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Rena Kubota stops Nguyen in first round of Rizin Woman´s Tournament - Photo Credit - Rizin FF

Two of Japanese MMA’s biggest stars occupied the main and co-main event slots of Sunday’s RIZIN FF 2017 event as RIZIN womens star Rena Kubota put in an impressive performance over former King of the Cage atomweight champion Andy Nguyen. Also youthful rising star Tenshin Nasukawa picked up his first decision win over Yamato Fujita

Japanese promotion Rizin Fighting Federation hosted their third show of 2017 in Marine Messe Fukuoka in Fukuoka City, Japan last Sunday.

Using a standup strategy, Rena used body strikes and knees in the clinch to stop Nguyen in the first round, taking home her third win inside the distance in the debut round of the Atomweight Grand Prix.

Rena will now go on to face Spanish newcomer Irene Rivera, who shocked the Japanese audience with an armbar submission against Miyu Yamamoto in their atomweight GP bout.

On the other side of the tournament´s bracket, Brazilian striker Maria Oliveira got her first unanimous decision win in Rizin after defeating American Alyssa Garcia.

Oliveira advance to the semi-finals to setup a clash against fan favorite, Japanese 18-year-old grappler Kanna Asakura, who had qualified for the next round after a dominant ground performance against Polish Ladies Fight Night representant Sylwia Juskiewicz.

Nasukawa get first decision win in career against Fujita

Japanese sensation 19-year-old Tenshin Nasukawa faced newcomer, boxer Yamato Fujita, in the co-main event of Sunday’s event. Nasukawa worked his aggressive standup skills and earned a knockdown with a straight left punch.

Looking for a fight on the ground, Fujita resists Tenshin´s pressure and use top position in the mat to put a pressure in Tenshin than uses stomps and punches to avoid Fujita´s attack getting a first decision win after three victories in MMA.

Tenshin Nasukawa defeat Yamato Fujita in Rizin – Photo Credit – Rizin FF

Kape and Oliveira silence Japanese crowd with shocking knockout finishes

Two newcomers made a statement in the Rizin 2017 show in Fukuoka City at the weekend.

A native of Angola, Manel Kape fulfilled his promise and used his striking skills to get a fast first knockout win against Erson Yamamoto.

After landing a brutal high kick knockdown, Manel finished the bout with punches to earn the TKO win. Using a strong words in post-fight interview, Kape makes another promise to fans.

“I’m will be the champion of this tournament. And will knock [Kyoji] Horiguchi out in two rounds. Mark my words,” finished Kape.

Manel joins the next Rizin Men´s Bantamweight Quarter-finals with Pancrase Champion, Shintaro Ishiwatari and Kevin Petshi, than guarantee victories in Marine Messe defeating russian Ahkmed Musakaev and Road FC´s representant Jae Moon.

Angola´s Prodigy Manel Kape stops Erson Yamamoto in first round – Photo: Bruno Massami

Facing a Japanese UFC veteran, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Gabriel Oliveira remained undefeated in MMA.

Avoiding takedown and submissions attempts of Kawajiri, Oliveira hit the Japanese with a knee and finished their work with punches to take home a first Rizin win and up to 10-0 fight record.

Brazilian newcomer Gabriel Oliveira get a knockout win aganist veteran Kawajiri – Photo Credit: Rizin FF

The next edition of Rizin Fighting Federation will be at Saitama Super Arena on December 29 and 31, for a NYE edition.

Fukuoka Results

Woman´s Atomweight Grandprix

Rena Kubota def. Andy Nguyen in first round (TKO punches)

Maria Oliveira def. Alyssa Garcia by unanimous decision

Kanna Asakura def. Sylwia Juskiewicz by unanimous decision

Irene Rivera def. Miyu Yamamoto by submission (armbar) in first round

Men´s Bantamweight Grand Prix

Manel Kape def. Erson Yamamoto by TKO (head kick and punches) in first round

Shintaro Ishiwatari def. Akhmad Musakaev by unanimous decision

Kevin Petshi def. Jae Moon by split decision

Undercard

Tenshin Nasukawa def. Yamato Fujita by unanimous decision

Kazushi Sakuraba vs Frank Shamrock ended a draw (Grappling Match)

Roque Martinez def. Jerome Le Banner by submission (scarf hold) in first round

Wacky Nishiura def. Andy Souwer by unanimous decision

King Reina def. Crystal Stokes by unanimous decision

Kickboxing

Yoshihisa Morimoto def. Ryota Reiseigym by TKO (ref stoppage) in third round

Yuki vs Darvish Kurogi is a Majority Draw

Jin Mandokoro def. Issei Ishii by Majority Decision