RIZIN adds 7 fights to first event of 2017

On Sunday April 16th, 2017 RIZIN will be celebrating the spring spirit with a stunning fight card which features four women fights.

•Fan favorite and always entertaining lightweight Daron Cruickshank battles Japanese prospect Yusuke Yachi.
•Heavyweight legend The Texas Crazy Horse Heat Herring will be making his second appearance in the ring since he last lost a close decision on December 29, 2016, when stepping up to a short notice in order to fill in the Grand Prix after a eight-year hiatus will be fighting against Olympic gold medalist Satoshi Ishii, who is looking to snap a 3 fight skid.
•After making his electrifying MMA debut, and requesting a fight just two days later, undefeated kickboxing superstar, 19 year old Tenshin Nasukawa will step out of his comfort zone once again, looking to extend his 2-0 MMA record against Italy’s hard hitting pitbull, Franchesco Ghigliotti in a Flyweight bout.
•Recently announced free agent Anthony Birchak has found a new home in Japan, and will be moving up a weight class to challenge fellow UFC veteran and Japanese MMA legend Tatsuya Kawajiri in a featherweight fight.
•Teenage Kanna Asakura will be taking on amateur MMA world champion Alexandra Toncheva from Bulgaria, at atomweight.
•Japanese woman’s MMA pioneer, and now a mother Saori Ishioka will be fighting Swiss karate practitioner Bestare Kicaj, also at atomweight.
•Lastly, highly noticed German pro-wrestler Jazzy Garbert will be making her RIZIN debut against Reina Miura AKA King Reina at a 198lb catch weight fight. Jazzy Gabert caught immediate attention when she interrupted woman’s Heavyweight icon Gabi Garcia’s (4-0) winning speech to challenge her and since then the heavyweights have taken their beef to the social network. King Reina is coming off of an impressive win over Invicta and UFC veteran Shayna Baszler.
•Rena Kubota (3-0) will be participating in the April event, but her opponent has yet to be announced.

Previously announced in the main event, newly signed Kyoji Horiguchi faces Yuki Motoya to determine the top Japanese flyweight. Horiguchi has won his last three fights (all in the UFC). Motoya is widely considered Japan’s top flyweight.

Additionally, Rizin FF announced there will be both men’s and women’s grand prix events in 2017 with the first rounds beginning in October.

Doors open at 1:30 p.m. local time with an opening ceremony at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 16 at the Yokohama Arena. International tickets can be purchased at https://intl.stubhub.com/rizin-2017-in-yokohama-tickets/ev159372.