Satoshi Yamasu scored a first-round triangle submission to crown the main event at Rizin 34 in Osaka.
The Saitama-born fighter has now strung together back-to-back victories since losing his promotional debut against Mikuru Asakura at Rizin 26.
Following his own loss to Asakura, Kyohei Hagiwara also racked up a two-fight winning streak but was stopped in his tracks here as Yamasu forced him to tap in the opening round.
Rizin FF
Explosive start
Hagiwara had gotten off to an explosive start. The 26-year-old dropped Yamasu with a spinning back kick early on before leaping in with a double stomp to the face.
‘Dominator’ scrambled and wrapped up the body lock, but it was Hagiwara who scored the takedown. He later landed with the one-two combination, but as he moved forwards Yamasu changed levels with perfect timing to bring his opponent to the canvas.
They briefly found their feet before Yamasu dragged him down again. Six of the 32-year-old’s 12 wins had come via submission heading into this fight and his technical prowess was there for all to see as he expertly locked up the triangle and drew the tap.
The finish came at the 3:22 mark and Yamasu’s record climbs to 13-6 with nine of those wins coming in the first round. Hagiwara slips to 6-5.
Rizin FF
Best of the rest
Elsewhere, welterweight Daichi Abe (10-5) returned to the win column as he overcame fellow UFC veteran Kiichi Kunimoto (20-10-2) getting the nod from all three judges. There was a first Rizin win for Daichi Kitakata (20-1-1) who earned a unanimous decision against Yutaro Muramoto (8-6-2).
Rizin 34, Osaka, March 20th
Satoshi Yamasu def. Kyohei Hagiwara by Submission (Triangle choke) at 3:22 of Round 1
Kickboxing: Kouzi def. Genji Umeno by Decision (Majority)
Sora Yamamoto def. Daisuke Nakamura by Decision (Split)
Daichi Abe def. Kiichi Kunimoto by Decision (Unanimous)
Daichi Kitakata def. Yutaro Muramoto by Decision (Unanimous)
Juri Ohara def. Akia Okada by Decision (Split)
Kickboxing: Taiga vs Ryo Takahashi ends in a Majority draw
Alan Hiro Yamaniha def. Motonobu Tezuka by Submission (Rear-naked choke) at 3:25 of Round 2
Tatsuki Saomoto def. Yuto Uda by Decision (Split)
Ryuya Fukuda def. Nave by TKO, Round 1, 0:54
Kickboxing: Yuya def. Yousuke Yamato by TKO at 2:51 of Round 2
Kickboxing: Yuuki Kashihara def Motoki by TKO at 2:24of Round 1
Kickboxing: Jin Mandokoro vs Sato Syuto ends in a No Contest (Accidental injury)
Kickboxing: Ryuki def. Ayumu Yamamoto by KO (Kick) at 2:07 of Round 1
Kickboxing: Sho Ogawa def Yuma Yamahata by TKO (three knockdowns) at 2:52 of Round 1
Kickboxing: Masaya Jaki def. Kouta by TKO (punches) at 1:53 of Round 1
Kickboxing: Shun def. Ryo Sato by TKO (referee stoppage) at 2:15 of Round 1
