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RIZIN and shine, Maniacs, it’s time for some early morning hooliganism. The current kingpin of Japanese MMA returns this Sunday morning (Aug. 12, 2018) with almost a dozen mixed martial arts (MMA) and kickboxing matches featuring some of the nation’s top fighters.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE coverage of RIZIN 12 below, starting with the FITE.TV broadcast at 2 a.m. ET.
Though not quite as star-studded as some of the promotion’s other offerings, RIZIN 12 still features a healthy dose of talent, including Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veterans Kiichi Kunimoto, Hatsu Hioki, and Angela Magana. Also on the docket are local standouts Yusuke Yachi, Yuki Motoya, and “King” Reina Miura.
RIZIN 12 QUICK RESULTS:
Yusuke Yachi vs. Luiz Gustavo — Gustavo def. Yachi by KO (punch) in Round Two
Yuki Motoya vs. Kazuma Sone — Motoya def. Sona by submission (rear naked choke) in Round Two
Kiichi Kunimoto vs. Ryuichiro Sumimura — Kunimoto def. Sumimura by technical submission (arm triangle choke) in Round One
Reina Miura vs. Kaitlin Young — Young def. Miura by unanimous decision
Taiki Naito vs. Hannya Hashimoto — Naito def. Hashimoto by TKO (leg kicks) in Round Two
Hatsu Hioki vs. Mikuru Asakura — Asakura def. Hioki by KO (head kick and punches) in Round One
Roque Martinez vs. Kiyoshi Kuwabara — Martinez def. Kuwabara by TKO (head kick and punches) in Round One
Sho Ogawa vs. KAITO — KAITO def. Ogawa by unanimous decision
Kanako Murata vs. Angela Magana — Murata def. Magana by submission (von Flue choke) in Round One
RYUKI vs. NAOYA — RYUKI def. NAOYA by unanimous decision
Shintaro Matsukura vs. Takahiro Okuyama — Matsukura def. Okuyama by TKO (punches) in Round Two
Takiya Shota vs. Syuto Sato — Shota def. Sato by unanimous decision
RIZIN 12 ROUND-BY-ROUND COVERAGE:
Yusuke Yachi vs. Luiz Gustavo
Round one: Gustavo opens with a head kick attempt. Still looking for it. Good hook and a sweeping right hand. Gustavo wading after Yachi, landing good punches. He shoots for an easy takedown. Good right hand by Gustavo. He slams Yachi near the ropes. Soccer kick two minutes in as Yachi scrambles up. Double underhooks for Yachi. he tries a fancy knee, eats one in return and they slug it out. Two minutes to go.
Low kick and knees from Yachi. Left hook from Gustavo. He tries a head kick. Straight left by Yachi with a minute to go. Another straight left stings Gustavo. He marches after Yachi with a flying knee attempt, eats another left hand. Two hard hooks land for Gustavo. Superman punch by Gustavo. Close round, slightest edge to Gustavo.
Round two: Yachi goes for an outside reap and lands in side control. One minute in. Not much ground-and-pound so far. Gustavo scrambles up, eats a knee as he does. 1-2 from Yachi. Overhand right by Gustavo. Two minutes in. 3-2 and a combination. Yachi sporting a nasty cut on the eyebrow. Ref stops the action to check it out, but lets it keep going. As soon as they resume, Gustavo blasts Yachi with a right hand that sends him face-first to the mat.
Final result: Gustavo def. Yachi by KO (punch)
Yuki Motoya vs. Kazuma Sone
Round one: Sone lands an uppercut on the ropes. Low kicks from Motoya. Sone with a well-timed double-leg in the corner. Motoya latches onto a guillotine and jumps guard. No dice. Motoya complaining to the ref about the ropes, so he turns them around. Overhook control for Motoya two minutes in. Hammerfist from Sone and Motoya scrambles up with another guillotine. This one’s tighter, but Sone slips through the ropes to get out. Two minutes to go.
Sone goes low-low-high with punches. Again low-high with hooks. Low kick lands. Motoya with a left hook as he retreats. One minute to go. Sone hops in with a knee and ties up with double underhooks. He tosses Motoya down, they trade, and Sone denies a takedown. Low kicks from both. Sone in the lead.
Round two: Sone pressing forward, scores another takedown. Motoya again threatening a guillotine. Sone pops his head out and sets up in guard. Motoya uses the threat of a leglock to sweep. Sona scrambles out and avoids another guillotine as he takes him down into half guard. The scramble continues and Motoya looks for a high-elbow version. Still nothing. Motoya gets on top. Two minutes to go.
Sone works his way up and separates. Low kick lands for him. Motoya shoots, can’t complete it, keeps scrambling and takes the back. He quickly works his elbow under Sone’s chin and draws the tap.
Final result: Motoya def. Sone by submission (rear naked choke)
Kiichi Kunimoto vs. Ryuichiro Sumimura
Round one: Good low kick and 1-2 from Kunimoto followed by a knee. He shoots and takes Sumimura down into half guard. Short punches from Kunimoto. One minute in. Looking for an arm triangle. He needs to get his knee through and pass. No dice. Now he’s in side control. Sumimura regains half guard when Kunimoto tries to go to mount. Kunimura just can’t pass. Two minutes to go.
Now he gets mount with a minute to work. Kunimoto postures up for some right hands and takes the back. Kunimoto with a slick transition to the arm triangle and Sumimura goes to sleep just moments before the bell.
Final result: Kunimoto def. Sumimura by technical submission (arm triangle choke)
Reina Miura vs. Kaitlin Young
Round one: Young firing her jab. Hard overhand right by Miura. She steps into the clinch, Young looking to frame her away. One minute in. Young counters a throw into top position and nearly takes the back before Miura slips out. Low kick from Young. Two minutes in. Young pressuring, lands another low kick. Head kick attempt. Another one catches Miura leaning. Hard right hands by Young. Two minutes to go.
Low kick from Young. Another head kick and 1-2 after eating an overhand right. Leg kick. Counter overhand from Miura. Leg kick exchange. Right hands from Miura. She more into the clinch once again, can’t maintain a grip. Young with a solid early lead.
Round two: Low kicks from Young. They’re piling up. Body kick as well. One minute in. Straight right by Young. Low kick, right hands. Miura not offering much, eats a counter right. Young opening up, absorbs a right hand. Two minutes in. Miura catches a body kick and takes her down into half guard. Young rolls to her knees. Miura looking for her second hook. There it is, full back control. Young appears to use the ropes to pull her way up. One minute to go. Young denies an attempt to clinch and goes back to work with heavy right hands. Miura eats a 1-2, hits a double-leg. Still Young’s fight so far.
Round three: Lovely throw from Miura, but Young again rolls through and they return to their feet. One minute in. Low kicks from Young. Head kick this time. Two minutes in. Young waves her on. Head kick attempt, straight right connects. Another low kick. Miura grabs double underhooks in the corner. Two minutes to go.
Young framing well, lands a knee upstairs but gets taken down into side control. Young gets to her knees, Miura takes her back. Full body triangle. Miura looking for the choke, runs out of time. Should be a decision for Young.
Final result: Young def. Miura by unanimous decision
Kickboxing: Taiki Naito vs. Hannya Hashimoto
Round one: Both open with kicks. Sneaky side kick knocks Hashimoto over. Low kicks from Hashimoto. Naito looks for a head kick. Once again. Low kick from Naito a minute in. Not even sure there’s been a punch yet. Now Naito follows a left hook with a head kick. Jumping knee glances off Hashimoto’s chin. Leg kick exchange. Hashimoto to the body. One minute to go. He takes one to the cup. Naito firing kicks, but gets caught with a right hand while throwing and hits the mat for a knockdown. He looks fine, catching Hashimoto with a left hook when they resume. Hard right straight. 10-8 Hashimoto.
Round two: Hashimoto goes low-high, has to weather a long series of combos from Naito. Naito tearing up the lead leg, catches a kick and lands while holding it. Clash of heads in the center. Hashimoto to the body, eats more leg kicks. That right leg of his is going. Naito keeps whacking at it until Hashimoto drops for a knockdown. Two more kicks and down goes Hashimoto again. He’s limping when he stands. His leg can’t support him anymore and there’s the finish.
Final result: Naito def. Hashimoto by TKO (leg kicks)
Hatsu Hioki vs. Mikuru Asakura
Round one: Asakura throwing heavy, lands a leg kick. Asakura to the body. Hioki shoots from too far out, stuffed. One minute in. Asakura body kick. Hioki shoots again, gets over-unders. Hioki goes for a sacrifice throw, winds up on the bottom in guard. Two minutes in. Hioki looks for a leg, Asakura lets him up. Two minutes to go.
Asakura digs a left downstairs, eats a body shot in return. Asakura backs him to the corner and sends him crashing down with a left high kick. Two more punches and it’s over.
Final result: Asakura def. Hioki by KO (head kick and punches)
Roque Martinez vs. Kiyoshi Kuwabara
Round one: They meet in the center and just start trading punches. Martinez seemingly getting the better of it, waving him on. Body kicks from Martinez. One minute in. Uppercut lands for him, more body kicks. Elbows by Martinez. Kuwabara getting overwhelmed, eats uppercuts and hooks. Kuwabara’s still throwing back at him. Two minutes in. Kuwabara to the body, eats a long combination. Now Kuwabara’s stumbling, eats a glancing head kick. Martinez staying busy with punches, rips the body. Two minutes to go.
Hard right hand after some jabs. Kuwabara looks spent. Head kick from Martinez, heavy shots in the corner. The ref steps in as the flurry ramps up.
Final result: Martinez def. Kuwabara by TKO (head kick and punches)
Kickboxing: Sho Ogawa vs. KAITO
Round one: Trading low kicks to start. One minute in. Body kick from Ogawa, low kick from KAITO and they trade knees inside. Body kick by Ogawa. Combination from KAITO. One minute to go. Teep to the face. Ogawa catches a body kick and sweeps the leg. KAITO catches the next kick and lands a right hand. Body kick from KAITO, knocked off-balance. 10-9 Ogawa.
Round two: Another patient opening minute, both men landing low kicks. One minute in. Right hand and low kick from KAITO. Body shot. 1-2 met by a jab. Ogawa body kick. KAITO landing better now. One minute to go. He tries a jumping knee. Low kick from Ogawa. Body shot, low kick. Counter right from KAITO as Ogawa pressures. Ogawa leg kick met by a left hook. 10-9 KAITO.
Round three: Once again, they start by picking at each other’s lead legs. KAITO to the body, uppercut upstairs. Teep lands. One minute in. Hard left hook downstairs. Ogawa leg kicks, combination upstairs. Looking to pick up the pace. Combo from KAITO in return. Counter 1-2. Hard combinations from Kaito to the head and body. More shots piling up. Left hook exchange. KAITO overwhelming him with punches right now, but Ogawa firing back. 10-9 KAITO.
Final result: KAITO def. Ogawa by unanimous decision
Kanako Murata vs. Angela Magana
Round one: Both firing right hands early. Magana landing straights. Murata gets double underhooks and trips her down into side control. One minute in. Magana trying to bridge, can’t do so as Murata lands punches. Magans manages to scramble up, suplexed back to the mat. Two minutes in. Magana stuck on her knees. She nearly vies up her neck on the way up, eats a knee. Two minutes to go.
Another takedown into side control for Murata. Hard right hands. She continues to whack away, maintaining control. Murata well ahead.
Round two: Trading low kicks to start. Murata gets double underhooks in the corner. Magana manages to separate and fire her jab. Murata tries to spin. Two minutes in. Jab from Magana, body kick from Murata. Straight left by Murata, who hits an easy double-leg into side control. Murata looking for a von Flue choke. Two minutes to go.
Still looking for that choke. She passes to mount and clamps down until Magana taps.
Final result: Murata def. Magana by submission (von Flue choke)
Kickboxing: RYUKI vs. NAOYA
Round one: Trading kicks to start. RYUKI with the harder low kicks so far. Body kick. NAOYA lands one in return, then a right hand inside. Hard 1-2 from RYUKI a minute in. Back to trading low kicks, stiff straight punches by RYUKI. NAOYA with a body kick, eats an uppercut and straight lef.t Clinch. RYUKI picking up the pace, whacking the lead leg. Body shot, uppercuts, hooks. NAOYA fires a head kick and eats a left cross. RYUKI to the body. Straight left, uppercuts. 10-9 RYUKI.
Round two: Both land left hands, then NAOYA wades in, landing a right hook. Good exchanges this round. RYUKI back on the front foot, landing jabs. Straight left met by a NAOYA high kick. Body kicks from NAOYA, who eats a knee. Clinch. One minute to go. Low kicks by RYUKI. Body kick backs NAOYA up and he follows up with a flying knee attempt. Hard straight left buzzes NAOYA and RYUKI’s on the attack. 10-9 RYUKI.
Round three: NAOYA moving forward. Knee and straight left by RYUKI, leg kick lands. Body kicks, straight left, then a nasty series of punches that NAOYA absorbs. One minute in. Clinch. Body kick from NAOYA. Knee by RYUKI met by an uppercut. Knee again, jumping switch kick. NAOYA low kick with a minute to go. Knee and straight left come back at him and again RYUKI whacks that lead leg. Straight left on the break. Again on the counter. Both land punches in the center. Uppercuts from Ryuki with his back on the ropes. 10-9 RYUKI.
Final result: RYUKI def. NAOYA by unanimous decision
Kickboxing: Shintaro Matsukura vs. Takahiro Okuyama
Round one: Matsukura sending out round kicks. Snap kick downstairs, left body kick. Again. Matsukura switching stances well. Snap kick, low kick. One minute in. Leg kick, body kick. Good right hand catches Okuyama coming in. Body kick form Okuyama. Matsukura outlanding him by a large margin, punishing the body. One minute to go. Straight left snaps Okuyama’s head back and Okuyama marches after him, throwing combinations. Suddenly, Okuyama wobbles Matsukara with a left hook and tries to put him down before the bell. 10-9 Okuyama.
Round two: Matsukura going back to the kicks. Body kick lands for him. Leg kick exchange. One minute in. 1-2 from Matsukura, body kick exchange. Short right from Okuyama. Teep downstairs. One minute to go. Matsukura steps in and levels Okuyama with a 1-2. Okuyama goes down face-first, but manages to beat the count. Matsukura keeps up the attack until another 1-2 puts him down.
Final result: Matsukura def. Okuyama by TKO (punches)
Kickboxing: Takiya Shota vs. Syuto Sato
Round one: Trading early low kicks. Sato tries a high kick. Good trade in the center until Sato catches a kick. Takedown by Sato. One minute in. Another clinch. Low kick from Shota, body kick by Sato. Sato counters a low kick with a straight left and Shota slips. Trading in the center, both land body kicks and Sato lands while he has Shota on one leg, then hits a throw. Shota just keeps slipping, but suddenly he’s landing heavy shots. 10-9 Sato.
Round two: Sato tries a spinning hook kick, lands a knee in the clinch. Heavy punches from both men, body kick by Sato and a side kick to the body. Another takedown. Trading knees inside, throw from Sato. Shota slips yet again, eats a front kick and a combo. Heavy exchange. Counter hook catches Shota jumping. Low kicks and knees by Shota, tries to open up on the ropes. He backs Sato to the corner and drops him hard. Shota tries to capitalize, walks into a front kick and then gets dropped after standing. Clinch. 10-9 Sato.
Round three: Shota comes out slugging, eats a kick. Clinch. Sato’s nose look busted and Shota cracks him with a knee for a called knockdown. Ref pauses the fight to look at Sato’s nose. One minute in. Back to punching, Shota tries a knee inside and gets clipped with punches. He just keeps marching forward. Knees from Shota inside. Sato body kick, jumping knee. Takedown. Shota lands a heavy left high kick and looks to pour it on. Clinches slowing things down. Shota continues to pound until the bell. 10-8 Shota.
Final result: Shota def. Sato by unanimous decision
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