Ryo Sakai made light work of Tatsuya Mizuno at Deep 114 on Sunday. He avenged his 2019 knockout loss to the former middleweight champion and defended the promotion’s interim super heavyweight title in the process at the Korakuen Hall.
Sakai won the belt by beating Yukinori Akazawa after just 33 seconds of the opening round at Deep 110. He needed 11 seconds longer to do the business here, but the Rizin alumni has built up a formidable head of steam and is now riding a four-fight winning streak.
Mizuno earned his shot on the strength of two-straight stoppage victories but quickly came unstuck against the striking power of his younger opponent. Sakai opened up with right low kick and the southpaw replied with one of his own.
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Strongest guy
Both men then let their hands fly with left and right hooks before Sakai forced the ONE Championship veteran against the cage. Mizuno then sought to use his wrestling but Sakai cracked him with left and right hooks.
The former kickboxer then planted a chasing punch on the former Dream man who looked rocked. Sensing his moment, Sakai followed up with a barrage of punches as Mizuno turtled up under the pressure.
The referee soon waved it off as Sakai extended his record to 13-10. Mizuno flops to 24-15-1.
After the fight, Sakai said,
“There are only two things I would like to say. Are you free in the megaton class for the match against Korea (Black Combat)? Call the strongest guy, maybe Josh Barnett?”
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Best of the rest
In the co-main event there was another quick finish as Koyomi Matsushima folded Ryuji Takashio with a right hand inside two minutes. The ONE Championship veteran followed up with a pair of soccer kicks to seal the deal and get back to winning ways after losing a split to Zha Yi at Road to UFC last year.
Matsushima’s record moves up to 14-6 with the Pancrase veteran scoring a victory on his promotional debut. Takashio, who has spent virtually his entire career with Deep, falls to 9-11-2.
Deep 108, Tokyo, July 2nd
Ryo Sakai def Tatsuya Mizuno via TKO at 0:42 of R1
Koyomi Matsushima def Ryuji Takaship via TKO at 1:54 of R1
Kimihiro Eto def Shunta Nomura via Decision (Unanimous)
Kaito Yoshimura def Hiroto Gomyo via Decision (Split)
Taito Kubota def Rikiya Matsuzawa via submission (Arm lock) at 3:27 of R1
Takeshi Izumi def Sho Kogane via Decision (Unanimous)
Shunsuke Miyabi def Sho Hiramatsu via Decision (Unanimous)
Junya Hibino def Jinnosuke Kashimura via Decision (Unanimous)
Kyouma Akimoto def Ryuki Asahina via Submission (Rear naked choke) at 4:08 of R1
