After developing simply brief in her title bid on New Yr’s Eve, Rena Kubota will look to get again in rivalry when she competes in entrance of hometown followers on September tenth at Rizin Preventing Federation: “Tremendous Rizin 5” in Osaka, Japan. Kubota faces judoka Natalia “Kuzya” Kuziutina on the cardboard.
Officers introduced the tremendous atomweight matchup this week. Kubota, who has lengthy been a prime star in Rizin, was submitted by Seika Izawa on New Yr’s Eve after practically knocking Izawa out within the opening minute. Kuziutina gained her Rizin debut in spectacular style by submitting Ayaka Hamasaki.
Kubota (15-6-0) has been one of many faces of Rizin since transitioning from her lengthy profession in shoot boxing and debuting in MMA at Rizin’s second-ever occasion on the finish of 2015. She has completed her opponents in ten of 15 wins and got here perilously near doing so in opposition to Izawa of their title struggle on New Yr’s Eve. A lead left hook from Kubota left the champion barely acutely aware 55 seconds into the struggle, however Izawa recovered shortly and he or she finally compelled Kubota to faucet out to a guillotine choke within the second spherical. Kubota had gained three of 4 bouts previous to the setback and, with Izawa now on the sidelines because of the impending delivery of her first baby, a victory in her hometown might put Kubota proper again into one other title struggle by the tip of the yr.
Kuziutina (10-1-0) made the transfer to MMA in 2022 following a stellar profession in judo that included an Olympic bronze medal win in 2016. She suffered her lone MMA defeat in her second struggle in opposition to present UFC standout Fatima Kline at Invicta FC 52, and went on to win the LFA Interim Strawweight Championship. In April, Kuziutina made her Rizin debut in opposition to former champ Hamasaki at “Landmark Vol. 13,” which led to a first-round armbar victory for Kuziutina and instantly established her as a menace for Izawa’s title. A showdown in opposition to Izawa must wait, however Kuziutina should still discover herself competing for Rizin gold within the coming months if she will be able to get previous Kubota in September.
Rizin Preventing Federation: “Tremendous Rizin 5” takes place on September tenth at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Osaka, Japan.
