An all Japanese bantamweight bout between Kyoji Horiguchi and Kai Asakura will headline Rizin 18. It will be the former’s first fight on home soil since winning the Bellator 135lbs title last month.
Horiguchi (28-2) is riding a 13 fight winning streak that has seen him claim both the Rizin and Bellator bantamweight titles. Neither strap will be on the line in Nagoya on August 18th when he faces off against one of the top prospects in the division.
Asakura (12-1) has won four fights out of four for Rizin. On New Year’s Eve he avenged the only defeat of his career with a decision win over Je Hoon Moon, who had beaten him at Road FC 39 in 2017.
Also in the bantamweight division Manel Kape (13-4) faces Takeya Mizugaki (23-13-2). The former is coming off a win at Rizin 15 while the latter fought 14 times for the UFC and is coming off a decision win at Deep 89.
In the super atomweight division Kanna Asakura (14-4) takes on Alesha Zappitella (5-1). As previously announced there will be three kickboxing bouts on the card with Australian John Wayne Parr making his Rizin debut against Brazil’s Danilo Zanolini
Rizin 18, Nagoya, August 18th
Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Kai Asakura (Bantamweight)
Manel Kape vs. Takeya Mizugaki (Bantamweight)
Kanna Asakura vs. Alesha Zappitella (Super Atomweight)
Takaki Soya vs. Yutaro Muramoto (Catchweight)
Hiroto Uesako vs. Yves Landu (Lightweight)
Kickboxing: John Wayne Parr vs. Danilo Zanolini (Catchweight)
Kickboxing: Shota Takiya vs. Kazuki Osaki (Catchweight)
Kickboxing: Ryuji Horio vs. Uchu Sakurai (Catchweight)
