Knockdown Daily 6/30/22: Kai Asakura Out of RIZIN 36 Main Event
Changes to RIZIN's upcoming event lead the MMA headlines for Thursday
Welcome to the Thursday edition of the Knockdown Daily. Today’s issue includes a few quick news updates. Let’s begin.
News
Kai Asakura Out of RIZIN 36 Main Event
RIZIN’s return to the Okinawa Arena in Okinawa, Japan later this week has suffered a loss.
Former bantamweight champion Kai Asakura has been removed from his headlining bout this Saturday against Yang Ji-yong, per an announcement made by the promotion Thursday.
The fight was scheduled to headline RIZIN 36 on July 2nd.
Yang will remain on the card, as veteran Shoji has stepped in on short notice to face him. Shoji last appeared on a RIZIN card in March, when Hiroaki Suzuki picked up a first-round finish win against him.
Yang will be making his RIZIN debut in the bout. He’s entering the card with an undefeated record of four wins, which were attained on the regional scene in Korea.
Saturday’s RIZIN card will now be headlined Ren Hiramoto and Hiroaki Suzuki.
The previously booked fight was elevated to main event status following the departure of Asakura from the card this week.
Hiramoto will be hunting for his first pro win in MMA. He has come up short in his two previous appearances in the sport, losing to Kyohei Hagiwara and Chihiro Suzuki.
Flyweight Valerie Loureda Announces WWE Contract
Bellator prospect Valerie Loureda has announced her next venture: professional wrestling.
Loureda, 23, recently revealed that she has signed a contract with top wrestling promotion WWE. Along with this news, Loureda claims that she is no longer focused on her MMA career.
Loureda revealed her plans to wrestle during an interview on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour this week.
“I’m really excited and I’ve dedicated my whole life to martial arts, and everything has come to this moment,” said Loureda on the show this week. “And this is my opportunity to showcase my culture and entertain the world.
Loureda made her pro debut for Bellator in 2019, scoring a first-round finish win over Colby Fletcher. She then picked up two wins before taking her first loss in 2021.
Loureda’s last MMA appearance saw her bounce back from that sole loss, defeating Taylor Turner via split decision at Bellator 271.
The flyweight talent made news earlier this year when she appeared at a WWE tryout in April. She has teased involvement with WWE since then, including a photo posted in May that showed her inside a ring at their main training complex.
Earlier this month, a report from Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful said that WWE was aiming to sign Loureda. It now looks like that news is official.
Randy Costa vs. Guido Cannetti Set For October 1st UFC Card
Bantamweights Randy Costa and Guido Cannetti are expected to meet at UFC’s October 1st event, per a recent report from Carlos Contreras Legaspi of ESPN Deportes.
Costa will be attempting to snap a two-fight skid that developed recently. He was finished twice in 2021, suffering defeats against Adrian Yanez and Tony Kelley.
Costa has the reputation of being an explosive fighter that ends many fights quickly. Earlier in his UFC career, he earned a pair of first-round finish wins.
Win or lose, he has also yet to go the distance in a fight since debuting as a pro in 2018.
Cannetti will be looking to build off a recent win. He snapped a three-fight losing streak earlier this year, stopping Kris Moutinho in the first round of a bout. That fight marked his first victory in nearly four years.
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