Kron Gracie to Face Nephew of ‘Kid’ Yamamoto at New Year’s Eve Rizin Event
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R: Rickson Gracie, “Kron Gracie,” Asen Yamamoto and Ikuei Yamamoto.
| Photo: Rizin FF
Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Kron Gracie will make his sophomore MMA appearance in Japan as part of the New Year’s Eve card from Rizin Fighting Federation.
Rizin officials on Monday announced that Gracie will square off against 19-year-old newcomer Asen Yamamoto -- the nephew of Japanese veteran Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto -- in a 145-pound bout on Dec. 31. Like several of Rizin’s other MMA matchups, the fight is scheduled for a 10-minute opening round followed by two five-minute rounds, with the possibility of a five-minute overtime period.
Gracie made his first foray into MMA last December in Tokyo, where he recorded a 65-second armbar submission of Hyung Soo Kim in a 160-pound affair. The 27-year-old son of Rickson Gracie has enjoyed a decorated career as a grappler, including a gold medal win in the 170-pound division at the 2013 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship.
Yamamoto has wrestled since the age of three and comes from a family of wrestlers and martial artists, including his grandfather, former Olympian Ikuei Yamamoto. He took home gold in the 152-pound division at the FILA Cadet World Championship and has declared interest in competing at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
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