A catchweight contest pitting Yusaku Nakamura against Makoto Takahashi has been added to the Bellator Japan card. The fight is set for 58kgs and was announced via the Rizin Twitter account this week:
Additional fight announcement for BELLATOR JAPAN
Yusaku Nakamura vs. Makoto Shinryu
🎟️ https://t.co/VYvwCQXU37#RIZIN #RIZINFF #BELLATOR pic.twitter.com/6793BiAfj6
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 7, 2019
Nakamura (16-6-1) is a former Deep flyweight champion. He has won his last two contests and is coming off a decision win over Topnoi TigerMuayThai at Rizin 16.
Takahashi (9-1-1) is only 19 but has emerged as one of the top flyweight prospects in Japan. At Deep 90 he scored a decision win over seasoned veteran Yuya Shibata to win the promotion’s interim flyweight title.
As previously announced Bellator Japan is set for Saitama Super Arena on December 29th and will be headlined by a heavyweight fight between Fedor Emelianenko and Quinton Jackson, two fighters who made their name competing in the country during the Pride era.
Meanwhile Sidney Outlaw faces Michael Chandler in a catchweight contest. The latter replaces Benson Henderson who was forced to pull out with an injury.
Bellator Japan, Tokyo, December 29th
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Quinton Jackson (Heavyweight)
Benson Henderson vs. Sidney Outlaw (Catchweight)
Michael Page vs. Shinsho Anzai (Catchweight)
Lorenz Larkin vs. Keita Nakamura (Welterweight)
Yusaku Nakamura vs. Makoto Takahashi (Catchweight)
Ilara Joanne vs. Kana Watanabe (Flyweight)
Goiti Yamaguchi vs. Daron Cruickshank (Lightweight)
Kanna Asakura vs. Jayme Hinshaw (Super Atomweight)
Andy Nguyen vs. Ai Shimizu (Super Atomweight)
Ryuichiro Sumimura vs. Jon Tuck (Welterweight)
Haruo Ochi vs. Jared Brooks (Catchweight)
Yusuke Yachi vs. Hiroto Uesako (Lightweight)
Kanna Asakura vs. Jayme Hinshaw (Super Atomweight)
Kickboxing: Ren Hiramoto vs. Takahiro Ashida (Catchweight)
Shoma Shibisai vs. Sergei Shemetov (Heavyweight)
