Read about the dominant performance of Olympic wrestler Shinobu Ota against kickboxer Ryusei Ashizawa in their MMA debut at RIZIN 45. Find out how Ota’s background in wrestling gave him the upper hand and led to a knockout victory.
| Fighters | Result |
|---|---|
| Ryusei Ashizawa vs. Shinobu Ota | Ota wins by knockout |
Olympic wrestler Shinobu Ota made an impressive MMA debut by defeating kickboxer Ryusei Ashizawa at RIZIN 45. Ota’s background in wrestling gave him a clear advantage, as he took Ashizawa down within seconds and secured a D’Arce choke to win the fight by knockout.
In a highly anticipated mixed martial arts (MMA) debut, former kickboxer Ryusei Ashizawa faced off against Olympic silver medalist Shinobu Ota at RIZIN Fighting Federation’s New Year’s Eve fight card. The fight took place at the famous Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
From the moment the fight started, it was clear that Ota had the advantage. Within 30 seconds, he took Ashizawa down and controlled him on the ground. Despite Ashizawa’s efforts to defend himself, Ota locked in a D’Arce choke and knocked him out.
This match-up was a clear example of the challenges a kickboxer faces when transitioning to MMA. Ota’s background in Olympic wrestling gave him a significant edge over Ashizawa, who was making his MMA debut. The referee failed to notice that Ashizawa was unconscious, allowing Ota to continue pounding him until the fight was finally stopped.
It’s worth noting that Ashizawa made an interesting fashion choice for his MMA debut, as he was randomly wearing UFC Venom shorts. However, this did not affect the outcome of the fight.
Ota, 30, redeemed himself after a split decision loss at RIZIN LANDMARK 6 in Nagoya. With a silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2016 Olympics, Ota has proven himself as a formidable competitor. After retiring from wrestling in 2019, he successfully transitioned to MMA and currently holds a record of 5-3.
On the other hand, Ashizawa, 28, has had a successful career in kickboxing, with a record of 25-14-1 since 2012. However, his lack of takedown defense was evident in this fight, raising questions about his future in MMA.
The RIZIN 45 event also features a highly anticipated rematch between former UFC and Bellator fighter Kyoji Horiguchi and Makoto Shinryu for the inaugural RIZIN Flyweight championship. Their previous fight ended in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke.
Stay tuned to MMAMania.com for more highlights from RIZIN 45.
