Rizin.25: Asakura vs. Saito Preview and Predictions
After over a month since the company’s last event, the Rizin Fighting Federation returns to Osaka, Japan, for RIZIN.25, which is headlined by a title bout featuring Mikuru Asakura and Yutaka Saito for the league’s featherweight championship.
Asakura is riding an eight-fight winning streak and has compiled a 7-0 record within the Rizin organization. Now, he prepares for the biggest fight of his career in an effort to capture the Rizin gold. His opponent, Saito, is a seasoned MMA veteran who has compiled an 18-4-2 record and is coming off a devastating knockout victory via soccer kicks over Kazumasa Majima. He plans to play spoiler and hand Asakura his first defeat in the promotion while capturing the league’s featherweight championship in the process.
Published December 14, 2020, 6:38 PM
Photo from ONE Championship
ONE Championship strawweight king Joshua Pacio wants to settle an unfinished business with Japanese rival Yosuke Saruta come 2021.
Perhaps a trilogy of the Pacio-Saruta could settle that once and for all.
“Right now, I think the number one contender is Yosuke Saruta. He just recently defeated Yoshitaka Naito and it was a solid performance,” said the 24-year-old Pacio, who last saw action in the Circle last January in ONE: Fire & Fury with a split decision win against No. 4 contender Alex Silva of Brazil for the title defense.
“We’ve had two fights so far, with one victory each. So I feel there is some unfinished business there. I’m looking forward to settling that in the Circle.”