (punch), R2 [Bantamweight GP Final]
Kanna Asakura def. Rena Kubota via submission (rear-naked choke), R1 [Atomweight GP Final]
Tenshin Nasukawa def. Yamato Fujita via TKO (knee), R1 [Kickboxing Tournament final]
Mirko Cro Cop def. Tsuyoshi Kosaka via TKO (corner stoppage), R1
Shinju Nozawa-Auclair def. Chelsea LaGrasse via submission (armbar), R1
Yusuke Yachi def. Takanori Gomi via submission (triangle), R1
Kanna Asakura def. Maria Oliveira via submission (armbar), R2 [Atomweight GP Semis]
Rena Kubota def. Irene Cabello Rivera via TKO (strikes), R1 [Atomweight GP Semis]
Yamato Fujita def. Mitsuhisa Sunabe via knockout, R3 [Kickboxing Tournament Semis]
Tenshin Nasukawa def. Yuta Hamamoto via knockout (knee), R2 [Kickboxing Tournament Semis]
Shintaro Ishiwatari def. Takafumi Otsuka via unanimous decision [BWGP Semis]
Kyoji Horiguchi def. Manel Kape via submission (arm triangle choke) in R3 [BWGP Semis]
About the author
