Rizin held a press conference yesterday to announce that the next two events would be postponed due to the coronavirus, or Covid-19. With no fights having been announced for either card it was a move that had been widely anticipated.
Rizin CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara spoke at length about his plans for the promotion. He wants to hold a ‘Midsummer Martial Arts Festival’ at the Saitama Super Arena in the summer featuring the biggest names on the roster.
He also confirmed that the fight between Kotetsu Boku and Mikuru Asakura, which had been expected to take place at Rizin 22, would go ahead on a future card. Meanwhile Hiromasa Ogikubo looks set to challenge for the vacant bantamweight title.
Ogikubo had been expected to face off against reigning champion Manel Kape at Rizin 22. But the Angolan has signed for the UFC so the title is now vacant.
Rizin 22 had been set for the Yokohama Arena on April 19th. Meanwhile Rizin 23 was booked for May 17th in Sendai.
Pancrase 313 and 314 have both been postponed indefinitely as has Deep Cage Impact Osaka. Meanwhile Shooto 0329 was cancelled at just two days notice last weekend.
K’Festa 3 went ahead in Tokyo on March 22nd. However the promoters reportedly ignored official government advice to go ahead with the card which attracted a large audience to the Saitama Super Arena.
The good news for Rizin fans is that Sakakibara promised to release some old fights on the Youtube channel. Japanese speakers can watch the entire press conference here:
