Naoki Inoue Defeats Yuki Motoya to Retain RIZIN
The RIZIN Bantamweight Championship remained in the hands of Naoki Inoue after a grueling battle against Yuki Motoya at RIZIN.50 on March 30, 2025, at Anabuki Arena Kagawa. Inoue emerged victorious via split decision, further cementing his place as one of Japan’s premier bantamweights.
Technical Mastery in a Razor-Thin Battle
The fight unfolded as a tactical chess match, with both fighters exchanging control throughout the rounds:
- Round 1: Inoue used precise jabs and counters to keep Motoya at bay while stuffing early takedown attempts.
- Round 2: Motoya found success, landing a powerful body kick and securing a brief takedown before Inoue reversed position.
- Round 3: The most competitive round of the fight saw both fighters engage in fast-paced exchanges, with Inoue landing a key knee to the body.
- Round 4: Inoue relied on slick grappling, nearly securing a submission before Motoya escaped and retaliated with sharp boxing combinations.
- Round 5: With everything on the line, both fighters traded blows in the final minute, leaving the judges to decide the winner.
When the scorecards were revealed, two judges awarded the fight to Inoue, while one sided with Motoya—resulting in a split decision victory for the defending champion.
RIZIN.50: A Night of High-Stakes Fights
The May 4 Tokyo Dome results came from RIZIN Otoko Matsuri, a separate event from RIZIN.50. MMA RIZIN
- Naoki Inoue (Japan) vs. Yuki Motoya (Japan) – Inoue wins via split decision to retain the bantamweight title.
- Rajabali Shaidullaev (Kyrgyzstan) vs. Kleber Koike Erbst (Brazil/Japan) – Shaidullaev wins via KO (62 seconds) to claim the featherweight championship.
- Mikuru Asakura (Japan) vs. Chihiro Suzuki (Japan) – Asakura wins via TKO (doctor stoppage, round 3).
- Marek Samociuk (Poland) vs. Daniel James (USA) – Samociuk advances in the heavyweight Grand Prix.
- José Augusto Azevedo (Brazil) vs. Tsuyoshi Sudario (Japan) – Azevedo advances in the heavyweight Grand Prix.
- Mikio Ueda (Japan) vs. Shoma Shibisai (Japan) – Ueda advances in the heavyweight Grand Prix.
What’s Next for Inoue and Motoya?
With another title defense under his belt, Inoue solidifies himself as RIZIN’s dominant bantamweight. The question now is: who will step up as his next challenger?
Meanwhile, Motoya, despite the loss, remains a top-ranked contender and could earn a rematch with a strong performance in his next bout.
One thing is clear—Japan’s bantamweight division remains one of the most competitive in the world, and the rivalry between Inoue and Motoya is far from over.
Sources
Tags: Boxing, Combat Sports
