RIZIN FF News

Tenshin Nasukawa, Floyd Mayweather, RIZIN 14
RIZIN FF

Tenshin Nasukawa admits he 'underestimated' Floyd Mayweather

Tom Taylor - January 2, 2019

On New Years Eve in Tokyo, Japan, in the main event of RIZIN 14, 20-year-old Japanese kickboxing star Tenshin Nasukawa stepped through the ropes for an exhibition boxing match with undefeated legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. Because this fight was an exhibition, it would not wind up on either fighters record, no matter the outcome. All the same, Nasukawa hoped to do the unthinkable and knock the Floyd Mayweather out.

Conor McGregor
Floyd Mayweather

Conor McGregor reacts to Floyd Mayweather vs. Tenshin Nasukawa bout

Tom Taylor - January 1, 2019

Pretty much everybody has an opinion on the Floyd Mayweather vs. Tenshin Nasukawa bout that topped Monday’s RIZIN 14 card. That includes former UFC lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor. McGregor, who previously engaged in his own battle with Mayweather, recently took to Twitter to give his take on the madness. Surprisingly, however, he had little to say about Mayweather’s performance. Instead, he seems more concerned with Mayweather’s rumored $9M payday, and how it will position him on the list of the highest earning athletes in the world.

Floyd Mayweather
RIZIN FF

Opinion: How Floyd Mayweather pulled off the heist of the century at RIZIN 14

Jordy McElroy - January 1, 2019

Tenshin Nasukawa showed up for a fight, and Floyd Mayweather showed up for an exhibition match at RIZIN 14. Ironically, they both got exactly what they wanted at the featured special rules boxing match in Japan on New Year’s Eve. Mayweather left without a scratch after a glorified celebrity appearance, and Nasukawa tasted the pain and heartache of defeat after a real fight with the best boxer on the planet.

Darrion Caldwell
Kyoji Horiguchi

Darrion Caldwell reacts to submission loss to Kyoji Horiguchi, hints at rematch in the cage

Tom Taylor - December 31, 2018

Bellator bantamweight champion Darrion Caldwell traveled all the way to Japan on his quest for a second world title, as we was booked for a RIZIN 14 bantamweight title fight with Japanese star Kyoji Horiguchi. Early on this fight, it looked as though Caldwell might succeed on his transpacific mission, as he was able to take Horiguchi down and control him on the canvas.

Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Jack Ma
RIZIN FF

The combats sports community reacts to Floyd Mayweather smashing Tenshin Nasukawa

Tom Taylor - December 31, 2018

On Monday night (Monday morning in North America), undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. stepped into the RIZIN Fighting Federation ring for a strange exhibition bout with 20-year-old kickboxing sensation Tenshin Nasukawa. In the weeks leading up to this exhibition bout — and really, until the very point the action began — Floyd Mayweather looked like he was taking it all incredibly lightly. Once the action began, however, the legend of pugilism began pouring on the offense, punishing his much smaller opponent with the kind of winging power shots he has not thrown in years. To him, it seemed, this was indeed a real fight.

Floyd Mayweather, Tenshin Nasukawa
RIZIN FF

RIZIN 14 results: Floyd Mayweather stops Tenshin Nasukawa in the first round (video)

Tom Taylor - December 31, 2018

On Monday night (Monday morning in North America), in the main event of the action-packed RIZIN 14 card inside the hallowed Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo, Japan, boxing legend Floyd Mayweather returned to the ring for an undeniably bizarre exhibition bout with undefeated kickboxing wunderkind Tenshin Nasukawa. The rules for the bout were as follows:

Kyoji-Horiguchi
RIZIN FF

RIZIN 14 results: Kyoji Horiguchi scores huge comeback win over Darrion Caldwell, Ayaka Hamasaki claims gold

Drake Riggs - December 31, 2018

It came and went, but as usual, it was a great night of action for the RIZIN Fighting Federation’s big New Year’s Eve show. This year, it was RIZIN 14. Of the multiple UFC veterans competing at the event, Justin Scoggins was one of them as he made his promotional debut against Yuki Motoya in a 132-pound catchweight bout.

Floyd Mayweather, Tenshin Nasukawa
Floyd Mayweather

EXCLUSIVE | Tenshin Nasukawa certain he will perform better than Conor McGregor against Floyd Mayweather

Tom Taylor - December 27, 2018

20-year-old Japanese kickboxing wunderkind Tenshin Nasukawa is currently gearing up for the experience of a lifetime: a three-round exhibition boxing match with undefeated legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. The bout will top the stacked RIZIN 14 card, which goes down inside the hallowed Saitaima Super Arena, just outside Tokyo, Japan, on New Years Eve. Given that Tenshin Nasukawa and Floyd Mayweather come from two different sports — one that allows kicks, one that doesn’t — it should come as no surprise that the negotiations for this anticipated exhibition match were difficult. The two parties had to agree on a rule-set that would satisfy Mayweather, but also maintain some level of competitive legitimacy.

Floyd Mayweather, Tenshin Nasukawa
RIZIN FF

Tenshin Nasukawa on Floyd Mayweather: 'I feel like kicking him'

Tom Taylor - December 19, 2018

On New Years Even, inside the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo, Japan, undefeated kickboxing sensation Tenshin Nasukawa will step into the ring with undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. for a bizarre exhibition match. The bout will headline the stacked RIZIN 14 card. In this bout, Nasukawa will not be allowed to throw kicks. He will, however, be able to punch with full enthusiasm, as a knockout victory for either party is apparently allowable under the bout’s ruleset.

Damien Brown
Exclusive MMA Interviews

EXCLUSIVE | UFC veteran Damien Brown talks fighting on huge RIZIN 14 card

Cole Shelton - December 14, 2018

When UFC veteran Damien Brown steps into the RIZIN ring with Daron Cruickshank at RIZIN 14 in Tokyo, Japan, on New Years Eve, he’ll be crossing an item off his bucket list. The Australian lightweight has long been interested in fighting for RIZIN in Japan, and on this card that also features massive names like Floyd Mayweather Jr., Tenshin Nasukawa, Kyoji Horiguchi, and Darrion Caldwell, the timing couldn’t be better.

Gabi-Garcia
RIZIN FF

Gabi Garcia returns as RIZIN announces two additional bouts for RIZIN 14

Drake Riggs - December 12, 2018

It wouldn’t have been a RIZIN New Year’s Eve event without Gabi Garcia (5-0). And as the promotion announced today, she will be in action after all. The past three years during RIZIN’s big yearend events, the multi-time BJJ gold medalist Garcia has been featured.

Floyd Mayweather
RIZIN FF

VIDEO | Rizin releases promo for Floyd Mayweather vs. Tenshin Nasukawa bout

Tom Taylor - December 7, 2018

https://twitter.com/nobu_sakakibara/status/1070887441282752512 On Thursday evening, Rizin Fighting Federation released a promo for the main attraction of Rizin 14 on New Years Eve, a delightfully strange boxing exhibition between undefeated legend Floyd Mayweather Jr and undefeated kickboxing sensation Tenshin Nasukawa. This promo, which seems to show Floyd Mayweather scouring the globe for a worthy adversary, is definitely worth watching.