Rizin Fighting Federation plans on expanding its reach next year.
The Japanese promotion announced during a press conference in Hawaii that it plans on holding an event in the Aloha State sometime in 2023. An exact date and venue were not specified. The event was attended by Rizin CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara along with a trio of notable fighters with Hawaiian roots: Enson Inoue, Egan Inoue and B.J. Penn.
"Starting today, we will attempt to host RIZIN’s first international event here in Hawaii, next year,” Sakakibara said. “Of course, we understand that RIZIN is still not a common name, but we will do our best to become the most dynamic and dramatic combat sports event in Hawaii.”
Penn, a UFC Hall of Famer who fought in his home state early in his MMA career at Rumble on the Rock and K-1 Events, praised those involved for attempting to bring a major card to Hawaii.
“I want to thank everybody for coming out here today and supporting mixed martial arts. I want to give a very big ‘thank you’ to Sakakibara for putting this event on and for looking towards Hawaii as a place to hold many future events,” Penn said. “ I’m very glad that the fighters in Hawaii will get this opportunity to showcase their talents.
“I want to thank Enson Inoue for having me involved in this event. Enson is a big inspiration to my career and Hawaiian mixed martial arts period. I’ve known him since I was 10 years old, watching him fight in Japan and America, in the UFC. It's done wonders for everybody in Hawaii. Thank you Enson for all that you’ve done for us. Thank you to all the fans and thank you to everybody for coming out here. Thank you Rizin, we expect great things from you guys. I will be supporting you, Sakakibara.”
While details regarding a proposed Hawaiian event were scarce, Sakakibara implied that the organization will receive support from Bellator president Scott Coker and former boxing champion Floyd Mayweather in this endeavor. Bellator has held multiple events in Hawaii over the years, most recently for a pair of cards at Neil S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu on April 22 and 23. Mayweather, meanwhile is slated to face Mikuru Asakura in an exhibition bout under the Rizin banner on Sept. 25.
“We would like to make the Rizin Hawaii events, one of the greatest and most exciting events,” Sakakibara said. “With the support of an old friend, Bellator CEO Scott Coker and Floyd Mayweather. We would also like to open up opportunities for the young athletes and future champions in Hawaii. We’ll start a big movement starting here in Hawaii. If we bring Rizin events to Hawaii, many many Japanese people will visit. I would like to thank Senator Wakai for giving us the chance to hold a press conference here on this sacred Hula mound on Waikiki Beach. Thank you very much.”
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