Two of the biggest names on the roster will be in action at Rizin 24 this month. Kai Asakura and Rena Kubota will both go up against Japanese opponents at the Saitama Super Arena on September 27th.
Asakura (15-2) is coming off a devastating first round KO win over Hiromasa Ogikubo at Rizin 23 last month. That win earned him the vacant bantamweight title but it appears his belt won’t be on the line in this bout.
In order to earn a second title shot Asakura will have to overcome Shoji Maruyama (18-12-1). The former lightweight King of Pancrase will be making his Rizin debut and is coming off a win over Kosuke Terashima at Deep 96.
Rena (10-3) has been sitting on the sidelines for a little longer. She was last seen in action at Rizin 21 last year, avenging her loss to Lindsey VanZandt with a late stoppage win.
The strawweight has been matched with Emi Tomimatsu (15-16).The former Deep-Jewels strawweight champion comes into this contest on the back of decision defeats at Deep-Jewels 26 and Road FC 57.
As previously announced kickboxing superstar Tenshin Nasukawa will make his return to Rizin against former K-1 fighter Koji Tanaka on September 27th. The fight is set for a catchweight of 55kgs.
The card will also feature a lightweight bout pitting Takasuke Kume against Satoru Kitaoka. Also in the lightweight division Yusuke Yachi faces Juri Ohara.
The Saitama Super Arena will not be filled to capacity due to Covid-19 concerns. The audience is capped at 5,000 and the tickets have already sold out.
Rizin 24, Tokyo, September 27th
Kickboxing: Tenshin Nasukawa vs. Koji Tanaka (Catchweight)
Takasuke Kume vs. Satoru Kitaoka (Lightweight)
Yusuke Yachi vs. Juri Ohara (Lightweight)
Takahiro Ashida vs. Kyohei Hagiwara (Featherweight)
Tsuyoshi Sudario vs. Dylan James (Heavyweight)
Koji Takeda vs. Yuki Kawana (Lightweight)
Kai Asakura vs. Shoji Maruyama (Bantamweight)
Rena Kubota vs. Emi Tomimatsu (Strawweight)
Kickboxing: Yuki Kitagawa vs. Taishi Hiratsuka (Catchweight)
Kickboxing: Mutsuki Ebata vs. Rasta (Catchweight)
