Gabi Garcia training MMA at Kings MMA, in Huntington Beac, CA
The new Japanese MMA event will be called Rizin Fighting Federation.
The announcement was made this Thursday, Oct. 8, in Tokyo, Japan.
Nobuyuki Sakakibara, former Pride FC president, also announced that the first card will be caled Rizin Fighting World Grand Prix, scheduled Dec. 31, at the Saitama Super Arena, in Tokyo.
The event will also feature fights on Dec. 29 and a MMA fan fest on Dec. 30.
The rules will be similar to Pride FC, with a 10-minute first round and boxing-style rings instead of MMA cages.
The only confirmed match was Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Shinya Aoki. Sakuraba, now 46, will be making his return to the sport since his last fight, in 2011.
Russian MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko was also present at the press conference and his participation on the new year’s eve event is confirmed, but the opponent was not announced yet.
The same thing happened with BJJ superstar Gabi Garcia, who commented on the new event: “It will be a dream come true to fight in the birthplace of martial arts.”
Sakakibara announced the Japanese event will televised by the USA-based cable channel Spike TV.
The new event has partnerships with other MMA organizations like Bellator, Jungle Fight, KSW, BAMMA, King of Kings.
Check back here to know more about Rizin FF.
