Daichi Kitakata will be back in action at Rizin 29. The former strawweight King of Pancrase will be looking to snap a two fight losing skid when he faces Yusaku Nakamura in a flyweight fight at the Maruzen Intech Arena on June 27th.
Kiakata (20-10-1) dropped a decision to Tatsuki Saomoto at Rizin 25. At Pancrase 307 he beat Mitsuhisa Sunabe in a strawweight fight in what looks to be his final fight for the promotion, he was subsequently stopped by Yosuke Saruta at ONE: ‘Century’.
Nakamura (16-8-1) has been on the Rizin roster since 2018 but hasn’t had much success. The former Deep flyweight champion has lost four out of his last six fights although he did beat Topnoi Tigermuaythai at Rizin 16.
As previously announced the bantamweight Grand Prix gets underway at Rizin 29. Kenta Takizawa faces Masakazu Imanari, Kazuma Kuramoto takes on Alan Yamaniha, Hiroki Yamashita goes up against Takafumi Otsuka and Kuya Ito meets Yuto Hokamura.
There will also be a lightweight bout between Yusuke Yachi and Yuki Kawana. The former has lost five out of his last six while the latter dropped a split decision to Koji Takeda at Rizin 24.
Rizin 29 will feature a bantamweight kickboxing tournament with the semi finals and final to take place on the same day. Taiju Shiratori faces Ryo Takahashi in one while Genji Umeno takes on Kouzi in the other.
The event will also feature a featherweight fight pitting Rikuto Shirakawa against Jin Aoi. The card is completed by two kickboxing bouts with Seiki Ueyama facing Jyosei Izumi in the flyweight division and Yuma Yamahata taking on Kiyoto Takahashi in a catchweight contest.
Rizin 28 is set for the Tokyo Dome on June 13th. There are currently five fights on the card including a featherweight bout between Mikuru Asakura and Kleber Koike Erbst and the remaining four fights in the first round of the bantamweight Grand Prix.
Rizin 29, Osaka, June 27th
Hiroki Yamashita vs. Takafumi Otsuka (Bantamweight Grand Prix Opening Round)
Kuya Ito vs. Yuto Hokamura (Bantamweight Grand Prix Opening Round)
Kenta Takizawa vs. Masakazu Imanari (Bantamweight Grand Prix Opening Round)
Kazuma Kuramoto vs. Alan Yamaniha (Bantamweight Grand Prix Opening Round)
Rikuto Shirakawa vs. Jin Aoi (Featherweight)
Yusuke Yachi vs. Yuki Kawana (Lightweight)
Yusaku Nakamura vs. Daichi Kitakata (Flyweight)
Kickboxing: Nadaka Yoshinari vs Chikai (Strawweight)
Kickboxing: Taiju Shiratori vs. Ryo Takahashi (Bantamweight kickboxing tournament 1/2 final)
Kickboxing: Genji Umeno vs. Kouzi (Bantamweight kickboxing tournament 1/2 final)
Kickboxing: Seiki Ueyama vs. Jyosei Izumi (Flyweight)
Kickboxing: Yuma Yamahata vs. Kiyoto Takahashi (Catchweight)
