Kron Gracie will have his second MMA fight in Japan once again, on the New Year’s Eve card of Rizin Fighting Federation.
Rizin announced at a press conference on Monday that Kron would face 19-year-old Asen Yamamoto, the nephew of Japanese MMA fighter Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto. The fight will be at 145 lbs bout on Rizin’s NYE card.
Gracie made his MMA debut last December in Tokyo, and he won by arm bar in under 65 seconds against Korea’s Hyung Soo Kim. The fight was at 160 lbs.
MMA new comer Asen Yamamoto and his grandfather Ikuei Yamamoto, and Kron Gracie’s father Rickson Gracie attended the press conference.
December 29th (Tue) and 31st (Thu), RIZIN WORLD GRAND GRAND-PRIX will be held at the Saitama Super Arena. Several fights have been announced with many big names, and today Rizin officials added another eye opening fight to their lineup.
Rizin chairman Nobuyuki Sakakibara appeared first and revealed the official logo for the event, also that GYAO Inc., will be sponsoring the event. He followed up by mentioning that Rizin had announced Gabi Garcia’s opponent determined as Lei’D Tapa, and King Mo’s tournament entry representing Bellator at the event held in St. Louis Missouri. He added that there were many submissions for the official logo, and he will post the best designs on the website.
Flying in from his training camp in Thailand, today’s main focus Asen Yamamoto appeared in front of the media after Sakakibara’s opening, followed by his grandfather, former Olympic wrestler Ikuei Yamamoto and Kron Gracie’s father Rickson Gracie along with Rizin General manager Nobuhiko Takada. They announced the fight between Kron Gracie and Asen Yamamoto.
Yamamoto has wrestled since he was three years old and comes from a family of fighters and wrestlers. His uncle is Norifumi Kid Yamamoto, his aunt is world wrestling champion and his grandfather is former Olympian Ikuei Yamamoto. Asen took home gold in the 152-pound division at the FILA Cadet World Championship and is preparing for 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo.
Rickson Gracie stated:
“I would like to thank Mr. Sakakibara for giving me, Kron and the Gracie family to participate with Rizin. And I am very happy that Akron was given an opportunity to fight Asen. Kron is training hard and is in great shape so he will bring 100% to the ring. This fight will be a fight that will determine the future of MMA. The modern MMA rules take away the Bushido Spirit from the fighters by their short rounds and point system. And the cage becomes the 3rd element and takes away from realistic fightimg situation. But Rizin will bring back the longer rounds and the ring with ropes. This will emphasize the fighters to finish which will bring back the true warrior spirit to the fighters and I am very happy for that.”
Kron Gracie could not make it to Tokyo since he was in training camp but left a video message:
“Asen is a tough wrestler, he’s a young up and coming kid. Kind of like me. But the opponent really doesn’t matter, because my opponent is always the same, which is my mind.” after watchng the video, Asen commented “Kron is the world’s top grappler and I respect him for that. But once we get in the ring there is no friendship, or anything. If he is coming to fight me with his head, I will fight with my heart. I will give him everything I have to crush him.”
Asen Yamamoto stated:
“Spectators may just think that this is a fight between two families, but for me, I don’t want to lose as a Japanese fighter, and as a fighter Asen, so my plan is to beat him up and get my hand raised.”
Asen Sasaki (Yamamoto) wrestling in te Junior world championships:
