Rizin FF officials announced today that Rizin FF 6 will serve as the event to kick off the Japanese promotion’s bantamweight grand prix, in addition to four other fights on the card.
Rizin FF 6 takes place July 30 at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan.
The first round of the bantamweight grand prix, a 14-man tournament, will take place over the course of two events – three fights for Bracket A at Rizin FF 6 and three fights for Bracket B in October. The six winners from those fights, plus two yet-to-be-announced wild-card fighters with byes, will make up the quarterfinals, which will take place December 29th.
To the winner goes 15,000,000 Japanese yen (about $134,000 U.S.), with second place earning about $26,000 and third place $9,000.
A pair of former UFC fighters stand out among the tournament participants, with former UFC flyweight title challenger Kyoji Horiguchi and Anthony Birchak both set to compete in the first round at Rizin FF 6.
Horiguchi (19-2) is on a four-fight win streak with his latest win coming in his promotional debut in April, a unanimous decision over Yuki Motoya at Rizin FF 5. Horiguchi, whose last loss was to UFC champion Demetrious Johnson in April 2015, is set to face 39-year-old veteran and Japanese fan favorite Hideo Tokoro (34-29-2).
Birchak (13-4), who alternated wins and losses in four UFC appearances, is coming off an unsuccessful Rizin debut as he lost a unanimous decision to Tatsuya Kawajiri at Rizin FF 5. Birchak will face Takafumi Otsuka (22-13-2) in first round of the tournament.
Rizin FF 5 includes:
- Kyoji Horiguchi vs Hideo Tokoro – banatmweight GP first round
- Anthony Birchak vs Takafumi Otsuka – banatmweight GP first round
- Keita Ishibashi vs Khalid Taha – banatmweight GP first round
- Tenshin Nasukawa vs Kizaemon Saiga
- Miyuu Yamamoto vs Cassie Robb
- Satoru Kitaoka vs Yusuke Yachi
- KING Reina vs Seini Draughn