#Rizin45 Japan NYE Event Bellator MMA fighter Juan Archuleta X Kai Asakura

New Years Eve and Japanese MMA are a tradition in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts like none other.  Dating back to the original NYE events promoted by Inoki Bom Bae Ye, K-1, PRIDE, DREAM, and now RIZIN FF the event is a special production for fight fans in asia and around the world.

Rizin 45 will take place in the historic Saitama Super Arena in Saitama Japan and fans in the USA can watch the PPV via Thriller/FITE TV.  The main event features fromer 4 division KOTC Champion Juan Archuleta as he looks to defend his RIZIN FF Bantamweight belt against Kai Asakura. Archuleta is the lone loss on Bellator MMA Bantamweight tournament grand prix and BW champion Patchy Mix record and has won 4 in a row since suffering back-to-back losses to eventual Bellator MMA champions Raufeon Stots and Sergio Pettis.

Kyoji Horiguchi will also battle Makoto Takahashi in a flyweight title fight feature fight with a full fight card of 16 bouts currently scheduled. Undefeated Seika Izawa will face fan favorite Miyuu Yamamoto of Krazy Bee Gym while BKFC Champion John Dodson returns to MMA to face Rizin favorite Hiromasa Ougikubo.

A member of the legendary Chute Boxe team which had many historic NYE fights in Japan, Cris Cyborg had this to say about Rizin FF, “It is an amazing promotion ran by people who understand the value and history of martial arts. It has always been a dream of mine to have a match in Japan perhaps there will come a time before my retirement where I will be given this chance to showcase my skills for the amazing fans in Japan.”  Cyborg who will be fighting boxing Jan 19th in Temecula CA will be facing the #3 ranked female fighter in the USA when she fights Kelsey Wickstrum.  Fans wanting to get tickets to watch her fight at the Pechanga Casino can order them here.