Storyline

RIZIN 26 live from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The bill is topped by a highly anticipated rematch between current Rizin bantamweight kingpin Kai Asakura and former titleholder Kyoji Horiguchi. The two first met in a non-title affair when Horiguchi held both the Rizin and Bellator gold. Asakura finished the former UFC flyweight in just over a minute. The rivals were set to fight again at the New Year’s Eve show last year, but a leg injury forced Horiguchi to the sidelines and set the table for a title bout between Asakura and Manel Kape. Kape left with the strap, but it eventually found its way back to Asakura. Now, Horiguchi hopes to not only avenge his prior loss, but regain the belt he was forced to vacate.