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Rizin Fighting Federation 1 Results: Play-by-Play & Updates


Sherdog.com will have live Rizin Fighting Federation 1 play-by-play at approximately 4:30 a.m. ET, live from Nippon Gaishi Hall in Nagoya, Japan.

Check out the MMA Forums to discuss the card or enter your comments and predictions below.

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Kanako Murata vs. Natalia Denisova

Round 1

The international class wrestler Murata opens up with a power double-leg takedown, slamming Denisova to the mat. Murata winds up in full guard and so Denisova looks to figure-four her arm and look up a straight armbar. Murata stays strong on top, powers out and moves to side control. From side, Murata doesn't do much in the way of pounding, but looks to isolate the Russian's far arm and lock up a Murata. Murata takes her time, eventually wrenching the tight kimura and looking for the submission. Denisova guts it out, rolling through and escaping the kimura just before the first five-minute round expires.

Round 2

As expected, Kanako begins the second round with another power double, clinching the Russian's legs and and dumping her to the mat. Murata postures up and lands short hammerfists with her right hand, then opens up with punches. Denisova looks for an armbar, but it's not especially close, so Murata pulls out and hammers down shots with her left hand before moving back into side control. Murata fights her way into the top crucifix position a la Matt Hughes, first looking for a keylock on Denisova's far arm, then landing more hammerfists to her foe's face. She briefly squats on Denisova's face, looking for an armbar from north-south. Kanako tries to rip her arms apart to finish, but the gong sounds.

Round 3

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: Sachiko Hotaka/Rizin FF

Murata dominated her pro MMA debut.
Denisova opens the final round with a left kick to the body, but as expected, Murata catches her leg and hits a double-leg powerful enough to dump the Russian on her head. Denisova looks for another armbar from her back, but again, it goes nowhere as the powerhouse wrestler moves into side control with more hammerfists. Murata patiently chops away with more hammerfists, then moves into side control, followed by north-south position. Murata looks for a kimura on the far arm this time, then tries to transition into an armbar, but her foe slides free and escapes to her feet.

Back standing, Denisova lands a clean straight left cross, wobbling Murata briefly. Naturally, Murata hits one more power double, putting Denisova on the mat just before the final bell. Sherdog.com scores the bout on the whole for Kanako Murata.

The Official Result

Kanako Murata def. Natalya Denisova via Decision (Unanimous) R3 5:00

Yuta Watanabe vs. Hisaki Kato

Round 1

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: S. Hotaka/Rizin FF

Kato clobbered Watanabe with quickness.
Both men begin the contest by circling around one another to the lefts. The Bellator MMA veteran Kato moves forward and lands his left uppercut quickly, dazing Watanabe. Watanabe moves away, putting up a peek-a-boo guard to defend against the Daidojuku standout's punching. Unfortunatel for Watanabe, Kato keeps pressing forward, launching a stream of nasty left uppercuts this time and putting Watanabe flat on the mat, forcing referee Naoya Uematsu to rescue him. Impressive and quick knockout for “The Japanese Musakateer” Hisaki Kato.

The Official Result

Hisaki Kato def. Yuta Watanabe via TKO (Punches) R1 1:04

Kirill Sidelnikov vs. Chris Barnett

Round 1

The heavyweights start out feinting. Barnett lands his right hook, followed by Sidelnikov returning fire with one of his own. Barnett lobs a right low kick. He goes back to it, so Sidelnikov steps in and counters with another right hook. “Baby Fedor” relying on that punch until he steps into another right hook from Barnett, with the American's finger slipping up into his eye, causing a brief pause from referee Yoshitaro Niimi. On the restart, Sidelnikov pumps his jab out to keep Barnett at bay, then hits him with a surprise flying knee to the body, running him into the corner. Barnett escapes and goes back to leg kicks. Barnett touches the Russian with the jab, but can't land the right cross behind it, then Sidelnikov tags him with a left hook. Barnett probing with the right jab but missing, then Sidelnikov lands two crisp left jabs. Barnett throws another low kick, but Sidelnikov catches this one and drivesh im out of the ring, causing another pause in the 10-minute opening round. “Huggy Bear” keeps pawing with his jab, but can't land, while Sidelnikov steps forward, glancing with his left hook. Barnett chases his foe down with jabs and rights but can't reach him as Sidelnikov stays just out of range. More jabbing up until the bell ends the first 10 minutes.

Round 2

“Baby Fedor” opens up with his jab again, so his American opponent charges him with a pair of hooks to wardh im off. Barnett the charges into a double-leg takedown, putting Sidelnikov on the mat. He moves to half guard and opens with ground-and-pound to the body before Sidelnikov retains full guard. Barnett keeps pounding away, but his bloody nose is now dripping onto Sidelnikov's body and torso. Referee Yoshitaro Niimi calls for a doctor check to examine Barnett's nose, but the bout is restarted quickly. On the restart, Barnett resumes pounding to the body, moving to side control and alternating between hammerfists and kimura attempts on Sidelnikov's far arm.

Round 3

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: S. Hotaka/Rizin FF

Sidelnikov eked one out over Barnett.
Both men test the waters with low kicks until Barnett runs in on a single and spills through the ropes. There is a pause in the action for “Huggy Bear” to get back in the ring, and we're back to fighting. Barnett runs forward and glances his target with four winging hooks. Both heavyweights are tired, but Barnett keeps presisng behind his jab, then throwing the mawashi geri up top. Sidelnikov tries to jab him off, but Barnett bobs and weaves around it, then touches him with a soft right hook. Barnett trips up will throwing another head kick. Sidelnikov tries to answer with a right head kick of his own as Barnett stands, but the final bell ends it.

After 20 minutes, Sherdog.com sees the close bout for Chris Barnett.

The Official Result

Kirill Sidelnikov def. Chris Barnett via Decision (Split) R3 5:00

Daron Cruickshank vs. Shinji Sasaki

Round 1

Cruickshank opens the bout circling to his left, using his kicking offense. He looks for a right side kick to the body, then puts his right shin upstairs, but Sasaki blocks it.

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: S. Hotaka/Rizin FF

Cruickshank showed off his soccer skill.
Sasaki tries to respond, but the UFC veteran blocks his head kick. Cruickshank keeps up the pressure, landing a pair of hooks that wobble the “Torao Supernova.” Sasaki recovers and tries to shoot, but Cruickshank avoids and just misses a big soccer kick. Sasaki keeps lunging for Cruickshank's legs, but this time, the American lands a hard kick as he rushes him. Sasaki manges to get to his feet, but Cruickshank senses he's got his man hurt. Sasaki puts his hands up his, but Cruickshank drops him with a right hook, then unloads on his downed target with a soccer kick, prompting referee Hidenobu Koike to intervene.

The Official Result

Daron Cruickshank def. Shinji Sasaki via TKO (Punch and Soccer Kick) R1 4:36

Shoot Boxing Rules Bout:
Rena Kubota vs. Cyndi Alves

Round 1

Kubota takes the outside of the ring, looking to counter Alves as she swoops in with punches in their Shoot Boxing rules contest. Kubota lands a counter right on the kicking Alves, then headlocks her and looks for a standing throw, but can't seem to land it clean to get the shoot point. Nonetheless, referee Katsumi Omura calls for the Shoot point, which should give Kubota at least a point advantage. They take their feet and Kubota lands a pair of teeps to the body, then a pair of hooks. Alves tries to lunge with punches and grab the clinch, walking into another set of hooks before the bell goes after the first three minutes. Sherdog.com scores the round 10-8 Kubota.

Round 2

Alves opens up with a bevy of low kicks until Kubota catches her left leg and trips her to the mat. The Brazilian keeps pressing forward with kicks to the body, Alves keeps swarming while Kubota tries to back her off with hooks. Finally, Kubota ducks low, gets a hold of her opponent's waist and elevates and drops her with a high-amplitude back suplex. Referee Katsumi Omura calls for two Shoot points on the takedown, which should make it at least a two-point round if Kubota continues onward. After taking their feet, Alves keeps swarming, but to no avail as Kubota punches her away. With the suplex, it's likely a 10-8 Kubota round under Shoot Boxing rules.

Round 3

Kubota lands a straight right then a teep to the body on the hard-charging Chute Boxe product. Alves lands a glancing pair of hooks, but Kubota lands a teep, then moves inside looking for a headlock throw, which gets denied. Left head kick from Alves is blocked, then a pair of spinning back kicks miss before Kubota tags her with a right.

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: S. Hotaka/Rizin FF

Kubota's Shoot Boxing experience triumphed.
Nice front kick to the body from Alves, but Kubota lands a left over the top. Alves returns with a solid left of her own. Alves runs into another clinch, hoping for knees, but Rena ties her up and forces a break. Kubota comes in behind an Alves front kick and shoots a takedown, but gets denied, then broken up by Katsumi Omura. On the restart, however, the Shoot Boxing star lands a hard overhand right, then swings on Alves along the ropes. Alves clinches and the round is done. 10-9 Kubota in the third, but courtesy of her big suplex in round two, it's a 30-25 scorecard for Sherdog.com.

The Official Result

Rena Kubota def. Cyndi Alves via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-28) R3 3:00

Tag Team Grappling Rules Bout:
Kazushi Sakuraba & Hideo Tokoro vs. Wanderlei Silva & Kiyoshi Tamura

Round 1

The famous rivals Sakuraba and Silva start the tag team grappling bout. “The IQ Wrestler” starts with his trademark single, but Silva sprawls. Sakuraba tries to switch off to a waistlock and tackle Silva to the mat, but the much larger Brazilian sprawls out. Amusingly, Silva almost reflexively knees Sakuraba in the head, but stops short, rousing the crowd. They stand again and get into a collar tie, where Silva controls the neck, and Sakuraba tags to Tokoro. Silva, however and tags out to Tamura, switching up the in-ring combo.

Tokoro starts with a leaping guard attack on the larger Tamura, looking for a leglock attack a la Masakazu Imanari. Tamura shuts down Tokoro's leglock antics and both of them tag out again to Silva and Sakuraba respectively. Silva chases Sakuraba around the ring until he latches onto a rear waistlock, allowing Sakuraba to show his back-to-front kimura, as he submitted Renzo Gracie. Silva breaks the grip and both men tag out again.

Once more as they enter, Tokoro tries to initiate a leglock game with the head of U-File Camp, but Tamura is having none of it. Tamura escapes and is forced to fend off a Tokoro armbar. Tamura escapes and then hand-fights with Tokoro from the bottom man's active guard. Tamura stands, which allows Tokoro to stand, then tag out to Sakuraba.

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: S. Hotaka/Rizin FF

No one tapped under tag team rules.
Sakuraba enters the ring and gets a rear waistlock on Tamura, suplexing him to the mat, but the longtime Rings mainstay scrambles to his feet and tags out to “The Axe Murderer.” Silva powers into a double-leg takedown, putting Sakuraba on the mat but “The Gracie Hunter” pushes him away, forcing him into Ali-Inoki position. Silva allows him to stand and both men tag out, and when they do, Tokoro shoots another double on Tamura before sliding into another leglock attack sequence. Tamura defends, escapes and after 15 minutes, the bell sounds.

The Official Result

Kazushi Sakuraba and Hideo Tokoro draw Wanderei Silva and Kiyoshi Tamura R1 15:00

Gabi Garcia vs. Anna Malyukova

Round 1

Malyukova tries to stand her ground against the gigantic, all-world grappler, but the minute she throws a left hook, Garcia tackles her to the mat. Garcia immediately moves to mount, then looks for a keylock. Malyukova is able to escape, largely due to a referee repositioning as they creep too close to the ropes, but Garcia retains full mount, bashing away. Garcia is methodical, punching away and whacking the Russian two or three dozen times while sitting on her chest. Malyukova is finally able to hold on to the Brazilian and slow her assault before the bell sounds to end the first five-minute period.

Round 2

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: S. Hotaka/Rizin FF

Garcia showed her grappling chops.
As soon as round two opens up, Garcia runs into the clinch and slams Malyukova down, moving right into full mount once more. She works a high mount but doesn't rain down punches or look for any submissions, just holding position and forcing the Russian to roll around and carry her 200-pound-plus frame. Garcia looks for another keylock, pounding as she threatens. Malyukova gives up her arm, and Garcia turns the corner for a full cross armbar. She breaks Malyukova's hands, pops the elbow and forces the tap.

The Official Result

Gabi Garcia def. Anna Malyukova via Submission (Armbar) R2 2:04

Teodoras Aukstuolis vs. Jaideep Singh

Round 1

From the opening bell, Aukstulous runs into the clinch, drops to Singh's waist and tackles him to the mat. Without any real effort, the Lithuanian passes right into full mount. Singh holds on to stop Aukstuolis from pounding away, but eventually, Aukstuolis breaks his posture and lands a series of hammerfists. He keeps landing short shots until the K-1 veteran is able to tie him up from the bottom. Singh turns and goes belly down horizontally, eating more punches until he is able to bridge and somehow sweep to top position. Singh pounds for a minute before Aukstuolis escapes to his feet. Standing, Aukstuolis lands a left hook, then a Singh left head kick is blocked. “Heart” tries to land a lunging right cross but misses before the bell ends the opening 10-minute period.

Round 2

Aukstuolis starts round two by diving at Singh's waist for a double, but the Indian fighter sprawls. Aukstuolis changeso ff from a single to a double and runs his target through the ropes, which results in referee Yoshitaro Niimi resetting the pair in the middle of the cage. Somehow during the tussle, Aukstuolis has been lacerated below his left eye. Upon the restart, the Lithuanian moves into side control, but after a few punches, Singh rolls into a defensive single-leg takedown. Aukstuolis sprawls and they take their feet, but Aukstuolis tackles “Heart” right back to the mat and takes mount. Singh holds on, then bridges and to escape. In the scramble, Aukstuolis re-affirms to position, takes mount and keeps pounding away until Singh, once more, sweeps him but the Lithuanian looks for an arm-triangle choke just before the second-round bell.

Round 3

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: S. Hotaka/Rizin FF

Aukstuolis spent much time in mount.
Both men open the final round flicking left jabs at one another. Aukstuolis shoots a double-leg on Singh, but the K-1 vet shuts it down and they stand. Aukstuolis lands his jab on the feet, but can't land his right hand behind it. Aukstuolis rushes forward into a Singh hook, but powers through and gets another double, landing in top and moving right back to full mount. Aukstuolis postures up and punches to the body, but again, Singh bridges and reverses to top position, pounding on the Lithuanian as he holds on until the final gong. After 20 minutes, Sherdog.com scores the bout for Teodoras Aukstuolis.

The Official Result

Teodoras Aukstuolis def. Jaideep Singh via Decision (Unanimous) R3 5:00

Vadim Nemkov vs. Karl Albrektsson

Round 1

Both men come out throwing low kicks to gauge the distance. Nemkov glances with a pair of hooks, so Albrektsson counters by dropping low for a double. Nemkov ends up on his back, but quickly uses the ropes to slide back to his feet. Nemkov again lunges forward with strikes, but Albrektsson ducks low and puts him on his back. Nemkov stays down only a second, getting back to his feet before being suplexed by Albrektsson. Not to be outdone, Nemkov escapes to his feet once more, then takes Albrektsson down, kneeing him in the head on the floor. The Swede tries to bridge to his feet, but Nemkov swings for an armbar. Albrektsson is able to avoid it, but when he takes top position, Nemkov rolls into a single-leg that allows him to push his foe away and get back to his feet. Nemkov glances with a left hook as the 10-minute opening round is winding down, then puts Albrektsson on his back with a double. The Swede again is able to scramble back up, but Nemkov takes his back standing until the gong.

Round 2

Nemkov opens the middle frame with a right hook-right low kick. Albrektsson tries to return fire with his left but hits only air, so he steps inside for knees, but accidentally hits Nemkov low, prompting a break from referee Kosuke Umeda. On the restart, Nemkov lands his left jab clean, so his oppoennt tries to return fire with his left head kick upstairs, but gets blocked. Albrektsson moves into the clinch, secures a body lock and takes Nemkov back to the ground, moving to side control with idle ground-and-pound before threatening with a kimura on the far side. The Russian appears tired as the second-round bell sounds.

Round 3

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: S. Hotaka/Rizin FF

Albrektsson and Nemkov saw a few spills.
The final round begins and Nemkov looks exhausted. He pops his lead left jab out, but it's got no steam. “King” ducks under the jab and runs Nemkov through the ropes, prompting a break. Afterwards, Nemkov looks to get in on a desperate single, but ends up in a guillotine choke. Nemkov escapes, but he's sucking wind. Albrektsson touches him with a left hand to the body, then takes him back down, but the Russian sweeps to top and claims side position. Before Nemkov can land much ground-and-pound, Albrektsson reclaims full guard, so Nemkov just slams punches into his ribs.

The Swede tries to escape, but winds up rolling out of the ring. They end up restarted on the feet, and Albrektsson avoids Nemkov's jab and shoots at the final bell. Sherdog.com sees the bout for Karl Albrektsson on the whole after 20 minutes.

The Official Result

Karl Albrektsson def. Vadim Nemkov via Decision (Split) R3 5:00

Kazuyuki Fujita vs. Jiri Prochazka

Round 1

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: S. Hotaka/Rizin FF

Prochazka easily levelled Fujita standing.
Both men stare each other down, feinting and looking to gauge the distance. Prochazka lands a front kick, the pressures Fujita into the corner of the ring. “Ironhead” is already looking desperate, trying to grab the Czech prospect's legs. Prochazka slips out of one single-leg attempt, then another. Fujita dives at his man's legs again, then sneaks a right hook in behind it. Prochazka momentarily loses his balance, but regains his feet as Fujita tries to hammerfist him. As he retakes his feet, “Denisa” sets up and plows the incoming Fujita with a clean right hook, dropping him down and out and forcing referee Yoshitaro Niimi to save him.

The Official Result

Jiri Prochazka def. Kazuyuki Fujita via KO (Punch) R1 3:18
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