Rizin Fighting Federation

For the 2024 season, see 2024 in Rizin Fighting Federation.
Rizin Fighting Federation
Company typePrivate
IndustryMixed martial arts promotion
Founded2015; 9 years ago (2015)
FounderNobuyuki Sakakibara
Headquarters
Minato-ku, Tokyo
,
Japan
Key people
Nobuyuki Sakakibara
Nobuhiko Takada
ParentDream Factory Worldwide
Websiterizin.tv

Rizin Fighting Federation (stylised in all caps and also known as Rizin FF) is a Japanese mixed martial arts organization created in 2015 by the former Pride Fighting Championships and Dream Stage Entertainment president Nobuyuki Sakakibara.[1][2]

Founded to be the spiritual successor of Pride FC and Dream, Rizin carries much of the philosophy and ambition of its two predecessors: its events are promoted as larger-than-life events with elaborate opening ceremonies and fighter entrances, its matches are fought in a roped ring and it has a ruleset inherited from Pride and Dream. The organization also promotes "Grand Prix", single-elimination tournaments where fighters have to fight multiple opponents in the same night.[3][4] Rizin is considered Japan's top MMA promotion.[5]

Rizin has also promoted kickboxing matches, with two "Grand Prix" tournaments in 2017[6] and 2021.[7]

The promotion's name is a combination of "Raijin", the Japanese god of lightning; the word "rising", meaning "to prosper and thrive"; and the letter, 'Z', meaning "ultimate".[8]

  1. ^ "Nobuyuki Sakakibara discusses Rizin FF plans for 2016, Fedor Emelianenko's opponent, drug testing and more". MMA Fighting. 27 October 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
  2. ^ "Former Pride FC boss: Fedor's opponent will mean something for future of MMA". Bloody Elbow. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
  3. ^ "'New PRIDE' to be called Rizin Fighting Federation » MixedMartialArts.com". Mma Underground. 2015-10-08. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
  4. ^ Rondina, Steven. "Pride Never Die: Rizin FF Instantly Becomes Compelling UFC Alternative". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
  5. ^ Zivanovic, Tomislav (2020-11-11). "Best MMA Promotions Outside the UFC (Top 7)". Martial Arts Unleashed. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
  6. ^ "RIZIN Fighting World Grand Prix 2017: Final Round | MMA & Kickboxing Event". Tapology. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  7. ^ Bowker, Dylan (2021-05-03). "Rizin 29 Kickboxing Tournament: all participants announced". MyMMANews. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  8. ^ "Concept". rizinff.com. Retrieved 2020-10-06.