On New Year’s Eve 2020, Rizin Fighting Federation 26 delivered one of the most electrifying main events in Japanese MMA history: Kyoji Horiguchi stormed back from defeat to crush Kai Asakura with a devastating TKO at 2:48 of Round 1, reclaiming the Rizin Bantamweight Championship in front of a roaring crowd at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. It wasn’t just a win—it was redemption. Horiguchi, once the undisputed king of the 135-pound division, had lost his title to Asakura in a shocking upset just over a year earlier. This time, he didn’t just win—he erased the memory of that loss with a brutal, flawless performance that left the MMA world stunned.

The Redemption Arc: Horiguchi vs. Asakura II

The rematch had been brewing since their first fight in August 2019, when Asakura, then the rising star from Fukuoka, outboxed and outlasted the veteran Horiguchi to claim the belt. Horiguchi, a former Bellator champion with a record of 29-3, was seen as past his prime. But on December 31, 2020, he looked like the fighter who once dominated the division. From the opening bell, he pressured Asakura with crisp, calculated strikes—no flashy combinations, just relentless accuracy. At 2:48 of the first round, a perfectly timed left hook to the temple sent Asakura stumbling. Two follow-up right hands to the body, then a final uppercut as Asakura tried to rise—referee Yuji Shimada stepped in. The crowd erupted. Asakura, 16-3, sat on the canvas, stunned. Horiguchi, still breathing hard, raised his fist. No celebration. Just quiet intensity. This wasn’t about glory. It was about proving something to himself.

Ayaka Hamasaki’s Emotional Triumph

While Horiguchi’s win stole headlines, Ayaka Hamasaki delivered a performance that resonated far beyond the cage. In the co-main event, she submitted Miyuu Yamamoto with a rare kimura-leg scissor choke at 1:42 of Round 1 to claim the vacant Women’s Super Atomweight title. The stakes were deeply personal: Yamamoto is the younger sister of the late Kid Yamamoto, the legendary Japanese fighter who died of stomach cancer in 2018. Hamasaki, 21-3, had held the same title before—until Seo Hee Ham took it from her on this very stage in 2019. Now, she was back. And she didn’t just win. She won for the Yamamoto family, for the legacy of Japanese women’s MMA, and for herself. After the fight, Hamasaki knelt beside Yamamoto, offering a hand. No words were needed.

The Legacy of New Year’s Eve in Japanese MMA

Rizin’s annual December 31 card isn’t just a fight night—it’s a cultural event. Since its founding in 2015 by Rizin Fighting Federation CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara, the organization has carried forward the torch of Pride FC’s legendary New Year’s Eve spectacles. The Saitama Super Arena, with its 37,000-seat capacity, has become the spiritual home of this tradition. Fans pack the venue not just for the fights, but for the ritual: fireworks, drummers, and the electric tension of a nation watching its fighters battle as the old year ends. In 2020, with global events canceled and crowds limited, the event felt even more sacred. For many, it was the only live combat sports spectacle they’d seen in months.

Other Notable Fights and Results

The undercard was stacked with standout performances. Tenshin Nasukawa, the former kickboxing sensation, outpointed Thailand’s Kumandoi Petcharoenvit in a technical striking clinic. Hideo Tokoro, the 41-year-old veteran, submitted Olympic silver medalist Shinobu Ota with a slick armbar in Round 2—proof that experience still trumps athleticism in MMA. In the 108-pound division, Kanna Asakura (18-4) defeated Ai Shimizu by unanimous decision, while Naoki Inoue submitted Yuki Motoya with a rear-naked choke at the exact three-minute mark. And in a brutal catchweight bout, Kleber Koike Erbst (26-5-1) choked out Kyle Aguon with a brabo choke, adding another name to his growing legacy.

Even the losses carried weight. Ren Hiramoto, once hailed as Japan’s next big thing, tapped out after his corner threw in the towel against Kyohei Hagiwara. And in a heartbreaking moment, Sakura Mori’s armbar win over Eru Takebayashi was ruled a no-contest—Mori missed weight by 1.1 pounds. The rules were strict. The result, nullified.

What This Means for Rizin and Japanese MMA

Horiguchi’s return signals a new chapter for Rizin. After years of chasing star power through kickboxing crossovers and celebrity fighters, the organization is recentering on its MMA roots. Horiguchi, now 30, is no longer the prodigy—he’s the veteran leader. His victory proves that elite Japanese fighters still have the heart to rise, even after setbacks. Meanwhile, Hamasaki’s win cements her as the face of the women’s division, a role she’s earned through grit, not hype.

With the 2021 calendar already shaping up to include a potential Horiguchi vs. Asakura trilogy and a title unification bout between Hamasaki and rising star Seo Hee Ham, Rizin is poised for its most competitive year yet. The Saitama Super Arena won’t be empty next December. Fans will be back. And they’ll be waiting to see what happens when the bell rings again.