Kyoji Horiguchi, who once challenged for UFC gold, became the first-ever RIZIN flyweight champion at RIZIN 45.
Horiguchi scored a submission win via rear-naked choke over Makoto Shinryu in the main event. The two previously fought to a no-contest earlier this year due to an accidental eye-poke.
This one was crazy from the start, with both attempting submissions right off the bat. In the second, it was Horiguchi who got his locked in first, earning the win.
In the co-main event, Kai Asakura claimed the bantamweight title with a finish of Juan Archuleta. The bout was one in which only Asakura could win the title after Archuleta was stripped due to missing weight.
Following an action-packed opening round, Asakura connected with a knee that ended the fight and started his second run as RIZIN champion.
Another former UFC title contender, John Dodson, suffered a decision loss to Hiromasa Ougijubo.
RIZIN 45 Results
- Kyoji Horiguchi def. Makoto Shinryu via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:44 of Round 2
- Kai Asakura def. Juan Archuleta via TKO at 3:20 of Round 2
- Kleber Koike def. Yutaka Saito via submission (guillotine choke) at 1:21 of Round 3
- Ren Hiramoto def. Ya-Man via unanimous decision
- Seika Izawa def. Miyuu Yamamoto via submission (rear-naked choke) at :37 of Round 2
- Mikio Ueda def. Tsuyoshi Sudario via TKO at :55 of Round 2
- Hiromasa Ougikubo def. John Dodson via unanimous decision
- Vince Morales def. Yuki Motoya via unanimous decision
- Shinobu Ota def. Ryusei Ashizawa via TKO at 2:21 of Round 1
- Kouzi def. Kota Miura via TKO at :59 of Round 2
- Igor Tanabe def. Shinsho Anzai via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:32 of Round 1
- Hiroya Kondo def. Jo Arai via TKO at 2:53 of Round 2
- Yuta Kubo def. Rukiya Anpo via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:28 of Round 1
