Rizen Fighting World Grand Prix

The new upstart Rizen Fighting Championship is an interesting promotion which is stacking its inaugural event. The fights will take place at Saitama Super Arena in Japan, spanning two dates on December 29th and New Years Eve. An open weight world grand prix will kick off on the 29th featuring a diverse group of mainly 205 pound fighters, each hailing from a different country so far. The event is being broadcast on Spike TV.

Fedor Emelianenko (34-4) will return from a three and a half year retirement to headline the New Years Eve card. He has finally been announded to be fighting kickboxer Jaideep Singh (2-0). Japanese MMA pioneer Tsuyoshi Kosaka (26-18) will fight British slugger James Thompson (20-15).

(Fedor at Rizen Press Event)

One FC champ Shinya Aoki (38-6) will fight Japanese legend Kazushi Sakuraba (26-16) in the headliner of the 29th card. Kicking off the Grand Prix festivities will be Strikeforce champ Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal(16-4) against a still unknown BAMMA UK representative. UFC vet Goran Reljic(15-5) represents Poland's KSW organization, taking on Russian Vadim Nemkov (3-0). Brazilian Bruno Cappelozza(7-3) is fighting Lithuania's Teodoras Aukstuolis(7-2). Japan's Satoshi Ishii will fight Czech Republic's Jiri Prochazka (13-2) will fight. Valentin Moldovsky (1-0) and Yuta Uchida (0-0) are fighting in the reserve bout.

(Sakuraba at Rizen Press Event)

New Years Eve will feature the tournament final and several high profile debuts. Kickboxing legend Andy Souwer will fight oddball striker Yuichiro Nagashima. BJJ legend and Gracie family member Kron Gracie (1-0) will fight against Japanese wrestling phenom Asen Yamamoto who is making his debut. Women's heavyweight BJJ player Gabi Garcia has been rumored to make her debut against pro wrestler Seini Draughn who will also make her debut. Shootboxing Rene Kubota and K-1 kickboxer Jleana Valentino will fight eachother in their debuts. Kaido Hoovelson, a former judo and sumo fighter, will make his debut.

(Kron Gracie Pictured)

December 29th

Shinya Aoki v. Kazushi Sakuraba
Tsuyoshi Kosaka v. James Thompson
AJ Matthews v. Anatoly Tokov
King Mo v. TBA (BAMMA)
Goran Reljic v. Vadim Nemkov
Bruno Cappelozza v. Teodoras Aukstuolis
Satoshi Ishii v. Jiri Prochazka
Yuki Motoya v. Nam Jin Jo (rumored)
Valentin Moldovsky v. Yuta Uchida

New Years Eve

Fedor v. Jaideep Singh
World Grand Prix Championship
Kaido Hoovelson v. TBA
Hiroyuki Takaya v. Daiki Hata
Andy Souwer v. Yuichiro Nagashima
Kron Gracie v. Asen Yamamoto
Gabi Garcia v. Seini Draughn
Rene Kubota v. Jleana Valentino
World Grand Prix Final Four

(Gabi Garcia at Rizen Press Event)