Vugar Karamov Chokes Mikuru Asakura, Captures Featherweight Title at Super Rizin 2

のむシリカ presents#超RIZIN2 powered by #UNEXT
📣試合結果🔥

⚔️第8試合⚔️
👑フェザー級王座戦
RIZIN MMAルール 66.0kg

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🟥朝倉未来【LOSE】
ーー🆚ーー
🟦ヴガール・ケラモフ【WIN】🏆@vugar_karamov

1R 2分41秒 SUB
(#タップアウト #リアネイキッドチョーク)https://t.co/FfSpJ8Qa2B pic.twitter.com/FhtvhEHva3

— RIZIN FF OFFICIAL (@rizin_PR) July 30, 2023

Super Rizin 2 saw the crowning of two champions and a titleholder securing her place in the 108-pound division.

In the headliner, Vugar Karamov rose as the new ruler of the Rizin Fighting Federation featherweight division after overcoming Mikuru Asakura. With the vacant title on the line, Karamov (19-4, 5-1 Rizin) took his time to feel out his opponent’s reactions and quickly came up with an effective strategy. Karamov surprised Asakura (17-4, 1NC; 11-3 Rizin) with his wrestling, grounding his foe with a well-timed takedown that allowed him to gain the mount position. Once there, “Vugi” punished Asakura with elbows, forcing his opponent to move to the ropes and give his back. In a split second, Karamov jumped on Asakura’s back and attempted a rear-naked choke. The pressure was visibly high, and Asakura tapped as the official time indicated the 2:41 mark of Round 1. Karamov has now won 15 out of his last 16 assignments.

Your first ever American Champion in RIZIN! 🇺🇸

JuanArchuleta takes home the decision after 15 hard fought minutes!#SuperRIZIN2 |📡PPV link in bio pic.twitter.com/yMPbYkayGA

— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) July 30, 2023

Elsewhere, it took only 66 seconds—a Rizin record—for Seika Izawa (11-0, 6-0 Rizin) to leave Claire Lopez (8-5, 1-1 Rizin) senseless, retain the super atomweight championship, and confirm she’s one of the brightest talents in women’s mixed martial arts. Izawa trapped her foe in a tight ninja choke that put Lopez to sleep before the referee jumped in to stop the action.

THE BIGGEST UPSET IN RIZIN HISTORY!!!

Chihiro Suzuki STOPS Patricio Pitbull in round 1!#SuperRIZIN2 |📡PPV link in bio pic.twitter.com/1adzXnRwCW

— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) July 30, 2023

Before the intermission, 155-pounder Chihiro Suzuki (11-3, 1NC; 6-1, 1NC Rizin) upset former Bellator two-division champion Patricio Freire (35-7, 1-1 Rizin) with a punch at 2:32 of the first period; 2019 Rizin lightweight grand prix winner Tofiq Musayev (21-5, 6-1 Rizin) crushed Akira Okada (19-10-4, 2-2 Rizin) with punches at 1:11 of the second frame; bantamweight Shinobu Ota (4-2, 4-2 Rizin) stopped Kenta Takizawa (13-10, 3-6 Rizin) with punches at 4:54 in the first stanza; 185-pounder Igor Tanabe (3-0, 1-0 Rizin) forced Daichi Abe (12-7, 3-2 Rizin) to tap thanks to a remarkable inverted heel hook at 4:34 of Round 1; and Yuki Ito (14-5, 4-1 Rizin) edged Hiroya Kondo (8-11-1, 0-1 Rizin) with a narrow split decision in their 128-pound catchweight bout.