Rizin 22: Roberto de Souza Triumphs in the Main Event
Rizin 22 marked the promotion’s return to action after the COVID-19 shutdown, with a seven-bout MMA card at Pia Arena MM in Yokohama on August 9, 2020. Roberto “Satoshi” de Souza headlined against Yusuke Yachi and finished the fight in the opening round.
De Souza stops Yachi
De Souza overwhelmed Yachi with punches and earned the TKO at 1:52 of Round 1. The quick finish made a clear statement in the lightweight division and gave the first post-shutdown Rizin event a decisive main event. The bout was a sharp contrast to the uncertainty and pause that had surrounded live sports earlier in the year.
Fast finishes across the card
Ayaka Hamasaki submitted Tomo Maesawa with a kimura in Round 2. Kanna Asakura stopped Mizuki Furuse in the first round, and Naoki Inoue submitted Shuto Watanabe with a rear-naked choke. Kyohei Hagiwara also stopped Rikuto Shirakawa late in Round 3. All seven MMA bouts ended by stoppage.
A return under changed conditions
The event took place with attendance limited under pandemic-era restrictions. Inside the ring, however, the promotion maintained its usual aggressive pace and presentation. De Souza’s quick win and the submission finishes beneath it gave Rizin 22 a compact, action-heavy feel.
Selected results
- Roberto Satoshi de Souza def. Yusuke Yachi — TKO (punches), Round 1, 1:52.
- Ayaka Hamasaki def. Tomo Maesawa — kimura, Round 2, 1:26.
- Kanna Asakura def. Mizuki Furuse — TKO (punches), Round 1, 1:35.
- Naoki Inoue def. Shuto Watanabe — rear-naked choke, Round 1, 1:40.
Related MMAUSA reading: Rizin · MMA
Selected Bout Results
- Roberto Satoshi de Souza defeated Yusuke Yachi by TKO (Punches); round 1, 1:52.
- Ayaka Hamasaki defeated Tomo Maesawa by Submission (Kimura); round 2, 1:26.
- Kanna Asakura defeated Mizuki Furuse by TKO (Punches); round 1, 1:35.
- Naoki Inoue defeated Shuto Watanabe by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke); round 1, 1:40.
- Tetsuya Seki defeated Kouya Kanda by KO (Punches); round 2, 3:47.
- Kyohei Hagiwara defeated Rikuto Shirakawa by TKO (Punches); round 3, 4:40.
- Kenji Kato defeated Erson Yamamoto by KO (Punch); round 1, 3:32.
Sources
Sherdog: Rizin 22 card and results; Sherdog: De Souza stops Yachi.
Article Tags
Rizin 22, Rizin, Mixed Martial Arts, Event Results
