Bellator MMA versus RIZIN timetable: History, matchups between MMA advancements heading into New Year's Eve occasion

There is a truism among colleagues: Collaboration makes the fantasy work. That is as evident as could be expected while discussing combat sports.

In boxing, advertisers work with each other to make the best matchups for the game. For instance, warriors from the Matchroom Boxing advancement could show up on High level cards. In MMA, rarely would that occurs. Typically contenders from one association sign with the other, with nothing to come from it.

Scott Coker and Nobuyuki Sakakibara told Tvtropes they have hoped to stop the full shutting of MMA's Taboo Entryway.

Coker's Bellator and RIZIN's Sakakibara have been collaborating for a really long time, tracing all the way back to their days with the kickboxing association K-1. Afterward, the two worked with each other to cross-advance battles. Both will now co-advance a card including the best of Bellator and RIZIN.

"This is a relationship that began in 2004, 2005. It's been numerous long periods of cooperating," Coker said of Sakakibara at a pre-battle public interview. "Been a fellowship and a relationship has prompted these battles occurring. It's not generally simple; there have been knocks en route to get to this. I'm incredibly blissful about what we've had the option to do with this occasion. We're all set."

Bellator MMA versus RIZIN happens inside Japan's Saitama Super Field on December 31. Contenders contending on the card incorporate Patricio Freire, A.J. McKee, Kyoji Horiguchi, Kleber Koike Erbst, and Roberto de Souza.

"The Bellator elite player group versus the Rizin top pick group," Coker told MMA Addict. "This is the sort of thing I needed to see; this is the sort of thing he needed to see. At the point when I got some information about this occasion, 'What are you hoping to do?' In light of the fact that he achieved it up a half year prior. What's more, he said, 'I maintain that you should get your best contenders these weight classes. I need no apprentices. I need the best contenders you have.' So that is the very thing we did. Each warrior we're getting is either a boss Bellator or a previous title holder in Bellator. Also, we're prepared to battle the Rizin elite player group on December 31st."

RIZIN has ruled the Japanese market for quite a long time, while Bellator has had an effect across the U.S. also, Europe. The coordinated effort between two significant brands is a major step for MMA, however not unfamiliar for Coker and Sakakibara.

Scott Coker and Nobuyuki Sakakibara history

At a certain point, Coker was responsible for Strikeforce. Simultaneously, Sakakibara was an advertiser for PRIDE FC. In 2006, Coker conversed with Sakibara about a potential ability trade. At a Strikeforce occasion in California, Sakibara sent Alistair Overeem to contend with Vitor Belfort in a rematch from 2005. Belfort lost, and Overeem drove the series 원엑스벳 2-0.

Following that, there were different ability trades for uncommon matchups. A model was Coker sending Gilbert Melendez to PRIDE. Dream matchups were shaping thanks to the energy both have for combat sports.

"He (Coker) had the affection for the game, he needed to take the game to a higher level and fabricate his image," Sakakibara told ESPN not very far in the past, by means of RIZIN leader Shingo Kashiwagi. "The UFC was at that point a major part in the U.S., and any business needs a solid rivalry, so ... helping [Coker] was vital. It was conceivable as a result of the common trust and regard that we had between us."

Regardless of Strikeforce and PRIDE FC getting bought by Zuffa LLC, the parent organization of the UFC, both figured out how to financially recover with Bellator and RIZIN. From that point, the connection between the two developed.

"The fundamental justification for (this co-advancement) would be, similarly as Scott has depicted, the drawn out relationship we've had. We've both been in the business for quite a while and seen the high points and low points," Sakakibara expressed at a pre-battle media meeting. "The solid contest we have is the reason. We're doing this on account of Scott Coker, and more as a result of Scott than in light of BELLATOR. That is one explanation. Another explanation is, in spite of where the MMA beginning came from, PRIDE had its days in Japan. The cutting edge industry is from North America; it's the spot for combative techniques this moment, and BELLATOR is one of them. As an advancement from Japan, it's extremely energizing for us to take on and challenge one of the significant associations. For our purposes, it's vital to challenge the significant association, to challenge North America, to challenge the worldwide market: that is the very thing that the Japanese fans need to see."

Bellator and RIZIN's set of experiences

In 2015, there was a little organization with Bellator and RIZIN. Muhammad "Lord Mo" Lawal addressed Bellator during the RIZIN Heavyweight Thousand Prix. He won the competition, in any event, beating future UFC champion Jiri Prochazka in the finals. He returned in 2016 yet lost to Mirko Cro Cop in an Open-Weight Thousand Prix match.

From that point, the conceivable outcomes were inestimable.

In 2018, then, at that point Bellator bantamweight champion Darrion Caldwell went to RIZIN to battle on its yearly New Year's Eve show. He contended with Kyoji Horiguchi. At RIZIN 14, Horiguchi beat Caldwell by means of accommodation to bring home the RIZIN bantamweight championship. In 2019, the two battled in a rematch, with Horiguchi winning once more, removing the Bellator bantamweight title from Caldwell.

Horiguchi has since contended in a few Bellator sessions. He will address Bellator at the Bellator MMA versus RIZIN occasion, battling Hiromasa Ougikubo.

In 2018, Coker trusted that Bellator and RIZIN would proceed with their relationship, in any event, foreseeing the Bellator versus RIZIN battle card occurring on December 31... READ MORE

"I truly do figure Rizin and Bellator will work on numerous occasions together one year from now," Coker told ESPN. "I figure it could prompt a major occasion where it would be 'Rizin versus Bellator' in Japan or here, one year from now. I think you'll see that kind of cooperation."

The amazing Fedor Emelianenko began his profession battling in Japan for Rings and PRIDE. The previous PRIDE heavyweight champion, who worked with Coker in Strikeforce, joined Bellator in 2017. Right now, on a retirement visit, Fedor had his last battle in Japan in 2019. Working with RIZIN, Coker put on an occasion inside the Saitama Super Field. Fedor beat Quinton Jackson through technical knockout.

RIZIN's Rena Kubota and Lindsey VanZandt contended in two cross-advanced battles. VanZandt stunned the world in 2019 by beating Kubota through accommodation. Kubota got a proportion of retribution that very year at RIZIN 20, beating 맥스벳 her through technical knockout. Patricky Freire, the sibling of Patricio Freire, additionally battled in RIZIN in 2019. Contending in the RIZIN Lightweight Thousand Prix, "Pitbull" came to the finals prior to losing against Tofiq Musayev.

What does the future hold for Bellator and RIZIN?

Coker and Sakakibara are trusting this occasion prompts more from here on out. Different matchups in the past have demonstrated that the sky is the limit.

Considering how enthusiastic the two men are, never say never.

"I think this will be the initial time throughout the entire existence of MMA where two advancements will completely go at it with their best folks," Sakakibara told MMA Addict. "… We would rather not make this occasion a single shot bargain. We need to make it something sequential, perhaps something yearly, perhaps a half-yearly thing."