Naoki Inoue Survives Late Scare to Defend Bantamweight Title at RIZIN 50

Naoki Inoue successfully defended his bantamweight championship at RIZIN 50, edging out Yuki Motoya via split decision in a thrilling main event in Kagawa, Japan. Making his first title defense since capturing the belt with a dominant stoppage over Soo Chul Kim last September, Inoue showcased sharp striking and composure under pressure to secure the victory.

From the opening bell, Inoue controlled the pace with crisp jabs and quick combinations, keeping Motoya at bay. Despite his best efforts, Motoya struggled to find his rhythm as Inoue maintained superior footwork and accuracy in the exchanges. However, Motoya came close to turning the tide with a guillotine choke attempt, but Inoue managed to escape and reestablish his striking dominance.

The fight took a dramatic turn in the final round. Inoue had already inflicted damage, opening a cut near Motoya’s left eye, but Motoya refused to back down. Knowing he needed a finish, Motoya executed a single-leg takedown, bringing Inoue to the canvas. He unleashed a furious ground assault, mixing ground and pound with multiple submission attempts. In the final seconds, Motoya abandoned the submissions to unleash a barrage of punches, but time ran out before he could secure a stoppage.

Despite ending the fight with his right eye swollen shut, Inoue retained his title and expressed remorse over his performance.

“I’m sorry for the subpar performance,” Inoue stated through a translator. “As you can see I couldn’t see out of my eye. I will continue to evolve and be a champion who can finish fights.”

In the co-main event, Karshyga Dautbek extended his winning streak to 10 fights with a close split-decision win over former RIZIN champion Chihiro Suzuki. The night also featured intense action, including Shunta Nomura’s technical decision victory over Luiz Gustavo after an accidental clash of heads, and highlight-reel finishes from King Edkpolo, Shuya Kimura, and Kyohei Hagiwara.

With another hard-fought win, Inoue remains the man to beat in RIZIN’s bantamweight division, while Motoya’s spirited effort proves he remains a dangerous contender.