Kleber Koike reclaimed the RIZIN featherweight championship in the course of the ultimate battle of the promotion’s New 12 months’s Eve bash contained in the legendary Saitama Tremendous Area in Japan.
In June 2023, Koike was stripped of the featherweight crown after he did not make weight for a title protection in opposition to Chihiro Suzuki at RIZIN 43. 18 months later, the 2 would run it again — this time with Suzuki sitting because the promotion’s reigning featherweight king.
It was a basic battle of striker vs. grappler as Suzuki regarded to impose his will on the texture whereas Koike sought to dominate issues on the mat. In the long run, it was Koike who would depart The Land of the Rising Solar with RIZIN gold round his waist after dominating a majority of their exchanges on the mat.
Official Outcome: Kleber Koike def. Chihiro Suzuki through unanimous resolution to win the RIZIN featherweight championship.
Curiously, followers appeared to disagree with the judges. In line with Verdict MMA, Suzuki gained the battle by greater than a full level, edging Koike in all three rounds.
With their first battle in June 2023 ending in a no-contest and this one coming with a touch of controversy, may a trilogy bout be of their future?
Try highlights from Chihiro Suzuki vs. Kleber Koike at RIZIN 49:
