Bellator vs Rizin: UFC Alternative, Not for Faint of Heart

Rizin, Closest Thing to Pride FC These Days

Bellator-Rizin: Frequent Collaborators

Way back in the early 2000s, Dana White would have Chuck Liddell represent the UFC as he fought in some Pride Fighting Championship (Pride FC) events. Flash forward to today and the UFC absorbed Pride FC and never collaborates with any other MMA promotion. But that’s where Scott Coker and Bellator come in as Bellator vs Rizin, Pride FC’s successor, is now an annual thing.

Rizin Fighting Federation (Rizin FF) is the spiritual successor to Pride FC (and Dream) and is based in Japan. And like Pride FC, this promotion has looser rules that prioritize striking for maximum violence. And unlike the UFC or Bellator, Rizin FF sets fights in a ring.

The promotion was founded in 2015 by Nobuyuki Sakakibara, a head figure in both Pride FC and Dream. Its events stream on FITE TV for North America and Europe and as of June 7, 2023, RIZIN has hosted 54 events with two more currently on the way including the second Bellator vs Rizin event this July 30.

What is Rizin FF?

Bellator already differs from the UFC in many ways. But Rizin is even more distinct than its North American counterparts. Rizin FF has different rules, takes place in a ring not a cage, and typically takes place in Japan. On top of that, Rizin FF frequently collaborates with Bellator. Rizin FF is usually part of the annual Bellator schedule.

The Fighters and Divisions

Rizin FF features up to 11 weight classes with a 12th “openweight” class that slightly differ than UFC or Bellator in weight restriction:

Weight ClassWeight Limit
Women’s Atomweight47 kg (104 lbs)
Women’s Super Atomweight49 kg (108 lbs)
Women’s Light Flyweight53 kg (117 lbs)
Men’s Flyweight57 kg (126 lbs)
Men’s Bantamweight61 kg (134 lbs)
Men’s Featherweight66 (146 lbs)
Men’s Lightweight71 (157 lbs)
Men’s Welterweight77 (170 lbs)
Men’s Middleweight85 (187 lbs)
Men’s Light Heavyweight95 kg (209 lbs)
Men’s Heavyweight120 kg (265 lbs)
OpenweightNo gender or sex restriction

The women’s divisions are not featured in UFC or Bellator. Atomweight is a division that only Invicta has among notable MMA promotions in North America while light flyweight is exclusive to Rizin FF. It is known as “strawweight” in the UFC (weight limit up to 115 lbs).

As of June 7, 2023, there are five active champions in the promotion.

Several notable fighters have competed in Rizin FF. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka participated in Rizin FF’s 2015 World Grand Prix. He defeated current Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov.

MMA legends like Fedor Emelianenko, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, and Takanori Gomi have also competed in Rizin FF. Boxing great Floyd Mayweather Jr. also boxed in an exhibition bout.

Rizin FF’s Rules

Casual fans who already find the UFC or Bellator violent will be more horrified by Rizin FF. The promotion adapted Pride FF’s rules. Fighters can knee, kick or even stomp downed opponents. This is banned in the unified MMA rules, which both UFC and Bellator follow. Additionally, the promotion legalized “12-6” strikes, which is when fighters strike downwards with their elbows.

As a result, Rizin FF can be more vicious and finishes may be more frequent. Those betting online may be more willing to bet on the totals to go ‘under’ or for fights to not go to a decision thanks to these rules.

Other than this, most of Rizin FF’s other rules align with the unified MMA rules. Fights are three rounds of five minutes each for both non-title fights and title fights.

Judging Criteria

Unlike the UFC and Bellator where judges score fights based on a round-per-round basis, Rizin FF has its own criteria. The judges score the fight by weighing three criteria: damage (worth 50 points), aggressiveness (30), and generalship (20). If a fighter has not fulfilled any element, they are given a zero – no in-betweens.

This judging criteria thus further encourages Rizin FF fighters to be as aggressive as possible since both damage and aggressiveness constitute 80% of the scoring. In short, the fighter who can inflict the most punishment on their opponent wins. This is different than UFC or Bellator where it is the fighter that wins the most rounds exclusive to who caused more damage.

Thus, while judges weigh both striking and grappling equally, strikers may flourish more in Rizin FF as opposed to the UFC or Bellator. That’s also because the promotion uses a ring, not a cage.

Fighting in a Ring Versus a Cage

Another unique aspect to Rizin FF is its use of the ring. This can benefit strikers more than grapplers as the latter may have a harder time controlling their opponents. In cages, specifically in the UFC’s eight-sided structure, grapplers could trap their opponents in the corners. So long as the grappler is advancing position and doing damage, the referee will let it continue.

But in a ring, a grappler has no structure to help them control their opponent. Thus, grapplers need to take their opponent down within the ropes and look to finish them or do as much damage. It can often be the case where the referee stands up the fighters prematurely since it appears like the grappler holding position is not doing much.

For grapplers, it is encouraged to go for a finish as opposed to holding position. The rules also make it more dangerous for grapplers to fight off their back as fighters can stomp or succer kick them. Many finishes have come this way.

Drug Testing (or Lack Thereof)

Another reason why RIZIN FF is not for the squeamish is because of the “loose” drug testing policies the promotion has. Pride FC was notorious as a hotbed for “juiced” fighters and Rizin FF may also be.

While we don’t often see news on RIZIN FF fighters testing positive for anabolic steroids or the like, it’s because the promotion either does not test its fighters or does not reveal the results. Being across the Pacific also means the western media does not get to grill RIZIN FF’s officials over these things.

But on the downside, it can also be harder to bet online on RIZIN FF matches. The lack of transparency may discourage fans from betting or sportsbooks from opening MMA odds to begin with.

Bellator vs Rizin: The Actual Events

But in terms of betting markets, the Bellator vs Rizin events tend to have some opened. While Bellator has frequently collaborated with the promotion (e.g. having Bellator fighters under contract fight in Rizin FF), its first official co-promoted event was in December 31, 2022.

Rizin 40: Bellator MMA vs Rizin FF was a popular card that saw five of Bellator’s fighters take on five from Rizin. However, despite the event taking place in Japan, Bellator swept the card 5-0 as the betting odds expected (all five Bellator fighters were favored).

The next Bellator-Rizin FF event is not in this format. Instead, it is two-part event with both Bellator and Rizin FF fighters taking part. The July 30 card has so far announced the main fights:

Part 1 – Bellator

  • A.J. McKee vs Patricky Pitbull (Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix Quarter-Final)
  • Kyoji Horiguchi vs Makoto Takahashi (Inaugural Bellator Flyweight World Championship)
  • Kana Watanabe vs Veta Arteaga (Women’s Flyweight)

Part 2 – Rizin

  • Kai Asukara vs Juan Archuleta (Rizin Bantamweight Championship)
  • Mikuru Asukara vs Vugar Karamov (Featherweight)
  • Tofiq Musayev vs TBA (Lightweight)

More bouts will be finalized the closer the event comes. Expect the MMA betting odds to be released at some point.

Betting on Rizin FF

Does Rizin FF Have Betting Odds?

Rizin FF has betting odds released on occasion. It typically depends on the card. If Rizin FF has a major event like it does during Bellator vs Rizin, the sportsbook may be more inclined to release odds. And it will do it during the week of the event as opposed to earlier as it typically does with the UFC.

The betting markets will also be more limited with Rizin FF events. The UFC will have a full set of props and totals (over/under). Rizin FF events may just get the moneyline or totals depending on the event.

Nuances to Betting Rizin FF

As Rizin FF is based in Japan and has different rules than UFC or Bellator, betting this promotion will differ. For one, fights may usually end within the distance (no decision) while totals could be juiced to go under 2.5 or 1.5 rounds.

Upsets may also be more common thanks to the focus on striking and the potential for doping. This is not unlike Pride FC where there were massive upsets such as when Sokoudjou knocked out Antonio Rogério Nogueira as a 25-2 underdog.

This shenanigans from Pride FC is the reason why the book will not recklessly open betting odds on promotions like Rizin FF. So even if they release odds, do not expect such wide betting lines.

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