RIZIN 30 Fight Pizza Picks

Blue Power 💙💪

Hey! It’s a new RIZIN card! With new RIZIN picks! As per usual that means it’s totally possible we’ll see a red corner sweep, but in my contrarian spirit I had to pick at least a few of my blue corner peoples. Without further delay, let’s begin.

For some explanation: my two top winners on the card, Kai Asakura and Naoki Inoue, are the two I picked for the final before the tournament started so that’s obvious. I think Ougikubo’s got one more win in him and for some reason I have the sense Takizawa is going to have a strong showing here. Hamasaki natch - after her last closer-than-expected outing she’s got something to prove; Yachi cause I always pick Yachi, even if I think he’s going to lose; Ulka’s got too much talent and experience if his head’s in it, but it could get dicey in a new weight class.

For the last/first few fights: I randomly flipped past Kubo fighting in an old K1 on Abema just now, so picking him seems like synchronicity. (I don’t really think he’s going to win.) Bout #2 I changed my mind after I saved my picture, but I’m going with Suzuki if it’s unclear. Bout #1 I have no opinion (as is my rule with 100 pound kickboxers), but if forced I’ll go red corner.

So wow, actually 4 blue picks. Nice. Check out RIZIN Confessions #77, with English subs, for more awesome blue action.

The card starts SUNDAY! afternoon September 19th in Japan, so it’ll get rolling Saturday night in the U.S. and some other time in Europe. It’s the (recent) usual suspects for international streaming - hopefully they’ll manage to keep the stream up for the whole event this time. I may be attending in person, but either way I’ll be tweeting amidst the festivities. Enjoy the show.

Come back next week for some post-fight nonsense.