Teenage striking sensation Tenshin Nasukawa may still be more kickboxer than mixed martial artist, but at the opening round of Rizin Fighting Federation's World Grand Prix 2017, he'll perhaps get to be both.
Monday, Rizin announced the addition of a mixed rules bout to its July 30 card at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, pitting the 18-year-old Nasukawa against fellow kickboxing convert Kizaemon Saiga in a flyweight contest.
The rule structure will be similar to “Jienotsu” Yuichiro Nagashima-Shinya Aoki bout from K-1 Premium Dynamite 2010, with a five-minute round of kickboxing with larger gloves, followed by a second round with MMA rules and gloves.