Rizin 17 is set for the Saitama Super Arena on July 28th and three bouts were confirmed for the card yesterday. They will pit some of Japan’s top fighters together in the lightweight and bantamweight divisions.
UFC veteran Ulka Sasaki (22-6-2) will be looking to secure his second consecutive win for the promotion after defeating Manel Kape by decision at Rizin 14.
The former Shooto 132lbs champion takes on Shintaro Ishiwatari (25-7-4), a former Pancrase bantamweight champion who has been out of action for over a year. He was last seen losing to Kyoji Horiguchi in 2017.
Also in the bantamweight division former Deep 135lbs champion Yuki Motoya (23-6) faces newly crowned Shooto flyweight champion Hiromasa Ogikubo (18-4-2). The latter won the title by knocking out Kiyotaka Shimizu last month.
The third fight currently on the card is in the lightweight division. Yusuke Yachi (20-8) is already a veteran of seven Rizin fights but will be looking to snap a two fight losing skid when he faces Mikuru Asakura (10-1).
Asakura is riding a five fight winning streak and is coming off a decision win against Luiz Gustavo at Rizin 15.
Rizin 17, Tokyo, July 28th
Ulka Sasaki vs. Shintaro Ishiwatari (Bantamweight)
Yuki Motoya vs. Hiromasa Ogikubo (Bantamweight)
Yusuke Yachi vs. Mikuru Asakura (Lightweight)
