RIZIN NYE - Openweight World Grand Prix Final - December 29 - 31 (OFFICIAL DISCUSSION)

RIZIN Fighting Federation GP
December 29 - 31, 2016
Saitama Super Arena
Saitama, Japan

Openweight GP:
Mirko Filipović (32-11)               vs.       (35-12) Wanderlei Silva
Main Card | Grand Prix Quarter-Final | Openweight

Shane Carwin (12-2)                 vs.            (3-0)  Amir Aliakbari    
Main Card | Grand Prix Quarter-Final | Openweight

Baruto Kaito (2-0)                     vs.     (27-18) Tsuyoshi Kosaka 
Main Card | Grand Prix Quarter-Final | Openweight

Valentin Moldavsky (5-0)           vs.          (16-6)  Szymon Bajor
Main Card | Grand Prix Quarter-Final | Openweight

Tatsuya Kawajiri (35-10)           vs.                (3-0) Kron Gracie
Main Card | Featherweight | 145 lbs (66kg)

Charles Bennett (32-11)            vs.            (0-1) Minoru Kimura
Main Card | Featherweight | 145 lbs (66kg)

Hideo Tokoro (33-29)                vs.         (1-1) Erson Yamamoto
Main Card | Bantamweight | 135 lbs (62 kg)

Andy Nguyen (3-3)                    vs.        (0-1) Miyuu Yamamoto
Main Card | Atomweight | 105 lbs (48 kg)


The trilogy fight between former PRIDE FC champions Mirko Cro Cop and Wanderlei Silva is scheduled to happen at Rizin FF 2016 World Grand Prix quarterfinals. The news was announced on the broadcast of the tournament's opening round on Sunday.

Cro Cop, 42, won his first tournament fight on Sunday, defeating Hyun Man Myung via arm-triangle choke at round one. Prior to that, the Croatian was signed to the UFC and had retired after being suspended for two years by USADA, the UFC's independent anti-doping agency. Cro Cop retired on good terms, as he was riding three-fight winning streak. However, retirement didn't last long, as Cro Cop announced his return with Rizin in July.

Meanwhile, Silva, 40, received a bye for his first tournament fight. The Brazilian hasn't competed since 2013 where he knocked out Brian Stann in the main event of UFC on Fuel TV 8 in Saitama, Japan. However, Silva was involved in a tag team grappling match earlier this year in a Rizin event.

So glad they are holding the remainder of the tournament on 2 separate nights again on NYE. Was great time last year watching those events.

The only question remains. Who is this hidden participant. King MO? Rampage? Fedor? Igor? Wat are the chances of seeing Jiri vs King Mo in a rematch in the quarter finals.

I'm rooting for Tito Ortiz to be the hidden participant.

PhenomKing wrote:The only question remains. Who is this hidden participant. King MO? Rampage? Fedor? Igor? Wat are the chances of seeing Jiri vs King Mo in a rematch in the quarter finals.

That would be cool or Amir or Baruto vs. Mo. Carwin is another possibility.

Since Mo won the 220 lbs GP last year, wouldn't mind seeing a title defense here leading in with a well deserved bye.

TeamJohnPerretti wrote:I'm rooting for Tito Ortiz to be the hidden participant.

Very possible. I am sure he would want in to something like this. I think that would be a hit in Japan to see him there in the GP or just a normal bout.

PhenomKing wrote:The only question remains. Who is this hidden participant. King MO? Rampage? Fedor? Igor? Wat are the chances of seeing Jiri vs King Mo in a rematch in the quarter finals.

Could be a lot of people, like the ones you mentioned. One guy no one seems to think of is, what if it's Heath Herring? He was there commentating and has been attending the shows.

Kinosis wrote:

PhenomKing wrote:The only question remains. Who is this hidden participant. King MO? Rampage? Fedor? Igor? Wat are the chances of seeing Jiri vs King Mo in a rematch in the quarter finals.

Could be a lot of people, like the ones you mentioned.  One guy no one seems to think of is, what if it's Heath Herring?  He was there commentating and has been attending the shows.  

That is an interesting option. I wonder if he is still up for fighting.

I wonder who the mysterious person is ? as   for cro cop vs wand 3 i like wanderlei but i think cro cop is gonna pick him apart ko him like last time I am huge wanderlei fan but cro cop is a bad style match up for him .

Now this could be an interesting NYE fight. Yeah, Sakuraba is old, but he does have a pretty good size advantage. We never got to see Sak vs Rickson and this fight is actually possible. Would be perfect for new years eve and Kron isn't a takedown master or anything so Sakuraba could be on top. I'd watch.

Kron vs Crazy Horse could be interesting also.

Sakuraba shouldn't fight mma period..unless its another old legend.

He got mauled it was as hard to watch as the kimbo dada fight....

Let kron keep going against hungry lions......if you want a gracie......get royces ass in there with sakuraba.

Yeas a royce sakuraba 3 should happen i would like to see it when they first fought royce in a gi and saku with orange hair .

Kinosis wrote:Kron vs Crazy Horse could be interesting also.

Good call. I'd also like to see Kron/Aoki and Wand/Krazy Horse. Maybe setup a small OW tournament with these four. 145 Kron, 155 Aoki, 185 Wand, and 155 K-Horse.

I saw Moldavski vs Bajor listed as a match , I bet they go with Jiri vs Amir and bring in the last guy for Baruto any of the guys already listed in this thread would be great. Minowa, Mighty Mo, Bob Sapp ect are also possible

I like the Idea of Krazy Horse vs Kron in the other thread for NYE either that or get Dida or even Marcelo Garcia for an old school chute boxe guy

westcott123 wrote:I wonder who the mysterious person is ? as   for cro cop vs wand 3  i like wanderlei but i think cro cop is gonna pick him apart ko him like last time  I am  huge wanderlei fan but cro cop is a bad style match up  for him .

I think the same with CC picking him apart and maybe finishing it on the ground.

Snorzel wrote:I saw Moldavski vs Bajor listed as a match , I bet they go with Jiri vs Amir and bring in the last guy for Baruto any of the guys already listed in this thread would be great. Minowa, Mighty Mo, Bob Sapp ect are also possible

I like the Idea of Krazy Horse vs Kron in the other thread for NYE either that or get Dida or even Marcelo Garcia for an old school chute boxe guy

That Iranian fighter Amir looks really interesting.  Jiri will be a tough test for him though.  

Regarding the additional possible fighters, of the ones you listed, Mighty Mo is a really good option coming off his KO win of the ROAD FC OW GP.

^That would be really interesting actually.

For the next card it showed the six winners Bajor,Mirko,Baruto,Jiri,Moldovsky,Amir all with v.s and than no opponents,so are
these guys going to be facing each other or other opponents because I'm kind of confused I thought this was a grand prix how many participants are there 12 or 16,if Mirko is facing Wanderlei next than that would leave an uneven amount of fighters unless someone else got a bye.

^ Bad ass tournament idea, and just crazy enough for them to do

Saku and Rickson should do a grappling exhibition if not fight, that would be amazing

Kinosis wrote:Now this could be an interesting NYE fight.  Yeah, Sakuraba is old, but he does have a pretty good size advantage.  We never got to see Sak vs Rickson and this fight is actually possible.  Would be perfect for new years eve and Kron isn't a takedown master or anything so Sakuraba could be on top.  I'd watch.

I wouldn't want to see this match because Kron is an up and comer and Sakuraba has looked absolutely terrible especially in
his last fight,I would much rather see Kron face Cruickshank if there the same weight or even Krazy Horse.

I think its going to be like last year, the champion will win 3 fights over 2 days
So an 8 man tournament with 1 TBA particapant

fka wrote:Sakuraba shouldn't fight mma period..unless its another old legend.

He got mauled it was as hard to watch as the kimbo dada fight....

Let kron keep going against hungry lions......if you want a gracie......get royces ass in there with sakuraba.

saku will fight in bellaturd and you will say how awesome it is

RIZIN > BELLATURD

sakuraba noooo please

bring some young challengers to kron, let the kid develop accordingly, alot of striking help he needs. in the mat second to none in that weight

Snorzel wrote:^ Bad ass tournament idea, and just crazy enough for them to do

Saku and Rickson should do a grappling exhibition if not fight, that would be amazing

Yeah, that's another thing I love about JMMA, these sort of crazy tournaments are actually possible and would probably have the fans tuning in. The focus should always be on ranked fights but OW fights, freak shows, legends matches, grappling matches, kickboxing cross-overs, other fight sport cross-overs,..............., will always hold there place in this sport.

That would be an interesting legends grappling match. I think I would still go with Rickson after all these years but not sure exactly what shape either fighter is in today.