Twitter reacts as RIZIN rising

Mixed martial arts can be presented as sport or spectacle. The UFC has done an extraordinary job of creating a new worldwide sport, and for their trouble made $4,000,000,000 on an initial investment of $2,000,000. The “New Pride” RIZIN just did a tremendous job in the spectacle department and live streamed it free at 2:00 a.m. ET.

The UnderGround was so taken with RIZIN that the official thread got more views than did UFC Fight Night 95.

And as always, Twitter reacted.

EVENT FIGHTS

Open weight: Gabi Garcia beat Destanie Yarbrough via submission (keylock) – Round 1, 2:42

The nine-time world Jiu-Jitsu champion did not let her lack of size vs. the American football player get in the way.

https://twitter.com/ZPGIFs/status/779937285336801280

Strawweight (115): Kanako Murata beat Kyra Batara via unanimous decision

Just because an event is spectacle heavy doesn’t mean there is not a high level of MMA skill.

https://twitter.com/GrabakaHitman/status/779941587816251392

Featherweight (145): Charles Bennett beat Minoru Kimura via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:07

Krazy Horse makes a return to Japan. Sometimes his antics are a little, well, crazy for the US and European market, but in Japan, Bennett fits perfectly. First, he got into it verbally at the hotel with Wand. Then he won in 7 seconds via flying stun punch of doom. And then of course he backflipped.

https://twitter.com/GrabakaHitman/status/780013505021939712

Then he got ahold of the mic, lay on the mat, and spoke at length, as only he can. They give fight of the year and ring card girl of the year and many other awards. There needs to be a Most Krazy Horse of the Year award. This was it, for now.

https://twitter.com/LegKickTKO/status/779948504701607936

“>September 25, 2016

Bantamweight (135): Erson Yamamoto beat Kizaemon Saiga via split decision

Lightweight (155): Daron Cruickshank beat Andy Souwer via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:10

One of the greatest ever shootboxers, Dutchman Andy Souwer, faces awesome MMA striker Daron Cruickshank.

Remember the early-mid 90s quote from Carlos Machado?
“The ground is my ocean, I’m the shark, and most people don’t even know how to swim.”

Sometimes it’s still true. Cruickshank took Souwer down to the ocean, and drowned him.

https://twitter.com/Jolassanda/status/779987029245489152

Catchweight: Rena Kubota beat Miyuu Yamamoto via submission (front choke) – Round 1, 4:50

Yamamoto makes her MMA debut at 42. A famed freestyle wrestling pioneer in Japan, she was married for several years to MMA pioneer Enson Inoue. However, renowned shootboxing champion Kubota came out with the W. Her son, Erson Yamamoto also fought on the same card, and won.

https://twitter.com/Jolassanda/status/780005721182203904

Featherweight: Kron Gracie beat Hideo Tokoro via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 9:45

TOURNAMENT GRAND PRIX FIGHTS

Szymon Bajor beat Teodorasu Aukstuolis via unanimous decision

Amir Aliakbari beat Joao Almeida via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 2:25

Valentin Moldavsky beat Karl Albrektsson via unanimous decision

Jiri Prochazka beat Mark Tanios via unanimous decision

https://twitter.com/GrabakaHitman/status/779968266437529600

Kaito ‘Baruto’ Hoovelson beat Kazuyuki Fujita via unanimous decision

400+ lbs Retired Estonian sumotori with brutal knees defeats 45-year-Ol’ Ironhead.

https://twitter.com/Jolassanda/status/779993270529187840

Mirko Filipovic beat Hyun Man Myung via submission (arm-triangle) – Round 1, 2:20

CroCop turns grappler, dispatches 3-3 MMA fighter, and calls out Wanderlei Silva for a trilogy fight.

You have no idea how good I feel right now,” said CroCop. “And how happy I am to be in Saitama again. I heard that Mr. Wanderlei Silva wants to fight me on Dec. 29. He can come up here and ask him if he really wants it.”

Then The Axe Murderer entered the ring.

I came here to fight the best, and I think tonight, the best is Mirko,” said Wand. “I don’t care about name. I don’t care about size. I want to fight you. … Mirko is one of the best fighters in the world. He’s an absolute legend. I came here to make RIZIN just like PRIDE was. The best fighters in the world are here in this organization to fight for you the fans.”

RIZIN makes it official.

https://twitter.com/Jolassanda/status/779996565377351682

H/T MMAjunkie

And thanks above all to Caposa, without who this sport would – seriously – be a lot less interesting. Well, it would be just as interesting, but you wouldn’t know about it. Follow him on Twitter.