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HomeSport18-year-old highschooler ‘wants belts’ in UFC, RIZIN after scoring first-round submission win on New Years PPV

18-year-old highschooler ‘wants belts’ in UFC, RIZIN after scoring first-round submission win on New Years PPV

by News7

The insane 22-fight ‘RIZIN 49: Decade’ show in Japan continues to provide combat sports fans around the world with some much-needed MMA highlights this morning.

Not only has there been an in-ring brawl involving a referee, as well as a 6’8” heavyweight scoring a brutal KO in his professional debut, but also an 18-year-old wonderkid who has exploded onto the scene.

Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty ImagesTeenage sensation sets his sights on RIZIN, UFC belts after submission winJapanese MMA promotion RIZIN might very well have a future global superstar on their hands in the form of 18-year-old phenom, Sanou ‘Riceball Boy’ Yokouchi.

Yokouchi hasn’t even finished high school yet – but found himself standing in the Saitama Super Arena ring earlier today for the Koushien tournament finals against fellow teenager, Kenshin Saito.

Whilst the iconic 37,000-capacity arena wasn’t packed for this prelim fight, we can’t imagine the type of pressure that these two young athletes were feeling – well, if his performance was anything to go by, ‘Riceball Boy’ didn’t feel any pressure at all.

After an intense opening few minutes, Yokouchi would drag Saito to the ground and with skills far beyond his years, expertly transitioned to the back.

Almost as soon as Yokouchi locked in the body triangle, he slid his right arm under the chin for a one-handed rear-naked choke; the first win of his professional career, and a win that earned him a place on the RIZIN roster.

Speaking to the media after his sensational victory, Yokouchi admitted that he didn’t really want to fight Saito; but acknowledged that he’s already got one eye on future championship glory.

“I don’t want fight him because I know he is good boy,” said Yokouchi, via Go Yamamoto.

“I want belt. Rizin, DEEP, UFC. I will become stronger. I didn’t much train grappling. He is striker. I expect strike fight. But I [had the] chance so I submit him.”

UFC: Islam Makhachev reveals how he will know when to retire after record-breaking title fightRIZIN PPV– A 6’8” KO and a brawl that saw a referee punched twiceRIZIN 49: Decade has been an unbelievable show so far and there’s certainly been no shortage of viral moments from the preliminary card; including a gigantic KO, and a brawl involving a referee.

Iranian Kickboxer Sina Karimian and Japanese combat sports veteran Rukiya Anpo were meant to fight under a modified boxing ruleset; however, all hell broke loose after Karimian threw a spinning back fist in the sixth round.

Anpo threw one back, forcing the referee to try and intervene – yet as the official got in the middle of the two fighters, he was hit with two enormous shots to the face, one from each athlete.

Less than two hours later, the Saitama Super Arena crowd witnessed heavyweight Ed Polo King, who stands at a towering 6’8”, score a vicious first-round knockout in his professional debut.

The Japanese giant is certainly someone who fight fans should keep an eye on since at only 23 years old, there’s a very good chance that King could join Yokouchi as a future world MMA champion.

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Source : BloodyElbow

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