We’re so proud of our team! Find out how they’ve been doing, as well as what else has been going on at our gym lately.
Tatsuya Kawajiri is taking a step toward fighting at bantamweight.
The 39-year-old Japanese vet, who’s fought at lightweight and featherweight for organizations rankings from the UFC to PRIDE to Strikeforce since his 2000 pro debut, is looking for a spot in the bantamweight grand prix when he fights at Rizin FF 7.
Rizin FF 7 takes place Oct. 15 at Marine Messe Fukuoka in Fukuoka, Japan. North American broadcast plans haven’t been announced.
Kawajiri (36-11-2) fights Gabriel Oliveira (9-0) at a catchweight of 138.9 pounds, officials recently announced.
According to a press release, Kawajiri sent Rizin FF General Manager Nobuhiko Takad a picture of him standing on a scale at 138 pounds, which prompted the booking of the vet for a wild-card qualification bout.
“The only reason why I am doing this is because I want (Kyoji Horiguchi),” Kawajiri stated. “If he wasn’t in this tournament, I would never go through all of this pain to just make weight. I want to put everything I have, everything I have worked for, in this tournament to fight the icon of Japan’s young, promising generation.”
Kawajiri recently halted a three-fight skid, which included UFC losses to standouts Cub Swanson and Dennis Bermudez, with a unanimous-decision win over Anthony Birchak at Rizin FF 5. Oliveira, a 27-year-old promotional newcomer, is a veteran of the South American fight circuit, where he holds two regional titles, and has four knockouts in nine career wins.
The latest Rizin FF 7 card includes:
For more on Rizin FF 7, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.
Filed under: News
The UFC handed out four bonuses after Saturday’s card, rewarding four main card stoppages. After UFC on ESPN 55, four fighters took home an extra $50,000 for their performances at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out the winners below.
See The Fight Results, Watch Post-Fight Interviews With The Main Card Winners And More From UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs Perez, Live From UFC APEX In Las Vegas Read the Full Article Here
We want to make sure that Ludus MMA is the right fit for you before asking you to commit to a membership.
That’s why we’d like to offer you a FREE ONE-DAY PASS to our gym.
With your FREE PASS, you can: