RIZIN Unveils Full Flyweight Grand Prix Lineup to Crown New Champion at Super RIZIN 4

With Kyoji Horiguchi vacating the flyweight throne, RIZIN Fighting Federation is set to launch a new chapter in its 125-pound division by hosting an ambitious Flyweight World Grand Prix. The promotion has officially announced a 10-man tournament, with the opening round scheduled for July 27 at Super RIZIN 4, taking place at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan.

Although the tournament brackets have yet to be revealed, the lineup features a compelling mix of international talent, RIZIN veterans, and rising prospects: Jose Torres, Makoto Shinryu, Yuki Ito, Hiromasa Ougikubo, Yuki Motoya, Erson Yamamoto, Alibek Gadzhammatov, Hiroya Kondo, Nkazimulo Zulu, and Takaki Soya. One of these ten fighters will emerge as the new standard-bearer of RIZIN’s flyweight division.

The Super RIZIN 4 event will also feature high-profile matchups outside of the tournament. In the main event, former featherweight champion Kleber Koike meets Japanese star Mikuru Asakura in a rematch. Champions Naoki Inoue and Seika Izawa will defend their titles against Ryuya Fukuda and Yu Jin Shin, respectively. Adding to the card’s star power, Patricky Pitbull makes his return to RIZIN to face Shunta Nomura.

Among the Grand Prix contenders, Jose “Shorty” Torres (13-4-1) brings championship experience from Brave CF and Titan FC, as well as UFC exposure. Though he dropped a recent bout under the Brave banner, Torres earned a gritty split decision win over Shinryu in his RIZIN debut last December.

Veteran Hiromasa Ougikubo (27-8-2), 38, enters as one of the tournament’s most experienced fighters. Known for his durability and wrestling, he’s coming off wins over John Dodson and Makoto Shinryu. Ougikubo’s resume includes a notable RIZIN tournament triumph in 2021 and a win over Alexandre Pantoja on The Ultimate Fighter.

Makoto Shinryu (19-4-1, 1 NC), a highly active competitor with eight RIZIN fights under his belt, recently bounced back with a win over Yuki Ito in May. That snapped Ito’s five-fight winning streak and elevated Shinryu’s RIZIN record to 5-3.

Yuki Ito (18-6), a consistent performer in RIZIN, seeks redemption following the loss to Shinryu. The former DEEP flyweight standout had previously won eight of his ten RIZIN appearances.

RIZIN mainstay Yuki Motoya (37-13, 1 NC) drops to flyweight after coming up short in a bantamweight title challenge against Naoki Inoue. Motoya holds notable wins over Rogerio Bontorin, Justin Scoggins, and Shinobu Ota.

Erson Yamamoto (5-7), the nephew of late Japanese legend Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, continues his journey in RIZIN after a recent submission win over Daichi Tomizawa, looking to add consistency to his record.

Undefeated Alibek Gadzhammatov (5-0), a 23-year-old Dagestani phenom, made waves in his RIZIN debut by knocking out Daichi Kitakata last November. Known for his finishing ability, Gadzhammatov has yet to see the judges' scorecards in his pro career.

Hiroya Kondo (11-13-1) enters the Grand Prix on a two-fight winning streak, having recently secured victories over Yuya Shibata and Tatsuki Shinotsuka. Despite a rocky career, Kondo has shown flashes of potential.

South African standout Nkazimulo “Zulu Boy” Zulu (16-7-1), a former dual champion in EFC, is known for his finishing skills, splitting 14 stoppages evenly between knockouts and submissions. He put on a valiant effort in a decision loss to Horiguchi on New Year's Eve.

Finally, Takaki Soya (13-6-1) is fresh off a revenge win over John Dodson, defeating the UFC vet in MMA after losing to him in bare-knuckle boxing.

As RIZIN prepares to crown a new flyweight king, the Grand Prix promises elite competition and narrative depth. Fighters from across the globe—veterans, ex-champions, prospects, and homegrown talents—will clash in a high-stakes pursuit of gold. With no clear favorite and so much on the line, the Super RIZIN 4 Flyweight World Grand Prix is set to deliver must-watch action this summer.

“Zulu Boy” scored 87 percent of his victories by way of stoppage, a perfect split between seven knockouts and seven submissions.