Report: Rizin Holding 2nd New Years Eve Card, UFC Veteran Tatsuya Kawajiri Headlining
Rizin feels that holding one event on New Years Eve isn’t enough because the promotion is putting on a second event on that day according to Sherdog.
The event, which will precede Rizin 14, is going to be called “Cygames Presents Heisei’s Last YARENNNOKA!” and it is going to be headlined by a bout between UFC veteran Tatsuya Kawajiri and Satoru Kitaoka.
Kawajiri (36-12-2) has won just one of his last five heading into this bout, with that lone win coming over fellow UFC veteran Anthony Birchak at Rizin 5. Kawajiri won three of six during his time in the UFC, defeating the trio of Sean Soriano, Dennis Siver and Jason Knight.
Kitaoka (41-18-9) has also won just one of his last five fights, with Kitaoka’s victory coming over Taras Sapa at Pancrase 295. Kitaoka is fighting for a fourth time in 2018, making it the fighters most active year fighting since 2009.
Other bouts reportedly set for the card are Kai Asakura vs. Jae Hoon Moon and Kana Watanabe vs. Shizuka Sugiyama.
Rizin: Cygames Presents Heisei’s Last YARENNNOKA! Is set for Monday, December 31 from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan with Tatsuya Kawajiri and Satoru Kitaoka headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, while broadcast plans have yet to be announced.
