Rizin 15: Results and Event Recap
Rizin 15 opened the promotion’s 2019 calendar in Yokohama on April 21 with a light-heavyweight championship rematch between Jiří Procházka and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal. Procházka avenged his earlier loss by stopping Lawal in the third round, while Kyoji Horiguchi produced a fast knockout in the co-feature.
Procházka claims the light-heavyweight belt
The rematch with Lawal went into the third round before Procházka ended it with punches at 3:02. The victory secured the Rizin light-heavyweight championship and reversed the result of their 2015 grand prix meeting. The late finish gave the main event a dramatic conclusion after two rounds of measured exchanges.
Horiguchi and de Souza score stoppages
Horiguchi knocked out former UFC fighter Ben Nguyen with punches at 2:53 of the first round. Roberto Satoshi de Souza stopped Satoru Kitaoka in Round 2, and Manel Kape finished Seiichiro Ito with a body punch. These results made the card’s final stretch especially energetic.
A strong start to 2019
Rizin 15 delivered a new champion and several quick finishes in the promotion’s first show of the year. Procházka’s comeback victory over Lawal changed the light-heavyweight picture, while Horiguchi’s win kept him at the center of the promotion’s title scene.
Selected results
- Jiří Procházka def. Muhammed Lawal — TKO (punches), Round 3, 3:02; light-heavyweight title.
- Kyoji Horiguchi def. Ben Nguyen — KO (punches), Round 1, 2:53.
- Roberto Satoshi de Souza def. Satoru Kitaoka — TKO (punches), Round 2, 3:56.
- Manel Kape def. Seiichiro Ito — TKO (body punch), Round 2, 3:59.
Related MMAUSA reading: Rizin · Bellator · UFC · Pancrase · Boxing · fighters
Selected Bout Results
- Jiří Procházka stopped Muhammed Lawal with punches in round three at 3:02, winning the inaugural light-heavyweight championship.
- Kyoji Horiguchi stopped Ben Nguyen in the first round.
- Kanako Murata submitted Saray Orozco with a Von Flue choke.
Sources
Sherdog: Rizin 15 card and results; Sherdog: Procházka and Horiguchi results; Rizin 15 official results.
Article Tags
Rizin 15, Rizin, Mixed Martial Arts, Event Results