Rizin World Grand Prix 2015: A Landmark Event in MMA History
Rizin’s first year ended with a two-day New Year’s Eve tournament in Saitama, staged on December 29 and 31, 2015. The finale paired Fedor Emelianenko’s long-awaited return with the final of the heavyweight grand prix, giving the new promotion a headline built around both nostalgia and a fresh tournament winner.
Fedor returns, and King Mo takes the bracket
Emelianenko stopped kickboxer Jaideep Singh in the opening round after taking him down and finishing with punches from mount. It was Fedor’s first MMA appearance in more than three years. Earlier in the week, Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal had advanced through a demanding three-fight run and closed the bracket with a first-round knockout of Jiří Procházka. Lawal’s victory made him the tournament’s inaugural champion.
A deliberately eclectic card
The event mixed MMA with grappling and striking attractions. Kron Gracie submitted Asen Yamamoto, Rena Kubota won by flying armbar, and Kazushi Sakuraba faced Shinya Aoki in an MMA bout. The mix reflected Rizin’s launch identity: major names, varied rulesets, and a year-end arena spectacle.
Why the finale mattered
Fedor’s return gave the promotion an immediate connection to PRIDE’s legacy, while Lawal’s three victories supplied a clear sporting result for its first grand prix. The two-day event established a template Rizin would revisit: tournaments, crossover bouts, and a packed New Year’s card.
Selected results
- Fedor Emelianenko def. Jaideep Singh — TKO, Round 1.
- Muhammed Lawal def. Jiří Procházka — KO, Round 1, grand prix final.
- Kron Gracie def. Asen Yamamoto — triangle choke, Round 1.
- Rena Kubota def. Jleana Valentino — flying armbar, Round 2.
Related MMAUSA reading: Rizin · Fedor Emelianenko · fighters · MMA
Selected Bout Results
- Muhammed Lawal defeated Jiri Prochazka by KO (Punch); round 1, 5:09.
- Fedor Emelianenko defeated Jaideep Singh by TKO (Submission to Punches); round 1, 3:03.
- Kron Gracie defeated Erson Yamamoto by Submission (Triangle Choke); round 1, 4:57.
- Andy Souwer defeated Yuichiro Nagashima by TKO (Punches); round 1, 5:29.
- Kaido Hoovelson defeated Peter Aerts by Decision (Unanimous); round 3, 3:00.
- Soo Chul Kim defeated Maike Linhares Galvao Amorim by Decision (Unanimous); round 3, 5:00.
- Brennan Ward defeated Ken Hasegawa by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke); round 2, 1:54.
- Jiri Prochazka defeated Vadim Nemkov by TKO (Retirement); round 1, 10:00.
Sources
Article Tags
Rizin World Grand Prix 2015, MMA History, Mixed Martial Arts, Event Results
