Written by Derek Moody, September 26, 2016, at 2:11 p.m.
Gabi Garcia improved her MMA record to 3-0 with two submissions and a knockout. Rizin Fight Federation has proven to be the perfect platform for her to grow as a mixed martial artist. There aren’t many women who would fit in a weight class with her so open weight competitions will have to do at the moment.
When women’s MMA was being built she would have been a great fit because of all the open weight tournaments throughout Brazil and Japan. We’ll have to wait to see if she has an opponent for the next Rizin FF event taking place December 29, 2016.
A record was almost made as Charles ” Krazy Horse” Bennett (30-30-2) knocked out Minoru Kimura (0-1) in seven seconds. The weekend was drama filled everywhere Krazy Horse went because of an altercation stemming back to 2005’s Pride Shockwave. Bennett and Wanderlei Silva made it known they still have issues and want to fight but it’d only be possible in an openweight bout. Krazy Horse added fuel to the fire knocking out Silva’s fighter and going overboard with his celebration.
It seems that Daron Cruickshank (18-8 1NC, 6-6 1NC UFC) may have found a home within Rizin FF as he’s built a winning streak in his two appearances there. The UFC veteran ended his stint with the promotion after going on a three fight losing streak. Those losses were all via rear naked choke further exposing his grappling limitations. Since his departure, he’s really focused on his grappling and was able to pull off a rear naked choke finish himself. He’ll look to extend his winning streak this winter when Rizin Grand Prix returns.
Jiu Jitsu Legend Kron Gracie (3-0) took on mma veteran Hideo Tokoro (33-29-2) in the main event. Gracie was able to control the entire round with his grappling taking Tokoro’s back. Gracie was patient waiting for the right opening while Tokoro was defending well.
Eventually Gracie found his opening and secured the rear naked choke earning his third submission finish and remains unbeaten. Like his father, Rickson Gracie, Kron Gracie is making his mark in Japan and in similar fashion by defeating all opponents by submission.
The biggest highlight of the night didn’t involve a fight but instead the creation of a fight. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic (32-11-2 1NC) submitted Hyun Man Myung then called out Wanderlei Silva (35-12-1 1 NC) for the 2nd Round of the tournament. Cro Cop gave everyone a taste of the Pride Fighting Championship days with his performance and calling another legend into the ring. Rizin will certainly sell out the Saitama Super Arena but on December 29th they may very well fill the entire arena. There isn’t an mma fan alive that wouldn’t pay to see Cro Cop vs Wanderlei III with the original Pride structure.
They’ve fought each other twice, the first time was under special rules at Pride 20 which resulted in a draw. The second fight was four years later at Pride Final Conflict where Cro Cop caught Silva with a vicious head kick for the knockout. They each achieved legendary status during their time with the Pride FC organization and had decent runs within the UFC.
Now they look to expand on their legacies within the Rizin FF promotion which comparatively is the best place for them at this point in their careers . Cro Cop has the upper hand fighting five times since Wanderlei’s last fight in 2013. We’ll see if Wanderlei can tie the series in this trilogy or if Cro Cop will sweep the series going 2-0-1 but a draw is out of the picture because they look constantly look for the finish.
Rizin World Grand-Prix 2016: First Round Results
- Kron Gracie def. Hideo Tokoro via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke, Round 1)
- Rena Kubota def. Miyu Yamamoto via Submission (Front Choke, Round 1)
- Mirko Cro Cop def. Hyun Man Myung via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke, Round 1)
- Kaido Hoovelson def. Kazuyuki Fujita via Unanimous Decision
- Daron Cruickshank def. Andy Souwer via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke, Round 1)
- Erson Yamamoto def. Kizaemon Saiga via Split Decision
- Jiri Prochazka def. Mark Tanios via Unanimous Decision
- Valentin Moldavsky def. Karl Albrektsson via Unanimous Decision
- Amir Aliakbari def. Joao Isidoro Almeida via TKO (Strikes, Round 1)
- Szymon Bajor def. Teodoras Aukstuolis via Unanimous Decision
- Charles Bennett def. Minoru Kimura via TKO (Strikes, Round 1)
- Kanako Murata def. Kyra Batara via Unanimous Decision
- Gabi Garcia def. Destanie Yarbrough via Submission (Keylock, Round 1)