This is the annual list of Japanese prospects for 2025. Arisa Matsuda did not face strong opponents in 2024, but if she fights against stiffer competition this year then she will be back on the next list.
When Aimoto made his debut, I did not pay a lot of attention to him at that time. He did not have a martial arts background and began training with friends in tunnels or at parks. He doesn’t have a particular long-term gym yet, but he has improved his record to 7-0. I’m not sure how well he will fare against tougher opponents if he maintains his current training style, but I suspect that he will land himself in Rizin in the future if he can keep winning.
Having
just turned 19 years old, Suzuki is a striker from Paraestra Hachioji,
where former Rizin champion Chihiro Suzuki used to train. He is used to
training with other strikers and has knocked out five straight
opponents, including two within the first minute. Along with our next
entry on this list, Suzuki is one of the best young prospects in the
lightweight division.
Tenya Yoshimura (4-1-0)
Like Suzuki, 20-year-old Yoshimura is another bright young lightweight prospect. Three of his victories have come via first-round TKOs and his only defeat was as a result of an illegal grounded knee strike. With his aggressive striking style, taught to him by Kenji Osawa, we will see Yoshimura competing for a major promotion in the future.
Yannick Yuji Ephoeviga (10-0-0)
Ephoeviga’s
2024 campaign was highlighted by a knockout win over Emmanuel Sanchez
in August. He then won Shooto’s Pacific Rim lightweight title in
November and will defend it against Shinsuke Nishio this month. I would
like to see Ephoeviga matched up against more foreign opponents to test
him, but we will see him in a larger promotion.
Minami
has a Goju-ryu karate background and had a good record, but he wanted
to be able to strike the head and so he chose to switch to MMA for his
career. Minami knocked out Temuulen Algirmaa in July, which was
important for him because he defeated an experienced foreign opponent so
early in his career. He will aim to win a Gladiator title and that
would catch the attention of a major promotion.
Shuya Kimura (4-0-0)
Kimura was a Nippon Kempo champion. Yusaku Nakamura is the best-known MMA fighter with that martial arts background, but Nakamura credits Kimura as being on a much higher level than him in terms of Nippon Kempo skill. In MMA, Kimura has quickly knocked out all four of his opponents so far, with his longest fight lasting only 76 seconds. My evaluation for Kimura’s potential is high.
Big thanks to Robert Sargent (MMA Rising) for English editing.
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