Tofiq Musaev looks set to return to the Rizin ring. The Azerbaijani lightweight has not fought since 2019 and was involved in a well publicized financial dispute with the Japanese promotion.
But he remains the number one lightweight on the Rizin roster and Musaev took to Twitter earlier today to announce he would be back in action soon and challenging for a title:
Looking forward to my next fight. You'll see Lightweight belt of @rizin_PR around my waist soon inshAllah ☝🏽
See you guys in Japan. 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/jAa16b3ikC— Tofiq Musayev (@Tofiq__Musayev) May 1, 2021
At Rizin 20 on New Year’s Eve 2019 he won the promotion’s lightweight Grand Prix. However the lightweight title remains vacant, although Musaev is clearly in pole position to challenge for it.
Other possible title contenders on the roster include Koji Takeda and Roberto de Souza. Unlike Musaev they are both based in Japan and have had the opportunity to compete during the pandemic.
There are currently no fighter based outside of Japan on the Rizin 28 or Rizin 29 cards. There is an online press conference booked for Tuesday and further announced are likely to be made then.
