mma / News

New Fedor-Starring Promotion Gets a Name

October 8, 2015 | Posted by Jeremy Thomas

– The new MMA promotion that will feature Fedor Emelianenko now has a name. Nobuyuki Sakakibara announced the formation of his new promotion today, dubbing it the Rizin Fighting Federation. The promotion is an attempt to return to the heyday of Japanese MMA and will include a New Year’s Eve show that airs on the US on Spike TV in primetime.

Thus far two shows have been announced, one on December 29th and the one on New Year’s Eve. Both take place at the Saitama Super Arena and major Japanese network Fuji TV, who broadcast PRIDE, will carry the event.

The promotion’s plans include an eight-person heavyweight tournament down the line, with $500,000 going to the winner. Rizin will use rules similar to PRIDE, with men’s fights being twenty minutes with rounds of ten minutes, five minutes and five minutes. The PRIDE judging criteria will be used, with moves like soccer kicks and knees to the head of a downed opponent deemed legal. Fights will be fought inside a ring, with women’s fights set for three five-minute rounds.

Credit: 4FWOnline.com