RIZIN announces first women’s atomweight Grand Prix
RIZIN FF will also be hosting their first ever woman’s GP at Super Atomweight (-49kg/108lbs).
RIZIN’s World GP series has become part of its staple concepts since their launch in 2015:
•King Mo was crowned the winner of the -100kg GP in 2015;
•Mirko Crocop won the Openweight GP last year by finishing all 4 opponents;
•The ongoing Bantamweight GP just kicked off on July 30th, with Kyoji Horiguchi, Takafumi Otsuka and Khalid Taha advancing to the quarterfinals held on December 29th;
•And now RIZIN FF will also be hosting their first ever woman’s GP at Super Atomweight (-49kg/108lbs)!
RENA (4-0 MMA) has been a standout fighter in her original base art of Shoot Boxing, and has racked up an impressive 35-5 record, and hasn’t been defeated since she came short in a decision vs. Jessica Penne in 2011. The Shoot Boxing ace made her MMA debut on RIZIN’s first event which was held on NYE of 2015, and shocked the world with a flying arm bar finish. She has since fought three times, finishing all opponents in spectacular fashion. She looks to become the Queen of combat sports, by winning this tournament in dominant fashion.
Andy Nguyen (5-3), the King of the Cage Atomweight Champion will be making her second appearance in the RIZIN ring after a fabulous performance in her promotional debut. The KOTC Champion submitted a wrestling world champion Miyuu Yamamoto (1-2) with an extremely crafty straight arm bar which earned herself a spot RIZIN’s first ever woman’s world GP. Nguyen is currently on a three-fight winning streak, and is set to defend her title this weekend. Regardless of the results, Nguyen will take part in RIZIN’s GP facing RENA in the opening round.
We are very excited to be able to hold the first ever woman’s GP, and we believe that with having the total amount of 10 million Japanese yen ($90,000) prize money, this is the biggest women’s tournament in the world,” said chairman Nobuyuki Sakakibara. “I hope that we could continue this for the next five, ten years and look back at this event and say that this was the beginning.
RENA expressed confidence in every aspect of her game.
Andy Nguyen is a good fighter, well balanced overall good fighter,” she began. “But I don’t see myself in any aspect. I am a much better striker, and I feel that I can hold my own against her ground game. I have been training very hard, and my goal is set beyond Andy. I want to continue my journey and want to fight the best out there. I will finish Andy and move on to December.
Confirmed bouts:
•[Woman’s Super Atomweight GP opening round]
RENA vs Andy Nguyen
•Miyuu Yamamoto vs TBA
•Saori Ishioka / Kanna Asakura vs TBA
•TBA vs TBA
[Bantamweight GP opening round Bracket B]
•Shintaro Ishiwatari vs TBA
•TBA vs TBA
•TBA vs TBA
[Grappling match]
Kazushi Sakuraba vs Dan Henderson
RIZIN FIGHTING FEDERATION WORLD GRAND-PRIX 2017 Bantamweight Tournament & Woman’s Super Atom weight tournament – AUTUMN
Doors open at 12:30 pm
Opening Ceremony at 2:00 pm
October 15th at the Fukuoka Marine Messe.
Tickets can be purchased at http://www.stubhub.com
