RIZIN Fighting Federation made its first trip to Yokohama, Japan, on April 16, and featured a mix of rising Japanese prospects and longtime veterans.
Competing for the 49th time in a MMA fight, Tatsuya Kawajiri scored his first win under the RIZIN banner against fellow UFC veteran Anthony Birchak. Kawajiri started pushing the pace early, taking his opponent back and working on a standing rear-naked choke, but wasn’t able to secure the finish.
From that moment on, Kawajiri dominated the 30-year-old Arizona-native with heavy punches on the ground and pound. Birchak’s best moment in the bout came when he locked an armbar, but Kawajiri was able to escape.