Reports in Tajikstan claim that Muin Gafurov has signed with Rizin. The bantamweight is best known for his three year stint with ONE Championship.
Tajsport posted on Instagram that Gafurov had signed with Rizin:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCRNo_phN96/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Gafurov fought six times for ONE Championship and won three of those fights. He holds victories over former title challengers Toni Tauru and Leandro Issa.
In his most recent outing Gafurov dropped a decision to UFC veteran John Lineker at ONE: ‘Dawn of Valor’. That defeat snapped a five fight winning streak for the Tajikstan native.
Last year it was announced that Gafurov had signed for the UFC. He had a fight booked, but was replaced when it emerged he was still under contract to ONE Championship.
Since then Gafurov has suffered the third loss of his ONE Championship career. It appears the match with Lineker last year was the final fight on his contract, leaving him free to sign with Rizin.
The Rizin bantamweight title is currently vacant after Manel Kape left the promotion to sign with the UFC. Top contenders in the division include former champions Kai Asakura and Kyoji Horiguchi.
