Sabatello’s Wrestling Took the RIZIN Belt From Inoue
Danny Sabatello defeated Naoki Inoue by split decision on December 31, 2025, at Saitama Super Arena. The three-round bantamweight championship contest gave the former Bellator contender his first RIZIN title after a succession of difficult grappling exchanges.
The matchup and early action
Inoue entered as champion after winning the belt in September 2024 and defending it twice. Sabatello had earned his challenge through victories over Shinobu Ota and Shoko Sato during his first year with the promotion.
The champion began effectively with jabs and leg kicks. Sabatello answered by taking the fight into wrestling exchanges, repeatedly looking for the back and forcing Inoue to work through extended scrambles.
The decisive developments
Inoue reversed positions and generated offense of his own rather than conceding uninterrupted control. During the second round, he escaped a rear-naked choke threat and worked above the challenger before another exchange of positions.
Sabatello attacked more aggressively standing in the third before returning to takedowns and submission threats. Inoue continued escaping, ensuring that the championship would require a judges’ verdict after all fifteen minutes.
What the result meant
Two officials preferred Sabatello and one selected Inoue, producing the split decision and a title change. The result rewarded the challenger’s wrestling while acknowledging the competitiveness of the completed contest.
Sabatello later defended the belt against Joji Goto at RIZIN Landmark 13 in April 2026, winning unanimously. The New Year’s Eve victory was therefore the beginning of his championship run, with the subsequent Fukuoka result providing its first successful defense.
