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I was a bit let down by the lack of clear information given at Rizin 12 about the last two events of the year, especially from the commentators who clearly aren't given a whole lot of information about what the promotions doing. As I'm going to the NYE event, I'd like to speculate and day dream about what the last two events have in store using what we know.
Kickboxing Tournament - We know there's going to be a kickboxing tournament, at least on NYE, using Tenshin and Horiguchi. I'd have to speculate to protect Tenshin from higher weight classes, it's not going to be an open weight or MW tournament as Frank Trigg speculated (lol) It's probably going to be a 135 tournament. The only question is whether it's a 16 man or 8 man, and whether it begins on September 30th or not. We can speculate based on previous Rizin kickboxing bouts that participants will probably be: Tenshin, Horiguchi, Taiga, Naito and Ryuki from Rizin 12, and Kento Haraguchi (Winner of the Rise 125 Road to Rizin Tournament.) I have a feeling they may match Horiguchi and Tenshin up 1st to headline the September 30th card, but that's just my gut feeling.
Lightweight Tournament - The second most stacked division right now is Lightweight, and in one of the Rizin 11 pre-fight videos Daron Cruickshank did mention interest in a possible Lightweight Grand Prix. I'd have to say 8 for a LW tournament, but whether they did it over two nights or one remains a mystery. It may be the only way to redeem Yusuke Yachi as the Rizin lightweight poster boy without giving him an immediate rematch. Possible entrants could include: Luiz Gastavo, Cruickshank, Yusuke Yachi, Diego Brandao, Kitaoka, either of the Asakura brothers, Kawajiri and Diego Nunes. Could easily take talent from Pancrase, Shooto Road FC or Deep for a 16 man tournament.
Cro Cop and Wanderlei - Both Cro Cop and Wanderlei have expressed interest competing in Rizin. One fight we know for sure is happening is Prochazka against Cro Cop, but theirs speculation to whether this will happen September 30th or as Cro Cop's December 31st retirement fight. Another possible match up is Roque Martinez, though I would assume he may be used to fight the Mongolian heavyweight hordes. For Wanderlei, as his fight with Rampage is at HW we can assume he will be fighting there, possibly fighting Cro Cop as was meant to occur at the 2016 HW Grand Prix, or possibly a beatable veteran such as TK.
Rena and Asakura - There are two big fights left for Asakura in Rizin after her fights with Rena. One, a rematch with Alyssa Garcia, who bested her in 2016. The second and more likely, Ayaka Hamasaki, pending her fight against Mina Kurobe. For Rena, a possible match up is the winner of the 2018 S-Cup Jleana Valentino, who she previously defeated. However, Valentino beat fellow stablemate Mia and wants revenge, so a story is there.
Gabi and King Reina - Assuming that the Grandma fight has gone with the wind, and that King Reina and Gabi wont fight as most Rizin fans want, Olympic wrestler Randi Miller called out Gabi on Twitter. Gabi says she can make 205 for the fight. Despite a size difference, this may be the best match up for Gabi in a very slim division. Reina on the other hand is in a hard position after her losses to Young and Dandois, and should consider either fighting some Deep prospect for NYE or finding another monster to pad her record with. At the end of the day, Reina has only been training three years, and shouldn't take heart to competitive losses against proven veterans. Another option is further weight loss and seeking competition at 135 or 125 pounds, such as Murata.
Gomi - Gomi wants one or two more fights before he hangs it up. Assuming he wants none of the lightweight tournament, and wants winnable match ups, a battle with Hatsu Hioki or a rematch of his epic war with Kawajiri could be in the cards.
Manel Kape - Rizin fans would love to see more of the pseudo-Krazy Horse barring Charles Bennet being allowed back into the country. A possible match up with Motoya if he's looking for a challenge, otherwise a fight with Topnoi 'Tiger Muay Thai' would be a barn burner.
Anyone I've missed? Any other speculation? Two more Rizin events for 2018 and I can't wait.
Kickboxing Tournament - We know there's going to be a kickboxing tournament, at least on NYE, using Tenshin and Horiguchi. I'd have to speculate to protect Tenshin from higher weight classes, it's not going to be an open weight or MW tournament as Frank Trigg speculated (lol) It's probably going to be a 135 tournament. The only question is whether it's a 16 man or 8 man, and whether it begins on September 30th or not. We can speculate based on previous Rizin kickboxing bouts that participants will probably be: Tenshin, Horiguchi, Taiga, Naito and Ryuki from Rizin 12, and Kento Haraguchi (Winner of the Rise 125 Road to Rizin Tournament.) I have a feeling they may match Horiguchi and Tenshin up 1st to headline the September 30th card, but that's just my gut feeling.
Lightweight Tournament - The second most stacked division right now is Lightweight, and in one of the Rizin 11 pre-fight videos Daron Cruickshank did mention interest in a possible Lightweight Grand Prix. I'd have to say 8 for a LW tournament, but whether they did it over two nights or one remains a mystery. It may be the only way to redeem Yusuke Yachi as the Rizin lightweight poster boy without giving him an immediate rematch. Possible entrants could include: Luiz Gastavo, Cruickshank, Yusuke Yachi, Diego Brandao, Kitaoka, either of the Asakura brothers, Kawajiri and Diego Nunes. Could easily take talent from Pancrase, Shooto Road FC or Deep for a 16 man tournament.
Cro Cop and Wanderlei - Both Cro Cop and Wanderlei have expressed interest competing in Rizin. One fight we know for sure is happening is Prochazka against Cro Cop, but theirs speculation to whether this will happen September 30th or as Cro Cop's December 31st retirement fight. Another possible match up is Roque Martinez, though I would assume he may be used to fight the Mongolian heavyweight hordes. For Wanderlei, as his fight with Rampage is at HW we can assume he will be fighting there, possibly fighting Cro Cop as was meant to occur at the 2016 HW Grand Prix, or possibly a beatable veteran such as TK.
Rena and Asakura - There are two big fights left for Asakura in Rizin after her fights with Rena. One, a rematch with Alyssa Garcia, who bested her in 2016. The second and more likely, Ayaka Hamasaki, pending her fight against Mina Kurobe. For Rena, a possible match up is the winner of the 2018 S-Cup Jleana Valentino, who she previously defeated. However, Valentino beat fellow stablemate Mia and wants revenge, so a story is there.
Gabi and King Reina - Assuming that the Grandma fight has gone with the wind, and that King Reina and Gabi wont fight as most Rizin fans want, Olympic wrestler Randi Miller called out Gabi on Twitter. Gabi says she can make 205 for the fight. Despite a size difference, this may be the best match up for Gabi in a very slim division. Reina on the other hand is in a hard position after her losses to Young and Dandois, and should consider either fighting some Deep prospect for NYE or finding another monster to pad her record with. At the end of the day, Reina has only been training three years, and shouldn't take heart to competitive losses against proven veterans. Another option is further weight loss and seeking competition at 135 or 125 pounds, such as Murata.
Gomi - Gomi wants one or two more fights before he hangs it up. Assuming he wants none of the lightweight tournament, and wants winnable match ups, a battle with Hatsu Hioki or a rematch of his epic war with Kawajiri could be in the cards.
Manel Kape - Rizin fans would love to see more of the pseudo-Krazy Horse barring Charles Bennet being allowed back into the country. A possible match up with Motoya if he's looking for a challenge, otherwise a fight with Topnoi 'Tiger Muay Thai' would be a barn burner.
Anyone I've missed? Any other speculation? Two more Rizin events for 2018 and I can't wait.