RIZIN will hold two cards in May with the start of the heavyweight grand prix and championships being defended.
On May 4, featherweight king Kleber Koike puts his title on the line in the main event of RIZIN Otokomatsuri in Tokyo versus Razhabali Shaydullaev. Koike reclaimed the gold with a decision over Chihiro Suzuki in December, while Shaydullaev enters the ring with a pro record of 12-0.
RIZIN Otokomatsuri also features a highly anticipated lightweight match between Japanese stars Chihiro Suzuki and Mikuru Asakura and the first round of the heavyweight grand prix.
Former sumo wrestler Tsuyoshi Sudario debuts in the tournament against Bellator veteran Jose Augusto, with ex-KSW heavyweight Marek Samociuk former Bellator and PFL fighter Daniel James. The other grand prix quarterfinal matches are Islambek Baktybek Uulu vs. Alexander Soldatkin and Mikio Ueda vs. Shoma Shibisai.
Three weeks later, RIZIN lands in South Korea for an event with 155-pound champion Roberto Satoshi defending his throne against former Road to UFC participant Won Bi Kim on May 31. UFC veteran and RIZIN color commentator Johnny Case returns to action to face Juri Ohara.
Check the complete lineups below.
RIZIN Otokomatsuri — May 4 in Tokyo, Japan
Kleber Koike vs. Razhabali Shaydullaev
Hiroya Kondo vs. Tatsuki Shinotsuka
Chihiro Suzuki vs. Mikuru Asakura
Kyohei Hagiwara vs. Taisei Nishitani
Makoto Shinryu vs. Yuki Ito
Ryo Takagi vs. Kyoma Akimoto
Daisuke Nakamura vs. Taisei Sakuraba
Danny Sabatello vs. Shinobu Ota
John Dodson vs. Takaki Soya
Erson Yamamoto vs. Daichi Tomizawa
Joe Hiramoto vs. Toki Tamaru
Taio Asahisa vs. Yoshiya Uzatsuyo — kickboxing
Tsuyoshi Sudario vs. Jose Augusto
Marek Samociuk vs. Daniel James
Islambek Baktybek Uulu vs. Alexander Soldatkin
Mikio Ueda vs. Shoma Shibisai.
Takao Ueda vs. Vinicius Silveira
Daichi Akahira vs. Futa Hashimoto
RIZIN in Korea — May 31 in Seoul, South Korea