RIZIN 52: Akimoto vs. Mix and a Recent Era for Japanese MMA
RIZIN Fighting Federation (RFF) is set to host RIZIN 52 at the Ariake Arena in Koto, Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday, March 7, 2026.1 This event marks the beginning of a new decade for RIZIN, following the conclusion of its 10th-anniversary celebrations at the end of 2025.2 The card features 12 bouts, including a main event showdown between Kyoma Akimoto and Patrick “Patchy” Mix.
Main Event: Kyoma Akimoto vs. Patchy Mix
The main event pits 19-year-old Kyoma Akimoto against former Bellator bantamweight champion and UFC veteran Patchy Mix.2 Akimoto (11-1) is a rising star in Japanese MMA, even as Mix (20-3) is looking to make an impact after his release from the UFC.1
Featured Bouts
RIZIN 52 boasts a diverse fight card with several other notable matchups:
- Luiz Gustavo vs. Taisei Sakuraba4
- Ryo Takagi vs. Shuya Kimura4
- Kolesnik vs. Munetoshi Aimoto4
- Saori Oshima vs. Kate Lotus4
New Scoring System
RIZIN will implement a new scoring system starting with RIZIN 52. The organization is moving away from the “total must” system, used since the PRIDE era, to a system more closely aligned with the UFC’s “round mast” (determined in each round) and a unique “dual mast” system.2 This change is expected to impact fight outcomes and overall scoring.
Event Details
- Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026
- Location: Ariake Arena, Koto, Tokyo, Japan
- Broadcast: Internet PPV2
- Announcers: Michael Schiavello, Damien Brown2
- Total Bouts: 122
Preliminary Results
As of the event’s progression, the following results have been recorded:
- Match 1: NOEL (Win) vs. Lee Bomi (Loss) – 1R 2 minutes and 7 seconds (Guillotine Choke)
- Match 2: Lee Jong Hyun (Win) vs. Takeshi Arai (Loss) – 3R 3 minutes 44 seconds (TKO)
- Match 3: Tony Laramie (Win) vs. Takashi Soya (Loss) – 3R 2 minutes 0 seconds (TKO)
- Match 4: Masamitsu Sato (Win) vs. John Sweeney (Loss) – 1R (Triangle Choke)
- Match 5: Kim Kyung Pyo (Win) vs. Yusuke Yaji (Loss) – 2R 4 minutes 25 seconds (TKO)
Karshaga Doubtbeck was absent due to “acute circulatory dysfunction,” resulting in the cancellation of his match against Tatsuya Fukuda.