This annual series looking at Japanese MMA
prospects is back. With the Covid-19 situation, Rizin could not use
foreign fighters and so Japanese prospects were easily picked up by the
promotion. However, some others still remain, and they are waiting on
fans like you to confirm their talents and to enjoy watching their
careers develop. As always, I have excluded fighters who moved on to the
UFC, Bellator, Rizin and One.
Tatsuro Taira (7-0)
Ryota
Matsune’s student at Paraestra Okinawa, Tatsuro Taira, has recently
shown significant improvement in his career. In November, he defeated
Kiyotaka Shimizu, who is known as a good veteran fighter. Taira was not
only better at grappling but also won in striking, which is normally
Shimizu's strongest area. Okinawa rarely produces well-known MMA
fighters, aside from Matsune and Mitsuhisa Sunabe. Now that Matsune and
Sunabe are back there and have started a gym, that trend should change.
Taira has declared that he wants to go to the world's top promotion, the
UFC. However, during this pandemic situation, going to Rizin first
could be a wise choice.
Tatsuya Saika (7-1)
This
past year, Saika won the interim lightweight King of Pancrase title.
Not only that, he finished opponent Genpei Hayashi with a scary one-shot
uppercut. Saika wants to fight against Takasuke Kume, who is the King
of Pancrase champion, but also declared that he would like to compete
for Rizin.
Tatsuya "Yanbo" Saika vs Takaya Tsukuda
Seika Izawa (2-0)
Izawa
has a strong background in wrestling and judo, but the fact that she
beat DEEP Jewels champ Miki Motono in only her second MMA fight still
shocked me. She landed right body kicks over and over against Motono and
was able to control the distance well. By avoiding most of Motono's
jabs and straight punches, Izawa showed how capable she is when it comes
to MMA striking. Izawa stated that she wants a title rematch against
Motono and plans to take the championship. Later on, she wants to be in
the world's top organization, the UFC.
Big thanks to Robert Sargent (MMA Rising) for English editing.