Takafumi Otsuka focused on light grappling for the media, and explained that it was an “easier” option than to hit pads or show his striking.

The media who showed got nothing new to see from Otsuka, who claims to have been sparring with mainly kickboxers to improve his striking. “I have been sparring with kickboxers such as Krush -67kg Champion Keita Makihira, Yutaro Yamauchi and Takumi Tosaka along with his teammates from HALEO TOP TEAM. They all spar hard, and throw tons of kicks, so it was a lot to adapt to.” “My opponent (Khalid Taha) looks like a monster in terms of his physique, and I know that he hits hard. He showed that he is not shy in fully utilizing the RIZIN rules (soccer ball kicks and knees to the head on the ground), but it’s more about focusing on myself than my opponent.”

The current DEEP Champion has been undefeated in 6 fights, ever since he lost to Ishiwatari by TKO on NYE of 2014. If both Otsuka and Ishiwatari win on December 29^th, they will be set to fight for the Semi Finals. “Honestly I haven’t been thinking about the rematch at all. I’m sure I will be thinking about it like crazy if I win on the 29^th, but right now I am focused on getting past my upcoming opponent.”

“I’ve always wanted to get back to the big show, but now that I’m back, I don’t feel anything special, it’s just another fight for me. Despite the outcome, I hope I can eat lots of good food on New Year’s Day.”

The Bantamweight Quarter Finals will take place on December 29^th, and the winners will advance to the Semi Finals and Finals will be held 2 days later on New Year’s Eve. The Grand prize money for this tournament is 15,000,000 Japanese Yen, 2nd place 3,000,000 Japanese Yen, and two, 3rd place contestants will receive 1,000,000 Japanese Yen.

Confirmed fights:

[December 29^th]

< Bantamweight GP Quarter Finals >

Ian McCall vs Manel Kape

Kyoji Horiguchi vs Gabriel Oliveira

Khalid Taha vs Takafumi Otsuka

Kevin Petshi vs Shintaro Ishiwatari

< Bantamweight GP reserve bout >

Anthony Birchak vs Jae Hoon Moon

< Super Fight >

Jiri Prochazka vs Karl Albrektsson

KING Reina vs Cindy Dandois

Kizaemon Saiga vs Kai Asakura

Gabi Garcia vs Shinobu Kandori

Satoru Kitaoka vs Kiichi Kunimoto

Hiroyuki Takaya vs Baataryn Azjavkhaln

Shizuka Sugiyama vs Kana Watanabe

[December 31^st]

< Bantamweight GP Semi Finals >

TBD vs TBD

TBD vs TBD

< Bantamweight GP Finals >

TBD vs TBD

< Women’s Super-Atom Weight GP Semi Finals >

RENA vs Irene Rivera

Maria Oliveira vs Kanna Asakura

< Women’s Super-Atom Weight GP Finals >

TBD vs TBD

< Cygames presents RIZIN Kick boxing tournament Semi Finals >

Yamato Fujita vs Mitsuhisa Sunabe

Tenshin Nasukawa vs Yuta Hamamoto

< Cygames presents RIZIN Kick boxing tournament Finals>

TBD vs TBD

< Super fight >

Mirko Crocop vs Tsuyoshi Kosaka

Shinju Auclair vs Chelsea Lagrasse

Takanori Gomi vs Yusuke Yachi

Name:

RIZIN.14

Date:

Dec 31, 2018

Venue:

Saitama Super Arena

Access:

Saitama Super Arena

Twitter:

@rizin_PR

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/rizinfightingfederation

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/rizin_pr/?hl=ja

---

Ticket

StubHub

Japanese (JPY)

https://www.stubhub.jp/rizin-fighting-federation/ca10998

English (USD)

https://intl.stubhub.com/rizin-fighting-federation-tickets/ca10998

한국어 (KRW)

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中文 - 简体 (CNY)

https://www.stubhub.com.cn/rizin%E6%A0%BC%E6%96%97%E8%81%94%E7%9B%9F-%E9%97%A8%E7%A5%A8/ca10998

Russian (RUB)

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