Bellator will head back over to Japan for a second time with Bellator X Rizin 2 this summer. At the event, the promotion will crown an inaugural flyweight champion.
Bellator X Rizin 2 Planned For July In Japan
Following a New Year’s Eve event in Japan between Bellator MMA and Rizin FF, the two promotions have decided on a second event. Bellator X Rizin 2 is set for July 30 from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
In the main event, AJ McKee takes on Patricky Pitbull in a quarterfinal round contest in the Lightweight World Grand Prix. Both are former champions in the promotion.
Also, the inaugural Bellator flyweight champion will be crowned. Kyoji Horiguchi, a former titleholder and UFC challenger, will take on Makoto Takahashi.
“On July 30 you’ll see two leagues and I want to thank Nobuyuki Sakakibara for allowing us to come here and be part of this,” Scott Coker said. “He really doesn’t have to, he’s been a great leader, he has been a great Mixed Martial Arts, I would arguably say he’ll go down as one of the greatest fight promoters of all time.
“He’s been a great mentor for me, even though he doesn’t know it, so any chance I get to come here to work with him I always say yes. We have been planning this event for the last four months and we’re truly going to deliver something spectacular at Saitama Super Arena on July 30.
“I look forward to putting a great fight on with my fighters and it’s going to be a fun event to watch.”
“Last year we were able to do a promotion vs promotion event on New Year’s Eve with the help of Scott Coker who understands and values the Japanese Mixed Martial Arts scene very much,” Sakakibar said. “In a world where people talk trash amongst each other, we were able to cooperate and have a productive event. We have been in this business for 30 years now and we’ve been able to build.”
Split Rules, Cages For Fights
Fans in attendance at the historic Saitama Super Arena will get to watch both portions of the event with the Bellator fights taking place in the cage with the iconic red and blue MMA gloves, plus white gloves for the World Grand Prix competitors.
The Bellator contests will be adhere to the Unified Rules of MMA.
Rizin bouts, two of which will include Bellator fighters Juan Archuleta and Tofiq Musayev, will take place in the normal ring that is used.
One other announced bout will see Kana Watanabe face off against Veta Arteaga.
Bellator X Rizin 2 Fight Card
Lightweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinals: #5-AJ McKee (20-1) vs. #2-Patricky Pitbull (24-11)
Inaugural Flyweight World Championship: Kyoji Horiguchi (16-9) vs. Makoto “Shinryu” (16-1-1)
Women’s Flyweight Bout: #3-Kana Watanabe (11-2-1) vs. #7-Veta Arteaga (7-5)
