Seiya Inoue secured a first-round knockout victory against Ryusei Ashizawa in an intense, action-packed bout at RIZIN LANDMARK 16 held in Nagasaki. Inoue delivered a decisive counter left hook that sent Ashizawa to the ground and finished the fight with ground strikes just before the five-minute mark of the opening round.
The 61kg MMA match was the fourth fight on the October 3 lineup at Nagasaki Stadium City’s HAPPINESS ARENA. Representing THE BLACKBELT JAPAN, Inoue faced off against Ashizawa, a free agent. The official result recorded the bout as a Round 1 KO, with the finish coming from a left hook followed by hammering strikes.
The fight started aggressively, with Ashizawa pressing forward with knees and straight punches, while Inoue responded with sharp combinations featuring his one-two punch and hooks. Inoue scored first with a powerful combination that dropped Ashizawa, then followed up with punches on the ground.
Ashizawa bounced back quickly, standing up and firing back fiercely, even managing to knock Inoue down during the same exchange. This momentum shift intensified the fight, leading both fighters to trade punches at close range without pausing to reset, creating a bout that earned immediate praise online.
One fan described it as a “Round of the year contender from Ryusei Ashizawa and Seiya Inoue,” while another called the matchup “absolutely wild.” In the final moments of the round, Inoue landed the fight’s cleanest strike: a counter left hook that sent Ashizawa crashing backward to the canvas.
Inoue seized the moment and unleashed right-hand strikes on the ground, prompting the referee to step in and stop the fight after assessing Ashizawa’s condition. This victory marked Inoue’s second consecutive win under the RIZIN banner. The former RUSH ON kickboxing champion from Kumamoto had claimed his first MMA win in June at RIZIN Sendai with a knockout punch against Koki Akada, demonstrating his striking power again under much higher stakes.
After the fight, Inoue acknowledged the physical toll, saying, “Won by a 1st round KO!! But I took quite a bit of damage, so I’ll get back to you once I’ve settled down! Thanks for the support.” Despite some pre-fight hostility, Inoue spoke highly of Ashizawa in the ring, expressing admiration and a strong determination to give his best once the fight was set. He also shared an emotional message about his father, who is fighting cancer and attended the event, making the win especially meaningful for the 22-year-old.
Inoue revealed that his father had undergone emergency surgery just two weeks prior and had been in critical condition. Unsure if his father would make it to the Nagasaki event, Inoue felt grateful he was there. Addressing him after the fight, he said: “Dad, when you see a son with this much to look forward to, you can’t die yet. Let’s keep fighting together.”
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Fan Take: This thrilling, back-and-forth battle showcases the heart and explosiveness that keep MMA fans hooked worldwide. Inoue’s rising star and personal story add emotional depth, hinting at a promising future that could inspire fresh narratives and rivalries in the sport.
Source: www.lowkickmma.com
