All articles tagged with #rizin
Patchy Mix explains his UFC exit came after a financially challenging bantamweight run on a contender contract, choosing to move up to featherweight and sign with RIZIN where he’ll headline RIZIN 52 against Kyoma Akimoto. He aims to stay active with three fights in 2026, eyeing potential clashes with Razhabali Shaydullaev and other top contenders as he rebuilds his career.
Patchy Mix, the former Bellator bantamweight champion who was released by the UFC after an 0-2 stint, was knocked out by 19-year-old Kyoma Akimoto 37 seconds into round two at RIZIN 52, marking Mix's first career stoppage and a setback in his bid to rebound in RIZIN's featherweight division.
Ryan Garcia's planned exhibition fight against kickboxer Rukiya Anpo at RIZIN's New Year's Eve event is in jeopardy after his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, announced that Golden Boy Promotions has not signed off on the bout. Despite a heated press conference between Garcia and Anpo, De La Hoya stated that no agreement has been reached, putting the fight on hold. Garcia, currently suspended for a doping violation, was looking to stay active through this exhibition match.
Former Bellator champions AJ McKee and Patricky "Pitbull" Freire will compete in the Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix quarterfinals on July 30 at the Saitama Super Arena near Tokyo in a card billed as Bellator x Rizin 2. The event will feature both Bellator and Rizin fights, with the Bellator fights taking place in a cage under the Unified Rules of MMA and the Rizin fights taking place in a ring under Rizin rules. The winner of the McKee vs. Pitbull fight will face Alexandr Shabliy in the grand prix semifinals.
Former Bellator champions AJ McKee and Patricky "Pitbull" Freire will compete in the Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix quarterfinals on July 30 at the Saitama Super Arena near Tokyo in one of the headlining fights for a card billed as Bellator x Rizin 2. The event will feature both Bellator and Rizin fights, with the Bellator fights taking place in a cage under the Unified Rules of MMA and the Rizin fights taking place in a ring under Rizin rules. The winner of McKee vs. Pitbull will face Alexandr Shabliy in the grand prix semifinals.